Mojo Monkey Donuts

vraamoneyeats
Nov 24, 2019
2 min read

With probably the most unique name on this list, Mojo Monkey Donuts was named by a couple kids after Mojo Jojo from PowerPuff Girls. And those kids were the children of owner/Baker Lisa Clark. She says it has nothing to do with donuts but it’s all fun and that’s what makes her business enjoyable. The doors opened in 2011, after Lisa left Breadsmith to start her own business venture. She was a breadmaker and brought her skills and appreciation for high quality ingredients and passion for baking to Mojo. That’s exactly what she stands by here and what makes her shop stand out: small batches, high quality ingredients, handmade donuts, and appreciation for art. They’re handmade every day without the help of commercial mixes and by a baker who knows how to make her perfect donut. And that, my friends, is art.

Lemon Rosemary Bismarck, Egg Nog Bismarck, Chocolate Whoopie Pie Cake, Hot Cocoa Bismarck, Sweet Potato Cranberry Bismarck, Raised Candy Cane, Pumpkin Pie Bismarck

It starts with her own sourdough pre-ferment she learned from her training at Breadsmith. The yeast dough is enriched with mashed potatoes and parsnips?! What?! You read that right. It leaves the dough super soft, moist and flavorful without having to rely on tons of icing and glazes leaving you in a sugar coma. Lisa’s goal to help her business stand out is for it all to be a delicious experience by incorporating high quality, unique ingredients and revealing her passion of art into the donuts. Almost all of the donuts are a work of art from the colorful glazes, icings and toppings. For special occasions and holidays, they’ll release a donut celebrating the event or holiday and even better, “holiday packs” for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Anything from a yeast donut filed with caramelized sweet potato curd, loaded with sage dressing, topped with toasted marshmallow and candied cranberries for Thanksgiving to a dark chocolate cake donut dipped in cream cheese icing topped with a scoop of peppermint cookie dough, sprinkled with crushed Andes mints, all drizzled in chocolate sauce. If that doesn’t scream art, I don’t know what does.

Come in on weekends for their beignets that are made to order until they run out, which they always do. Having the dedication to make them to order is tough to come by at a donut shop but that’s the standard here. After living in New Orleans for more than a decade, Lisa learned what it takes to make the best beignets and knows beignets have to be eaten right away. Mojo is a place that appreciates the skill, time and ingredients it takes to make the best donut. No skimping on quality here which is why they have so much support from the community. Regulars are completely happy coming into this donut shop ordering a simple raised glazed even though 90% of their shelves are IG worthy works of art. It shows that the classics keeps the regulars coming back, but the specialties are what Lisa has fun with and brings in crowds until the shelves are empty.