The latest location on Annapolis' Main Street took two storefronts, formerly Nostalgia Cupcakes and Orient Expressions, and created an extra- large space with checkered floors, bubblegum pink walls, and the smell of sugar wafting through the air. While they're not willing to share the recipes for the most popular flavors of cupcakes – those are proprietary as they took more than a year to get just right – the forces behind JoJo's did show us how to make the Hello, Monkey, a banana cupcake with banana buttercream frosting, plus Chris took a few minutes to answer some questions for us.
rHow did you and your family get involved in the cupcake industry?
rWe were looking for a fun, family-oriented business that our three children, ranging in ages from one to 12, could grow up and become a part of. Cupcakes and ice cream have great appeal to a large cross-section of people, and they are products that are happy and put a smile on people's faces.
rWhat led you to open a storefront on Main Street Annapolis?
rFrom the very beginning, Annapolis was a community we set our sights on. Through years of boating and spending a lot of time downtown Annapolis, where we have shopped at the cute stores and eaten at some of our favorite restaurants, we've always been enamored with the charm and appeal of Annapolis.
rHow do you come up with ideas for flavors of cupcakes?
rIt's a combination of visiting other bakeries around the country, watching the very popular cupcake TV shows, and taking everyday foods like cookies, candy, or fruit, and making a cupcake out of them.
rWhat are the most popular flavors of cupcakes and ice cream at the store? For cupcakes, it's probably a toss-up between the red velvet and JoJo's favorite, which is a vanilla cupcake with vanilla frosting. For ice cream, kids are partial to the Cookie Monster ice cream, which is bright blue and has cookie dough and chocolate cookies mixed in. Java Chip is a pretty popular ice cream, and we have a new flavor, S'mores, which has been really popular among both kids and adults.
rWhat makes JoJo's stand out from other local bakeries?
r
Our concept is totally different from any of the cupcake shops we've encountered because we've combined a bona fide gourtmet cupcake shop with the finest and freshest ice cream you'll find anywhere, and we've packaged it in a fun, family environment with bright colors and plenty of seating. In addition, with our JoJo's party room in Annapolis, we're promoting the idea of a cupcake and ice cream birthday party and other events, where friends and family come together to make and decorate cupcakes while celebrating a special occasion.
rJoJo's Cupcakes and Cream
188 Main Street, Annapolis
410-280-2254
jojoscupcakesandcream.com
Banana Cupcake
rIngredients
r- r
- • 2 1⁄4 cups all-purpose flour r
- • 1 teaspoon baking soda r
- • 1/4 teaspoon salt r
- • 3/4 cup butter r
- • 1 1⁄2 cups granulated sugar r
- • 3 eggs r
- • 1 1⁄2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract r
- • 2 very ripe bananas, mashed r
- • 3/4 cup sour cream r
- • 1 teaspoon cinnamon r
Directions
rPreheat the oven to 350 degrees.
rCream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs, vanilla, and bananas, and mix well.
rIn a medium-sized bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Alternate adding the flour mixture and sour cream to the wet ingredients. Blend thoroughly, but do not over-mix. Bake 20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
rBanana Buttercream Frosting
rIngredients
r- r
- • 1/2 cup butter r
- • Pinch of salt r
- • 1 pound of Confectioners sugar r
- • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract r
- • 1/2 tablespoon lite Karo syrup r
- • 3 tablespoons mashed ripe bananas r
- • Milk, as needed r
Directions
rBlend the butter, salt, vanilla, Karo syrup, and banana. Add the sugar and beat until smooth. If the frosting is too stiff, add whole milk by the teaspoon until the frosting is the desired consistency.
rPipe the frosting on the cupcake using a Wilton Tip 1M or 1A, and top with a dried banana chip.
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