Top 10: London’s Best Brownies for Chocolate WeekBy Angelica Malin
Looking for London’s best brownies? Look no further. We ate our way through London’s brownie offerings (tough gig) to find the very best. From gooey, rich brownies, to nutty delights, we’ve tasted them all – and we say there’s nothing better than a delicious brownie with a cup of tea this Chocolate Week. The results are in, here’s where to find London’s very best brownies:
London’s Best Brownies: Outrageous Ones
Salted Caramel Brownies: Bad Brownie
What: Salted Caramel Brownie Box (£25)
The Lowdown: To be honest, these aren’t just any old brownies. Oh no. They are brownies with attitude – sexy, edgy and just so delicious. Imagine the softest, gooiest, tastiest and most decadent brownies ever, that’s Bad Brownie.
The Flavours: We love the quirky flavours of Bad Brownie, including salted caramel, peanut butter, triple chocolate, bacon and maple syrup. Yes, you read right: BACON BROWNIES. The Salted Caramel Brownie is pure sex in cake form, I’ll tell you that for free. Also, if you’re vegan, they’ve created the baddest vegan brownie around, packed with dark chocolate and rich, plant-based ingredients with vegan salted caramel sauce. . It’s also free from gluten, nuts, dairy and eggs. Win.
Where: Buy them here
S’Mores Brownies: Outsider Tart
What: S’Mores Brownie (£2.75)
The Lowdown: Fudgey or cakey. Always rich and intense. Delicious as a treat, or served as a dessert with all the toppings that you could possibly desire (we’re thinking ice cream, chocolate sauce and berries), Outsider Tart makes the best brownies around.
The Flavours: Outsider Tart’s flavours are outrageously good. From the tempting peanut butter brownie to quirky white chocolate pecan creation, we can’t get enough. Our personal favourite is the S’Mores brownie, because who doesn’t love pretending to be American in the name of baked goods?
Where: Buy them here
Salty Sweet Brownies: Dominique Ansel
What: Salted Caramel Brownie (£3)
The Lowdown: Dominique Ansel’s London bakery serves creative desserts, savoury food, Afternoon Tea and his famous pastries like the Cronut, Frozen S’mores and Blossoming Hot Chocolate. Instagram at the ready, this is one bakery that’s simply made for snapping away.
The Flavours: You’ll be totally spoilt for choice at this delicious bakery. The cakes are simply sublime; try the Cotton-Soft Cheesecake with ricotta mousse, lightly brûléed on top or the Poached Pear & Salted Pecan Caramel Tart with poached William pears, salted pecan caramel, smoked Tahitian vanilla and honey ganache. The brownies are to die for – the Salted Caramel Brownie is worth waiting in line for, trust us.
Where: Information here
Red Velvet Brownies: Hummingbird Bakery
What: Red Velvet Brownie (£3.85)
The Lowdown: The Hummingbird Bakery landed in Notting Hill in early 2004 to become the home of quality American baking in London. Today it has six branches across the city and is famed the world over for its delicious cupcakes, cakes and more.
The Flavours: Taken from the pages of their bestselling Life is Sweet cookbook, the Red Velvet Brownie is everything good about Red Velvet sponge cake in one decadent slice. Get lost in the swirl with a deeply delicious chocolate Red Velvet brownie sponge marbled with creamy cheesecake. If you’re looking for decadence itself, try their Cheesecake brownie. This triple-layer concoction is comprised of our classic brownie, a layer of cheesecake, and topped with a layer of fresh raspberry whipped cream. We love.
Where: Locations here
London’s Best Brownies: Classic Ones
Brownie Gift: Konditor and Cook
What: Brownie Sharing Gift Box (£36)
The Lowdown: The ultimate sharing gift box; a delicious selection of Curly Whirly, Chocolate Chip and Boston cranberry brownies cut into a total of 24 fingers. You’ll be spoilt for choice! These are some of the best brownies in London – full of flavour and totally soft inside. We can’t get enough of them.
The Flavours: Konditor and Cook are mavericks when it comes to brownies. They’ve got everything from the tempting Fig & Whisky brownies to our personal favourite Curly Whirly brownies. For something different, try the Boston Cranberry brownie; the sharpness of whole fresh cranberries cuts through the darkness of this rich chocolate brownie, resulting in a taste explosion.
Where: Buy them here
What: Chocolate Pecan Brownie (£3)
The Lowdown: GAIL’s is one of our favourite spots in London for sweet treats. An artisan bakery selling award-winning bread, cakes, pastry and coffee, there’s nothing GAIL’s can do wrong in my books. Their Greek yogurt pots with seasonal fruit compote and crunchy homemade granola ticks all the boxes.
The Flavours: Big, square, intense, and packed with Valrhona chocolate and pecans: many say these are the best brownies in London and we tend to agree. Chocolate and pecan is, quite simply, a match made in heaven. If you’ve got room after the brownies, their carrot cake is rich, moist and spiced to perfection – and because everyone knows that the cream cheese icing is the best bit, they’ve fitted three times as much of it into this cake. Yes, please.
Where: Discover locations here
Salted Pecan Chocolate Brownies: Lily Vanilli
What: Burnt Butter, Salted Pecan Chocolate Brownie (£12 for 4)
The Lowdown: Just off Columbia Road, this amazing bakery has a weekly changing seasonal menu of cakes, pastries, soups, fresh juices and our famous sausage rolls and brownies. They always have vegan and gluten free options available, so everyone can have their cake and eat it here.
The Flavours: I mean, these brownies are just the best. These award-winning brownies are one of the best loved things they make for the bakery every Sunday, and the only thing that’s stayed on the menu since the very beginning of Lily Vanilli on Columbia Road. Its one of the things people keep coming back for – one taste, and you’ll know why.
Where: Buy here
London’s Best Brownies: Vegan Ones
Raw Vegan Brownies: Melrose and Morgan
What: Raw Vegan Brownie (£3.50)
The Lowdown: We can’t get enough of Melrose and Morgan. They do the best soya lattes in London, no doubt about it. A high-end grocers, deli, cafe and gift shop in Hampstead and Primrose Hill, this is the place to come if you’re looking for specialists items and delicious homemade food.
The Flavours: The vegan brownies are Melrose and Morgan are up there with the best. Rich, gooey and full of flavour, these aren’t just any brownies. Perfect with your afternoon cuppa, these vegan brownies have your name all over them. If you’re looking for a takeaway treat, their salted caramel chocolate florentines are a taste of pure heaven.
Where: Information here
Vegan Salted Caramel Brownies: Veggie Pret
What: Vegan Salted Caramel Brownie (£2.50)
The Lowdown: Veggie Pret is everything a vegetarian could dream of and more. London demanded bigger, bolder, more exciting vegetarian recipes and Veggie Pret is the answer. At their 3 locations, expect everything from flatbread with grilled artichokes, rich kalamata olive tapenade, humous, tomato and slices of red pepper to salads of roasted baby beets and butternut squash, feta, spinach and seeds. Glorious.
The Flavours: A rich, indulgent and completely vegan chocolate brownie filled with gooey salted caramel – this is the perfect after-lunch treat if you’re having a grey day. We’re totally loving all the vegan and veggie sweet treats at Veggie Pret – the dairy-free chocolate chia pot with coconut yogurt and dark chocolate sauce is our latest obsession.
Where: Information here
Vegan Marshmallow Brownies: Cookies and Scream
What: Vegan Marshmallow Brownies (£3.50)
The Lowdown: Established in 2010, Cookies and Scream is multi-award winning, fully vegan and gluten-free bakery in London. There’s nowhere finer for vegans in the capital; their range of cookies, brownies, pies and donuts are made from the finest ingredients available. Cookies and Scream currently has two locations: the ‘bake shop’ in Holloway Road and the ‘cookie bar’ in Camden Lock market.
The Flavours: I’ll be honest: we’re a bit obsessed with everything at Cookies and Scream. In particular, their vegan pecan pie, Wagon Wheels and, of course, the delicious brownies. The brownie flavours change regularly, but if you can get your hands on them, the marshmallow brownies are up there with the best brownies in London.
Where: Information here
