Dessert of the Month: Jessie's Nutty Cups
Our January vendor is based in NYC and is a Dessert Goals alumni who has participated in many of our New York festivals as well as our most recent Los Angeles edition.
Jessie’s Nutty Cups are produced with quality ingredients combined with creativity, love and passion. They are by far the best peanut butter cups we have ever tasted, plus they look so cute in photos!
Read on to learn more about Jessie’s Nutty Cups. Don’t forget to sign up by January 15th to receive January’s box! Sign up here. February will be the final month of Dessert of the Month, so don’t miss out on this dessert party!
Meet Jessica, founder of Jessie’s Nutty Cups.
What is the origin story of Jessie's Nutty Cups?
It all started back in 2014 when I made some peanut butter cups for a friends farewell party off of a recipe I found online. While that first batch of cups was good, I felt like they could be better and so the experimenting began. When I thought I was done some friends said I should sell them... and while at that point I never thought I'd be going Nutty full time, I thought, why the heck not, and thus Jessie's Nutty Cups was born.
Tell us the most rewarding part about owning a business? Where do you believe you get your entrepreneurial spirit from?
The most rewarding part of owning a business has to be people's responses to our Nutty Cups. I come from a theater background, and what drew me to that was that it was my way of making just a bit of a difference in peoples lives. When I started Jessie's Nutty Cups, I quickly realized that I could have a similar effect on people through my peanut butter cups. I've had the pleasure of watching many try Nutty Cups for the first time, and that look of pure joy at their first bite is what drives me to keep going. It's like i've given them a moment of pure Nutty bliss where they are able to escape and forget everything else that might be going on. If even just for a second, I was able to add a smile to their day, and that makes it all worth it. As for where my entrepreneurial spirit came from, I honestly have no idea. I initially started Jessie's Nutty Cups because I (naively) thought that it would be a great way to supplement my income while continuing to work on my acting career... needless to say those dreams of the big broadway have taken a bit of a back seat and are now filled with lots of chocolate and peanut butter.
What is your process of creating new desserts and themed flavors?
I can't say I have much of a process. Peanut butter and chocolate go with so many things, so when I come across a new combination, or see peanut butter or chocolate paired with something I haven't tried yet, I get to work! And I try not to let my own initial reaction to a combination get in the way of trying it. For example, when someone first suggested peppermint I thought they were out of their mind. I mean chocolate and peppermint work beautifully, but peanuts and peppermint? And now our Nutty Peppermint Cup has become our December staple!
What is your favorite dessert recipe to make at home?
My favorite would probably have to be when we bake our Christmas butter cookies. It's more of nostalgic bake than anything as it always takes me back to making cookies with my mom or Oma when I was little. And now I'm beyond excited to bake them with my daughter every year.
Do you have any advice for others out there who are interested in starting a 'sweet' business?
Find a community of other like minded food-prenuers. Jessie's Nutty Cups would not be where it is today if it wasn't for the incredible small food business owners I met along the way. It is wonderful and beyond valuable to have someone or some people to bounce ideas off of, ask questions, and commiserate with when the going gets tough.
In 3 words, describe your brand.
Nutty, Fun, Sophisticated
