Levain Now Makes a Vegan, Gluten-Free Version of Their Cult-Favorite Chocolate-Chip Cookie — Here’s Where to Get It
Cookies are usually at their best when they’ve recently come out of an oven and you have a tall glass of milk nearby to dunk them in. That’s why I prefer even modest homemade cookies over store-bought ones — except when the store in question is a really amazing bakery. I respect bakers who perfect recipes to make one-of-a-kind cookies that offer a distinct eating experience: extra thin and crispy, soft and chewy, sweet yet salty — I love them all.
In New York City, Levain Bakery takes the cake (or cookie?) for developing signature treats. Their cookies are famously tall and loaded with mix-ins, and they have a distinct combination of crispy, buttery exterior and gooey, delicate interior. Now, Levain is making a vegan and gluten-free version of their original chocolate chip walnut cookie so every cookie-lover can taste the joy of their world-class baked goods. Here’s how you can get some for yourself, too.
If you live near one of Levain’s shops in New York, Chicago, Boston, or Washington D.C., you can order ahead online — each cookie is $6 — and pick them up in person. If you’re outside those areas, don’t worry — Levain will ship to you. You get four cookies for $33 (plus the cost of shipping) and can save money if you buy an eight-pack or 12-pack. (The 12-pack includes free shipping, which is a good deal if you’re buying to share.) Every cookie is baked to order, so while these are a bit of an splurge, they arrive as fresh as possible.
Every ingredient in these cookies is both vegan and gluten-free, including the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Instead of cow butter, Levain uses rich and creamy cashew butter to achieve the same melt-in-your-mouth texture that their traditional cookies are known for. (However, if you have severe gluten allergies, it’s worth noting that these cookies are baked on the same equipment as non-vegan and non-gluten-free cookies, so they may contain traces of gluten.) They also contain walnuts, as well as certain amounts of almond and coconut allergens, so if you’re looking for a nut-free cookie, you may want to try their regular chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin varieties.
Levain Bakery doesn’t add new menu items often, so it’s a real cause for celebration when they do. Get a box for yourself and remember: If you pop one of these in a 350 degree Fahrenheit oven for five to 10 minutes, it’ll taste just as good as the day it was baked.