On a street along the Hudson River in Yonkers, New York, is a bakery that has caused quite a stir since its inception almost 25 years ago: a bakery whose award-winning delicacies are enjoyed by devotees around the world, whose cakes and tarts earned a top rating in Zagat’s, and whose brownies have made their way into several flavors of Ben & Jerry’s ice creams.

Baked with a sense of mission, the pastries at Greyston are beyond delicious. Devoted to improving the lives of the homeless and chronically unemployed, the bakery hires those who lack education or job skills, and those who have battled addiction, illness, or crime-ridden environments. The uplifting stories in these pages tug at the heart. Glorious recipes delight the taste buds and include such current treats from the bakery as Triple Chocolate Mousse Cake, Lotus in Mud Cake, Key Lime Tart, and Seven-Layer Cookie Bar. There are also delicious recipes from the bakery’s past, an assortment of special occasion cakes, and a group of recipes developed by the author, inspired by this remarkable enterprise.