
Photography by Tony Valainis
One day, Jordan Justice may find herself whipping up a chocolate peanut butter Oreo cake with racing stripes for a themed birthday party, and another day she may be crafting a dairy-free cardamom pistachio cake with buttercream frosting. It’s what she loves about running JaJustice Bakes, a purveyor of made-to-order cakes and other confections. “I really like being able to make exactly what people want,” says Justice, who runs her microbakery out of her near eastside home. “I have the flexibility to offer a truly custom experience.”
She enjoys collaborating directly with clients, allowing her to accommodate dietary requirements and restrictions. “Baking was something I always, in some ways, romanticized,” says Justice, who started making sweet treats with her mom during childhood.
When she made plans to move to Indianapolis from Bloomington in 2020, friends Adam and Alicia Sweet, owners of King Dough and Natural State Provisions, invited her to start a baking program. However, the pandemic forced Justice to switch gears, so she began showcasing her baking on social media. “I was thinking I’d see what would happen,” she says.
Local businesses began to take notice, and JaJustice Bakes quickly expanded. She also still supplies treats to King Dough and Natural State Provisions. Meanwhile, mouthwatering photos on her Instagram continue to fuel her stream of custom orders from her followers. Justice says many clients are delighted to support a truly local, small business. “My work feels really community-driven,” she says. “I’m definitely making things for neighbors.” Instagram @jajusticebakes, jajusticebakes@gmail.com