The Brownies That Ben & Jerry’s Made Famous Are My Go-To Holiday Gift (Again) This Year
Whether or not you realize it, your taste buds are probably already familiar with Greyston Bakery, the Yonkers, NY-based not-for-profit that’s been churning out scrumptious brownies and blondies for 40 years. You see, if you’ve ever eaten Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Maple Blondie, or a handful of other mix-in-centric flavors, then you’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the deliciousness that is Greyston.
What you might not know is that you don’t have to go spoon-spelunking through your pint to get to the baked goods you love so much. Greyston’s wide range of top-notch brownies and blondies are available straight from the source in an assortment of bundles that are absolutely perfect for gifting. I love this company so much, not just for its irresistible products, but also because it operates with a mission to help people in need (more on that later). For years, I’ve been giving their sweets to the people I care about, and I am already making my Greyston gift list for 2022.
The story of the Greyston/Ben & Jerry’s partnership goes something like this: Decades ago, Greyston provided the brownies that served as the “bread” for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream sandwiches. On one particular day, the bakery packed up a shipment of brownies that were so fresh out of the oven, they stuck together when they cooled, creating one massive, solid brownie. As the team at Vermont ice-creamery chipped away at the block, someone had an a-ha moment — why not just forget the sandwich and mix the brownies directly into the ice cream? Why not, indeed! And so, Ben & Jerry’s Chocolate Fudge Brownie, the first of many collaborative flavors between the two forward-thinking brands, was born.
If they’re good enough for two of the biggest names in ice cream, then you certainly don’t need me to tell you how fantastic their specialty desserts are … but I will anyway. Greyston makes six varieties, and every time I think I’ve chosen a favorite, I immediately change my mind. Since my tastes skew old school, I am a big fan of the classic, rich Chocolate Fudge Brownie, but then one bite of the Double Chocolate Chip Blondie, and the cakey texture and melty chips put me in sugary heaven. I thought I’d found my fave, until I tried the mind-blowing Cinnamon Roll Blondie that I didn’t even know was vegan. Same goes for the Vegan Fudge Brownies and Vegan Birthday Cake Blondies — trust me, even your omnivorous giftees won’t miss the butter and eggs in these babies. As for the sixth Greyston concoction, I have two words for you: Snickerdoodle Blondie. Mic drop.
As mouthwatering as their brownies and blondies are, baked goods are, surprisingly, not the main goal of the company. Nope, Greyston doesn’t just hire people to bake brownies, they bake brownies so that they can hire people. With an open-door hiring policy that forgoes criminal background checks, the brand provides jobs for people who might not be hired elsewhere. And, while traditional for-profit companies aim to keep their employees in place for years, Greyston instead trains and empowers its staff to go out and find even better opportunities. Of course, with every success story comes an opportunity to employ someone else who needs a chance.
Greyston sells its goodies in gift sets of all kinds, from the A Dozen Reason to Smile package, which includes two of each variety, to the Vegan Blondie Bundle that comes with four of each vegan-friendly blondie. You can even choose wrapping that reflects the occasion (Celebration, Give Love, With Thanks) and include a personal note from you to them.
Whether your holiday gift list includes a colleague with a sweet tooth, a neighbor with a huge heart, or a friend who has plenty of both, Greyston might just become your new go-to gifting source, too.
Shop all of Greyston’s gift bundles here.