Small squares of chocolate-gooey heaven with the perfect amount of softness in the base and a slight crunch on the top, brownies are a treat that is hard to beat.
It is claimed that the brownie dates back to the late 19th century, the wife of a hotel owner requested the chef to create a dessert small enough to fit into the lunch boxes of her socialite friends as they went about their daily excursions.
A few years later in 1896, the word brownie was first documented by Fannie Farmer in her Boston Cooking School cookbook. However, her molasses cake was far from the treat we know today as it contained no chocolate and was made with different ingredients entirely.
Nowadays, brownies are far more than just a plain chocolate rectangle - they can incorporate nuts, frosting, dried fruit and best of all, chocolate chips. The way they are baked and served also varies drastically - the texture will depend on the density and thicker brownies have a more cake-like texture.
It’s the variety of these goodies that makes them so universally adored, and if you can resist the urge to eat them all yourself, they make the perfect gift to a loved one or as an alternative to a birthday cake.
With that in mind, we scoured the internet to find every type of brownie, from the classic chocolate to the extravagant flavour-forward ones. Having gathered the office for an afternoon of decadence, we put to the test eight different stockists that deliver in and around London.
If you still can’t get enough, why not try baking them at home? With one of our recommended dessert cookbooks, you’ll find a simple, fool-proof method that will impress friends and family.
Shop the best brownie deliveries online below.
Konditor Brownie Sharing Platter of 12
When it comes to brownies, everyone likes something slightly different: gooey, cake-like or less sweet. Impressively, Konditor had universal positive feedback. In fact, there was not a bad word to be said about this eclectic selection.
Featuring Chocolate Chip, Curly Whirly, Salted Caramel and Boston Cranberry Brownies, our testers heaped praise on these sweet bites. Top marks to the Chocolate Chip which, during our rigorous testing, one fan said was the best brownie they had ever eaten.
Order 12 full squares or 24 fingers - the perfect bite-sized snack to enjoy after dinner or in the afternoon with a cup of tea. You can also bag yourself a limited-time deal of two platters for £60.
Buy now £38.00, Konditor
6 Indulgent Chocolate Brownies Letterbox Gift
This isn’t any letterbox brownie, it’s an M&S letterbox brownie meaning it was practically perfect in every way dubbed as “the quintessential brownie” by one of our reviewers.
An overall winner, they had the right balance of softness in the middle and slight crisp on the top. Not overly sweet, a few of our testers remarked they were “dangerously delicious - we could eat all six pieces in one sitting”.
The right size to fit through your door and not overly expensive, we’d say this is a beautiful gift to give and receive.
Buy now £18.00, M&S
Cutter & Squidge Mixed Mini Brownie Box
If you’re after a box of treats that will meet everyone’s picky brownie needs, then it doesn’t get much better than this mixed box from Cutter & Squidge. Featuring small bites of six different flavours, our favourites were the Salted Caramel Brownie Bites, Peanut Butter Fudge Brownie Bites and of course, the Chocolate Nutella Brownie Bites that had the “perfect amount of Nutella to give it the flavour without being overly sickly”.
They come beautifully presented and taste just as good as you’d imagine - several of our testers gave them a ten out of ten and said they were “moist but too dense” and “incredibly moreish”. For 10 per cent off your order, you can subscribe and save, because who doesn’t want a monthly delivery of brownies to their door?
Buy now £15.99, Cutter & Squidge
Cake or Death Surprise Box!
Vegans rejoice - great-tasting brownies that can be enjoyed guilt-free are finally here. These handmade letterbox brownies are made from Exeter-based bakery Cake or Death and are postable all around the UK.
Made using quality plant-based ingredients, our vegan taste testers described these indulgent treats as “a little too easy to eat” and “super gooey - just as the perfect brownie should be’’. Our non-vegan testers were also fans, particularly of the Salted Caramel and Biscoff flavours, but noted that they could taste a slight difference between these and dairy-based ones.
For the adventurous brownie eaters, try out the Peanut Choc Brookie - a dark chocolate brownie layered onto a peanut chocolate chip cookie that provides the best of both worlds.
Buy now £18.00, Cake or Death
Lola’s Cupcakes Variety Brownie Box
Famed for its cupcakes, we weren’t sure what to expect from Lola’s brownies when we ordered a set of the variety box. On first appearances, we noted the abundance of toppings on each brownie - no one could suggest they held back when it comes to adding extras such as popcorn and coconut flakes.
Upon tasting, our testers had mixed reviews as some loved the rich layers of Red Velvet and oozing caramel dripping from the sides, whilst others found that it detracted from the taste of the brownie itself claiming it was “missing the classic chocolate flavour”. Impressively, all the brownies are gluten-free.
Buy now £21.90, Lola’s
Good Cake Day
For failsafe presents in a pinch, Good Cake Day needs to be on your radar. The artisanal online bakery will deliver homemade brownies, but you may just have trouble passing them off as your own. Presented in a keepsake tin and decorated with delicate flowers, the brand has thought of the small details to make each parcel special, including providing a recipe card so you can create its signature banana and blueberry cake.
Flavour variations range from the Oroma Bea – dark chocolate orange with Terry’s Chocolate mini to the Sassy Bea – dark chocolate brownie with crunchy peanut butter and Oreo Birthday Party or you could go for the selection box and try the lot. These are show-stoppers that only get better once you’ve sunk your teeth into them. The gooey centre will have you coming back for more.
Delivery is available across London with free delivery offered in some South West London postcodes. The brand has cakes too and prices start from £65. Gluten-free is also available. Price for six.
Buy now £25.00, Good Cake Day
Bad Brownie Summer Fling Brownie Bites Box
If you’re after some of the wackiest brownie flavours out there, look no further than Bad Brownie that has all manner of creations including S’mores Bake, White Chocolate Raspberry and their new Summer Fling Box - 24 bite-sized desserts that feature a Jaffa-like jelly on the top, a vanilla sponge layer in the middle and a dark chocolate brownie on the base. Made from real fruit juice the flavours include Orange, Lychee and Pineapple.
Naturally apprehensive (after all a brownie is meant to be... brown), our testers took a while to try these flavours, but once they did, the reaction was positive. The jelly topping was well liked, especially the raspberry and blueberry flavours. The base was rather light and minimal, so these are best for those after something that’s more half-cake, half-brownie rather than a full-on choco-heaven treat.
Taste good, look good, do good: 50 per cent of the profits from each box goes to LGBTQ+ charity Switchboard. You can also shop vegan, wheat-free, keto and no-nut brownies.
Buy now £17.00, Bad Brownie
Hummingbird Bakery Brownies
Offering some innovative flavour combinations such as Frosted and Red Velvet, our testers were eager to get their hands on one of the famed Notting Hill-born Hummingbird Bakery’s beautifully presented brownies.
The marshmallow swirl piled high on the S’mores brownie was particularly intriguing meaning it was devoured in seconds. Consensus from our reviewers was that these were delicious desserts, but tasted far more cake-like than brownie, especially the Red Velvet that was not too dissimilar to a cheesecake.
With a set of six for £22.80, these would be a great treat for someone who prefers cake rather than a gooey brownie but wants something more bite-sized and less sweet.
Buy now £22.80, Hummingbird Bakery
Blushing Cook Floral Brownies - Double Chocolate Classic
You won’t find more beautifully presented brownies on the market than these Double Chocolate Floral Brownies that are decorated with seasonal, edible organic flowers grown in Devon.
All of our testers were blown away by the unique presentation and everyone wanted to try a slice. Using only the finest of ingredients, including chocolate made from 100 per cent sustainable cocoa, they were wonderfully gooey and moist.
The decadent rich flavour means they are perfect for a nibble, but a whole square became slightly too much nearer the end. Available in everything from a small size (six pieces) to a party tray of 24 squares, these make the perfect letterbox gift to a loved one or as an alternative to cake on a special occasion.
Buy now £34.00, Blushing Cook
