Inside the famed Chelsea Market, is a little shop called Fat Witch Bakery. I first sampled their famous brownies a few years back during a visit to New York. Like so many before and after me, I was quite pleased.
Recently, the good folks behind Fat Witch published a cookbook that I was lucky enough to preview. On first glance, I found many recipes I want to try (hazelnut cream cheese brownies?!? yes, please!). Ultimately, I figured that I should start with what most think they do best – brownies.
The recipe notes suggest the addition of 1/2 cup of nuts, chocolate chips, or peanut butter chips, but I opted for the straightforward approach. These brownies are a bit different than most I’ve made. They are light in both texture and flavor. Eating one is a gentle yet pure chocolate experience. These might be the brownie of choice for those that aren’t fond of strong flavors.
If you like BoB on facebook, keep an eye on that page for information about getting your own copy of Fat Witch Brownies. If you’re not a fan yet, head on over and click that like button!
Ingredients
- 14 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons bittersweet chocolate chips
- 1 & 1/4 cups granulated sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- pinch of salt
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 9″x 9″ baking pan with butter. Dust with flour, tapping out the excess.
Melt butter and chocolate in a saucepan over low heat (or in the microwave), stirring frequently. Set aside.
Beat sugar, eggs, and vanilla. Add cooled chocolate mixture and mix until well blended.
Sift together flour and salt. Add to chocolate mixture, mixing gently until well combined.
Spread batter evenly in prepared pan. Bake 30-33 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with only dry crumbs. Cool on rack for 1 hour before cutting into bars.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Fat Witch Brownies: Brownies, Blondies, and Bars from New York's Legendary Fat Witch Bakery.
September 30th, 2010 at 4:27 pm
For some reason I didn’t know they had a location in Chelsea market! Crazy. i’m going to have to go over and check it out. I’m much more of a dense brownie person myself but those cream cheese brownies sound heavenly to me!
September 30th, 2010 at 4:48 pm
Never heard of Fat Witch but I sure love that name, just in time for October. Clicked the LIKE button too, just like you told me! Thanks!
September 30th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
I couldn’t resist trying their carrot zucchini bars. I love how simple all their recipes are. The brownies look really good too.
September 30th, 2010 at 11:11 pm
What a fancy name for a bakery. I love the cracked crispy top!
October 1st, 2010 at 4:25 am
this really makes me want to visit the bakery! i love the crackly top on yours. delicious!
October 1st, 2010 at 5:21 am
I love how there are SO many different variations on brownies. These sound like one I’d like to try!
October 1st, 2010 at 5:56 am
YAY! We literally just ordered this cookbook from Amazon! Cannot wait to try some Fat Witch recipes…these look so divine! Thanks for posting.
October 1st, 2010 at 7:20 am
Tiene una textura muy jugosa, me gusta este brownie. Saludos
October 1st, 2010 at 7:25 am
I’ve been seeing this book around a lot, the brownies look good, like a much lighter brownie alternative.
October 1st, 2010 at 3:59 pm
These look simple but good–I like that combo!
October 2nd, 2010 at 10:12 am
Wow, these sound fabulous! ::bookmarked::
Great site! So happy I found you!
Mary xo
Delightful Bitefuls
October 2nd, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I keep bumping into brownie recipes in my reader. I think God is trying to tell me something.
October 5th, 2010 at 9:11 am
WOW – these brownies look amazing and it looks like I am going to grab myself a copy of this book. Another to add to the collection.
October 11th, 2010 at 9:13 am
Light brownies…not sure about that one. They look absolutely amazing however. I’m not a true chocolate fanatic, but when I want chocolate I want ‘CHOCOLATE’. Thanks!
October 12th, 2010 at 4:04 pm
Mmmm, I love Fat Witch brownies! They are so good. I didn’t know they have a cookbook, but I can’t wait to go get it! Your brownies look delicious!
October 17th, 2010 at 12:26 pm
I featured your brownies on The Weekend Blog Showcase today and linked them back to you! They are totally yummy!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
October 18th, 2010 at 8:58 pm
Love their brownies. Always swing by them and Eleni’s cookies when in the neighborhood.
Paul
October 20th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
interesting name and I love the crust.
October 22nd, 2010 at 7:51 am
brownies are my ultimate weakness. these look great!
October 24th, 2010 at 2:08 am
My mouth is watering! May have a little look into that book too
October 25th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
finally a light textured brownie. not your ordinary peanut-chocolate-heavy textured brownie. a new innovated brownie on my list. i have to get the recipe of this one! i am such a brownie fanatic.
October 25th, 2010 at 11:44 pm
Don’t know why I insist on looking at your site so close to midnight. It’s akin to torture. I’m seriously considering making these right now. Darn you and those gorgeous brownies! Thank you!
October 26th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
I can’t believe I’ve lived in NYC as long as I have and not been to the Chelsea market! I need to get there!
October 27th, 2010 at 8:45 am
wow yummy brownies.
Regards
Olga.
October 28th, 2010 at 1:52 pm
Interesting. I’ve never had them at the bakery, but I baked them using the recipe from the book and reviewed them here: http://culinarycovers.com/2010/10/fat-witch-brownies/ I had a very different take on these than you did.
October 29th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
i love these brownies…so glad they have their own cookbook now..i can enjoy them by making my own. thank you for sharing this. have a nice weekend.
November 1st, 2010 at 10:02 am
helo
I am thinking about buying this book but on Amazon there’s a discussion where someone complain that real fat witch brownies are dense and these are soft. and you say the same – soft.
so please, what’s your opinion – is this just a recipe book which yields good enough brownies or is it same as (very close to) the real stuff.
do the authors claim these are real recipes or are just inspired by the bakery?
thanks
Sim
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:06 am
Those look fantastic! Brownies with ice cream are my favorite!
November 14th, 2010 at 8:23 pm
Who can resist a brownie that looks this good? Yum! What a fun name too.
November 25th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
This brownie looks so good… Makes me hungry..
February 12th, 2011 at 1:50 pm
I just made these today. The taste is delicious, but they came out a little too cakey to be brownies.
February 14th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
I miss NYC… wow, do those look YUMMY! I’m looking up the cookbook now
February 15th, 2011 at 3:10 pm
I own this book but just got around to trying the recipe for Valentine’s Day. I made the recipe despite some online snarky comments I have read concerning it. (I have never been to the bakery in NYC so have no opinion either way on if it is “authentic” or not. If the recipe is nice–who cares?!)
Even though I usually prefer very dense, super moist, fudgy brownies, I thought the recipe was delicious. The texture was lighter but very lovely. I used good quality ingredients including walnuts. I made a little raspberry coulis from some frozen organic berries I picked last summer (which is a good use for frozen berries since they get sort of mushy when thawed anyway). It was a hit. Perhaps the fact that it is a tad more cakey (somewhat more like a flourless cake than a super gooey, wet brownie) is why it paired so well with the berry accompaniment. Wet brownies don’t work well with that treatment as it all turns into a gooey mushy mess.
I am dying to try the Whiskey Brownies and some of the fruit bars such as apricot from the book. Yum!
February 21st, 2011 at 5:23 am
Hello from Japan,
I’m a huge fan of brownies, but I’ve never been to the Fat witch Bakery…
So I just found your blog and tried make this brownies!!!
I added a little bit cocoa powder and Grand Marnier and Cointreau instead of vanilla extract.
It’s Yummy Orange flavored brownies!!!
Thanks a lot for your post!
March 18th, 2011 at 1:20 am
Only one word to describe the taste and picture- DELICIOUS!!!
April 16th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
The last time I was at the Food Network in Chelsea Market I stopped by to try one of these. I got the Mocha one, and it was to die for! I’d definitely love to try some more flavors.
August 10th, 2011 at 5:08 pm
oh man these look good! id be a fat-betty-witch after finishing these off hehehhe
May 2nd, 2012 at 9:34 am
These have the be the absolute worst brownies I’ve ever made or eaten.
I don’t know what it is with these NYC bakeries, but they are really pulling the wool over the eyes of their customers. Magnolia Bakery is another hack. The recipes in their cookbook are just as horrible, yet people buy those cupcakes like they’ve never seen one before.
October 14th, 2012 at 11:41 am
These are some of the best brownies I’ve ever made/had!
They’re a hit with everyone – even some of my very picky friends who like the “fudgy” brownies.
So good!