Who needs a griddle when you can have your French toast in a cupcake?
Not to mention Champagne, Kahlua or bourbon, all enjoyable in cupcake form at the new Je T’aime Cupcakes and Cocktails store at the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford.
Je T’aime Cupcakes and Cocktails founders Maxine Harris and Laurren Robinson cut the ribbon Monday on their new retail outlet, their first physical location after two years in business making artisanal treats.
Currently open only on Fridays, the store offers the duo’s signature liquor-infused cupcakes along with a range of non-alcoholic treats including the “Chanana Berry,” a chocolate-banana cupcake with a swirled espresso and berry medley buttercream. Catering is also offered for corporate events, weddings, birthdays and other celebrations.
Adult cupcakes include the “Queen Elizabeth,” rosewater-flavored cake topped with raspberry champagne and mint frosting, a dusting of 10-karat gold, edible rose petals, sugar pearls and a frozen raspberry.
The “Better Be Bourbon” fills a dark chocolate bourbon cupcake with bourbon- and salted caramel liqueur-infused pudding and tops it with spiced bourbon mascarpone frosting and dulce de leche drizzle.
Other treats feature on-trend touches like butterfly pea flower tea, tres leches cake and vegan versions of the most popular cupcakes. Alcohol-infused cupcakes cost $8 each, with virgin cakes retailing for $5 or $6.
Robinson took her experiences as a leader of the Gateway Community College Activities Board and a post in finance at Yale New Haven Health to build the Je T’aime brand.
Harris has worked in food and beverage roles at Mory’s in New Haven, Dave & Busters and Arooga’s restaurant at Mohegan Sun, in addition to six years at Yale University’s catering and hospitality department. She blended her beverage and food experience to help craft Je T’aime’s offerings.
After launching their cupcake businesses, the two women graduated from the Food Business Accelerator, a partnership between Collab and CitySeed that supports early-stage Connecticut food entrepreneurs.
The duo also collaborated on an online fundraising effort to help raise money for the physical location. Called the JTM Building Fund, the fundraiser offers four donation tiers ranging from $25 to $500.
Je T’aime Cupcakes and Cocktails products are also available for sale at retail locations including at the newly opened Armada Brewing on River St., which collaborated with the company on a cupcake featuring the brewery’s beer.
“The Executioner” cupcake pairs a dark chocolate cake with white chocolate mousse infused with Armada’s Night’s Executioner Russian Imperial Stout and Godiva’s white chocolate liqueur.
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
