Where to celebrate National Brownie Day in Charlotte

Barely a week since emerging from the food induced coma of Thanksgiving, Charlotte clears its collective dessert plates welcoming another uniquely American food-centered celebration: National Brownie Day.

Seriously. National. Brownie. Day.

It’s today, Dec. 8, according to the definitive keepers of all things temporal, The National Calendar.

Who among us doesn’t think heavenly square chunks of fudgy chocolate baked into blissful endorphin producing creations – not quite a cake or cookie but something in between that is oh-so-very-wondrous – merits its own day of the year?

No one. That’s who.

To get you in the proper mood for celebrating, here is our run down on accessing the best brownie creations in town.

Nova’s Bakery

Locations in Plaza Midwood, Matthews/Mint Hill, Rock Hill, South End/Dilworth, Farmer’s Market.

Chocolate, chocolate nut and marble brownies – these traditional brownies have a HUGE following for their fluffy, almost cake-like interior and crusty edges. The marble brownies are also known as “cheesecake” brownies, as they incorporate luscious cream cheese into their batter.

Bar Cocoa

201 East Trade St., Charlotte. Website.

Bar Cocoa offers several different brownie varieties. “Our most special brownies are our gluten-free brownie made with just chocolate hazelnut spread and eggs,” says pastry chef Heidi Kabath. “We are also working on perfecting a toasted pecan blondie with a caramelized white chocolate ganache — a very sophisticated take on what most people know for a blondie.”

Amelie’s

Locations in NoDa, south Charlotte, Rock Hill and uptown (!!!). 

Salted caramel brownies: one of the QC’s favorite brownies. Amelie’s crowns a buttery-rich ethereally chocolaty brownie with their signature salted butterscotch-y caramel, elevating these babies into the brownie hall of fame.

Want to try your hand and recreate them at home? Here’s Amelie’s home recipe.

The Secret Chocolatier

2935 Providence Rd, Charlotte; 11318 N. Community House Rd, Charlotte. Website.

Brownie pops and brownie bites: “A good brownie can provide just as much luxury and decadence as any other high end dessert,” says Robin Ciordia, co-owner The Secret Chocolatier. “Our brownies are rich and fudgy. Plus, we add the extra bonus of enrobing them in chocolate. Besides the obvious that you can never have too much chocolate on something, the chocolate seal keeps the brownie nice and moist inside.”

Dancing Deer Baking Company

Multiple locations around Charlotte.

Chocolate chunk, caramel pecan, cappuccino, and gluten-free. Available online and locally at Dean and Deluca, Whole Foods and Healthy Home Markets. These insanely rich scratch-baked brownies have earned well deserved accolades including “America’s Best Brownie.”

For those looking for a full-blown brownie dessert experience try these on for size:

The Gallery

1320 South Church St., Charlotte. Website. 

Food for the Gods Brownie Affogato – Natural brown sugar, butter, and dates augment chocolate here making this brownie nirvana. Add a giant scoop of vanilla ice cream and a Stumptown espresso shot and you have the sinful Brownie Affogato. Buckle up.

Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar

4310 Sharon Road, Charlotte. Website.

Mousse is Loose. Cowfish adds layers of vanilla and chocolate mousse to their extra fudgy brownie, amping their brownies to off-the-chart good.

Prefer your brownie in liquid form?

Crave Dessert Bar

500 West Fifth Street, Suite 120, Charlotte. Website.

Check out Chocolate Cocaine: Three olives chocolate, dark and white creme de cacao, cream. Yowza, brownie with a kick.

Photos: poprock photography, Dancing Deer, Crave, The Gallery, Nova’s, Amelie’s. The Secret Chocolatier

This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 9:00 PM with the headline "Where to celebrate National Brownie Day in Charlotte."