Hilary's Cookies

Hilary Black is not a vegan. But most of the cookies on display at her simple Lincoln Square shop, the outgrowth of a decade-long cookie business that's brought her into Whole Foods stores across the region, are. What's up with that? They're softer, she says. Turns out that's true—both the butterscotch and chocolate chip cookies are so soft and delicious they're almost like eating cookie dough. On the other side of the counter are nonvegan blondies. They're moist and substantial, topped with crunchy pecans and made with whole-wheat flour. Tasty? You know it. Healthy? You can pretend.