Driven to "bake the world a better place," Columbus' Brownie Points is garnering national attention with the release of the bakery's newest offering — BrowniEmojis.

On Monday, the bakery's colorful cut-out bites were featured on NBC's "Today" show's list of mail-order musts for the summer. Along with charcuterie board kits, ice cream, coconut candy and other items, the hosts gushed over the miniature, chocolate-fudged treats.

Fitting for birthdays, marriage engagements and other milestones, the BrowniEmojis come in shapes such as smiley and laughing faces, tacos, flamingoes, unicorns, wedding rings and an assortment of other charming designs.

Third time Brownie Points has been on Today Show

After hearing Brownie Points would once again be featured on the "Today" show, owners and sisters-in-law Lisa King and Lisa Berliner were thrilled about the spotlight. King said Monday's program was the third time the bakery has been included on the show.

"When a show like the 'Today' show endorses you as a favorite, it validates you in so many ways," King said. "It's the best for us because it's so positive. It gives us a great avenue to tell people how they can earn brownie points."

Along with the "Today" show, the family-operated business has been featured on "Good Morning America," the Food Network, "The Rachael Ray Show," shopping network QVC and other outlets.

Brownie Points started in a Cleveland apartment

But the brand's success came after years of hard work, which was driven by the owners' shared passion for the chocolate-baked treat and knack for innovative confections.

As a former elementary school teacher, King started Brownie Points out of the kitchen of her apartment in Cleveland, with her teaching by day and baking by night. But with a move to Columbus for family in 1998, she sold the company.

King reopened Brownie Points in October 1999 in Columbus, and soon after, Berliner left her job as an insurance executive to join King in the endeavor.

Since first opening 1991 in Cleveland, the company has baked millions of mouthwatering brownies filled with experimental flavors and expanded the family-operated business worldwide.

Today Show feature brings in even more orders

Now, Brownie Points has two production facilities in the capital city and a staff of over 40 bakers. And with Monday's TV feature, Berliner said orders and business inquiries have poured into the company's phone lines.

"We had so many phone calls for events, things that people wanted to use emojis for and corporate gifts," Berliner said. "We always hope the new customers we gain from the show will be repeat customers and we hope we can keep up this momentum."

With this added notoriety, King said she's hopeful more Columbus-based customers know about the local gem, one that's largely exported their deliciously gooey offerings outside the state.

"While we're from Ohio, we're more national rather than the state," King said. "We do so much corporate gifting, and the ones we work with are all over the country."

But beyond the business' rising success, King said she and Berliner want to bring joy to the lives of their customers — one brownie at a time.

"We are always here to grow and continue doing what we do every day. We just want to do it better," King said. "We're going to enjoy this incredible press, but our goal is to grow and be the most well-known brownie company in the country and the world."

Where to order

Brownie Points, located at 5712 Westbourne Ave., on the Far East Side.

Orders can be made in-person, over the phone at 1-800-427-9643 or online at https://browniepointsinc.com/.