Home Ice Cream The Baked Bear Brings Ice Cream Sandwiches and Smiles to Long Branch

The Baked Bear Brings Ice Cream Sandwiches and Smiles to Long Branch

May 25, 2021

The Baked Bear, a San Diego, California-based ice cream sandwich shop, has opened its first location in New Jersey—just in time for summer. The store is the first resident of the third and final phase of Pier Village in Long Branch.

Well-known for its monstrous ice cream sandwiches and original, baked-from-scratch recipes, the menu features 12 cookie and brownie flavors and 13 super-premium ice cream flavors.

Guests can mix and match to customize their ideal ice cream sandwich. After selecting their cookie or brownie and ice cream, toppings like Oreo crumbs and brownie bits can be added. Finally, guests can opt to have their sandwich hot-pressed, combining the warm cookies with cold, delicious ice cream.

The Baked Bear custom cookie ice cream sandwiches. Photos courtesy of Instagram’s Foodaholicnj

I opted for a brownie sandwich with vegan ice cream, topped with Nutella. And yes, I had it hot pressed to get that Nutella perfectly warmed and gooey. They call these ice cream sandwiches, but I recommend the spoon approach.

Brownie ice cream sandwich — The Baked Bear’s brownie ice cream sandwich

Store owners, Tyler and Elly Hess, first fell in love with the Baked Bear concept when they lived in San Diego, where Tyler served in the Navy. They worked for a major food—including ice cream—manufacturer, and they relocated to Freehold. It was there that they started dreaming of starting their own business at the Jersey Shore.

customer selecting ice cream flavor — Customer selecting ice cream flavor at the Baked Bear

“We were constantly talking about how much we loved and missed the Baked Bear in San Diego and it just dawned on us. Pier Village would be the perfect home for our very own Baked Bear location,” Tyler said.

kids eating ice cream — Kids enjoying the Baked Bear

“We are thrilled to welcome the Baked Bear as the first tenant in this expansive new phase of development,” said Nicole Kushner Meyer, principal, Kushner, owner of Pier Village. The Shops at Pier Village will celebrate local and national brands in a vibrant mix of boutiques, restaurants, and fitness concepts, making the City by the Sea the premier destination to live and visit.”

The Baked Bear owners Elly and Tyler Hess

“Just the heavenly aroma alone will keep our customers coming back,” Elly added. “Fresh-baked cookies all day, every day. Plus, the absolute best ice cream ever. Who can resist?”