The Creation of Jarva Cakes - The Story Behind the Bliss

We have spent a lot of time this summer at local Farmer's Markets and craft fairs, and we are fortunate to chat with all sorts of interesting people.  For many, it is their first encounter of the warm, chocolatey goodness of Jarva Cakes and for that reason, many questions arise. "You need how many tablespoons of water?" people ask.  "What's your favorite flavor?" "You mean you can cook it right in that cup?" "Have you considered going on Shark Tank?"  One question that invariably gets asked about Jarva Cakes when people first encounter them is: How did you get the idea?

The idea was the creative genius of the company's owner, Michelle Shields. Michelle, or Michella la Bella, as her Italian grandparents so lovingly called her when she was growing up (and which not coincidentally graces the labels of the cakes) owes the creation of her cakes to her husband, Dean. According to Michelle, Dean had a sweet tooth which he liked to satisfy by bringing home a personal-sized cake from work each night which he would eat before supper. Knowing his family history of diabetes and wanting to control his sugar intake, Michelle searched for a new solution to the sweet tooth problem. Taking a lesson from her own Italian heritage, she created a recipe through a process of trial and error for a chocolate molten lava cake which could be made in small batches and whipped up in seconds.

With this, the original cake recipe was born. As time passed, and Michelle mastered the chocolate molten lava cake and Dean continued to devour them, the wheels in her mind began to turn. And as they turned, she began to consider making more cakes. And packaging them. And possibly even creating a  business out of it. In 2013, Jarva Cakes was established. The namesake comes from their original packaging, which was a small mason jar in which the cakes were stored and then cooked.

Since then, Michelle has converted the mason jar into a uniquely designed paper ripple cup, due to requests for a larger cake and the necessity for something more practical and portable. In just over a year, Jarva Cakes have become popular among natives of Southern Maine and have been shipped all over the United States.  They can be found in various stores, restaurants, markets, and campgrounds spanning from Kittery to Freeport, and have recently been approved into Maine Made, a state organization which aims at showcasing only the finest Maine products and artisans.

So there's the story behind the bliss. Want to know more? Visit our website at jarvacakes.com and bookmark our blog for updates on the latest Farmer's market and craft fair scoop, new locations to purchase Jarva Cakes, and details on our new charity idea.