By The Way's Cakes and Brownies Don't Taste Gluten-Free, But They Are

[Photographs: Niko Triantafillou]

Upper West Siders looking for freshly baked gluten-free sweets now have another option thanks to By The Way Bakery.

By The Way's weighty Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake ($6) is virtually indistinguishable from its gluten-ful counterpart. It's spongy-soft in texture, and since it's baked right on the premises, it's very fresh-tasting. The cake avoids the gritty crumb that often plagues many gluten-free treats. Chocolate chips are made from high-end, semi-sweet Callebaut chocolate. The chocolate glaze is of equally high quality and not waxy.

Similarly, By The Way's Brownies ($4) taste as though they were made with standard flour, and as with any classic, fudge-style brownies, they lean heavily to the sweet side. A nicely blistered top completes the chocolatey package.

After my purchase, I was given a complimentary almond cookie which had a very powerful almond aroma—essentially an amoretto cookie on steroids. It features a cripsy crust and very chewy interior. If you dig the flavor of almond flavor, you'll enjoy these.

If you're avoiding gluten and want some sweets, By The Way offers solid alternatives that your gluten-eating friends can enjoy with you. You read more about the bakery right this way.

About the author: Native New Yorker Niko Triantafillou is an unabashed foodie nerdling and the founder of DessertBuzz.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DessertBuzz.