Mojo Monkey Donuts
Complimentary Cinnamon Sugar Donut Holes
French Toast Old Fashioned Donut
Apple Fritter
Chocolate Banana Pecan Bismark
Blueberry Pancake Donut
Raspberry Tres Leches Cake Donut
Oreo Old Fashioned Donut
PB & J Potato Chip Bismark
Like most Midwestern towns a quick survey of the dining landscape clearly indicates that the Twin Cities love their Donuts, and although Glam Doll has long received national attention as the region’s best denizens of St. Paul frequently suggest Mojo Monkey as an alternative thanks to a frequently changing line-up featuring all-natural ingredients and the historical shunning of artificial coloring as well as Trans Fats.
Owned and operated by Lisa Clark since late 2011, a 7th Avenue location near the Mississippi River allowing easy access from both Minneapolis and St. Paul as well as the airport, it was mere moments after opening that the small storefront was found with just a man and his son already inside, Ms. Clark taking a moment away from hand-rolling Dough to offer greetings before another employee provided recommendations that turned a planned order of six into seven with several additional flavors also tempting.
Happy to indulge in a complimentary Cinnamon-Sugar dusted Donut Hole or two while waiting, the shops cheerful soundtrack and a few small tables providing ample reason to stick around and sample Mojo Monkey’s efforts, it was with items unboxed that first bites of a “French Toast” Old Fashioned showed good flavor but an unfortunately dry crumb, a quick transition to the $3.49 Fritter far more impressive thanks to plenty of Fruit plus a crisp exterior that was not overly saturated with Oil.
Priced similar to Glam Doll and other nationally regarded Doughnutteries, a $20.59 total certainly outpacing the likes of Dunkin but largely justified by ingredient quality and a human touch, it was next that attention turned to a pair of Bismarks, the light Brioche pockets filled well by Banana Pudding or Housemade Strawberry Preserves with texture added, respectively, by Nuts and Potato Chips.
Presumably ‘saving the best for last,’ a Chocolate Old Fashioned topped in Cookie Crumbs that was a bit less cakey than its kin though still not great aside, it was with delight that a ring described as “Blueberry Pancake” was found dense with Fruit and bold notes of Maple Syrup while the Tres Leches Cake Donut topped in Raspberries was moist but not soaked and sweet but not overly so.
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