I first heard about Brody’s Bakery from my friend, Lynn Chen, who blogged about Brody’s for her blog, The Actor’s Diet. Lynn — who is based in L.A. — had received a mail order from Brody’s — which is a 100% vegan, organic, and delicious bakery based out of Kansas City. Not in Kansas City? Not to worry — they deliver everywhere. As it so happened, when Lynn emailed me to tell me I absolutely had to try these baked goods, she didn’t even know that I was visiting family and was in K.C. Serendipity perhaps?
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Turns out that’s the only word I could use to describe it. I emailed Katie Olson, the founder and baker, saying that, on the off-chance that she was up for it, I’d love to meet her and take some photos of her bakery for my blog. Katie returned my email with a phone call only moments later. After being awestruck and flattered that she follows Our Hen House (that always feels good), I learned that the woman behind Brody’s Bakery is just as sweet as Lynn said her concoctions were. Katie told me that she doesn’t have a storefront so there was nothing really for me to photograph (they do most of their business either online or at local K.C.-area establishments), but, she asked, would it be okay if she dropped off some baked goods for me and my family?
WOULD IT BE OKAY?! Why yes, we can manage that, no problem. (OMG!!!!!!)
The next day, Katie and her mom, Sally, brought us a smorgasbord of vegan deliciousness. I soon learned that Lynn was right: the food was delectable.
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The pistachio cupcakes (left) were the overall winner. They had a dollop of icing, complete with a cherry on top, and their moistness was unmatched by any other baked good I’ve had.
The twinkies (pictured above) had me skeptical at first, since they were gluten-free, and I’ve had my share of icky, tasteless, GF foods. But Katie’s little yellow creme-filled cake proved my assumptions wrong. Though they weren’t a complete throw-back to my 1985-twinkie-craze, they were scrumptious in their own right.
Giving the pistachio cupcakes a run for their sugar were the rocky road cookies. The only unfortunate part about these cookies are that I don’t have them in front of me RIGHT THIS MINUTE. Unlike my comments about the twinkies, the cookies were indeed a blast from the past. I suddenly remembered many-a-day when I’d sink into rocky road ice cream. In cookie form — and in vegan form! — Brody’s Bakery rocky road cookies are a must if you are planning an order. Which I hope you are, because 1)you have got to try these for yourself, and 2)Katie is a remarkable individual who has devoted her life to making the world a better place, one compassionate concoction at a time.
In addition to the satisfaction that comes from indulging in a healthier, delicious sweet snack like the ones from Brody’s Bakery, the satisfaction that comes from knowing it is ethically-sourced, cruelty-free, and brought to you by a small, family-run operation feels pretty good. And, hats off to Katie Olson for making delicious vegan food widely available. Food activism is a delicious thing. Furthermore, products from Brody’s Bakery are available at several chain grocery stories in the Kansas City area, as well as at an amusement park.
10 brownie points for Kansas City. And 10 more since the brownies are vegan.
Photo pictured at top of blog: Courtesy Lynn Chen and The Actor’s Diet