(SPOT.ph) All cake shops have their own bestsellers—their signature cakes that make them famous and that stand the test of time. But it’s also worth looking beyond the crowd favorites, and exploring their other creations that might not be as hyped but are every bit worth trying nevertheless. We’ve done exactly that in this list: Check out these lesser-known but well-made offerings from some of Manila’s best-known cake shops, because it’s time these cakes got their fair share of the spotlight.
Go for these underrated cakes in Manila the next time you’re hankering for something sweet:
Wildflour’s Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake
When you think of Wildflour, their towering Salted Chocolate Cake (which has been a constant on our many Top 10 Chocolate Cake lists) likely comes to mind. But if you’re looking for a more classic take on the dessert, go for their Old-Fashioned Chocolate Cake (P1,200/mini cake, P1,900/whole cake). It’s an excellent rendition of a classic, with a deep and dark chocolate flavor, uber-moist cake base, and thick coffee custard that brings out the flavor of the chocolate. This cake is available through their website.
For orders, visit Wildflour To-Go’s website.
Cara Mia’s Sea Salted Honey Crunch
You may have likely tried (and loved) Cara Mia’s Ube Cake, but there’s more to the brand than that. Don’t miss their Sea Salted Honey Crunch cake (P770), which features the combo of mocha and caramel, with fluffy chiffon-cake layers, a light mocha-cream filling, and a sea-salted honey crunch that adds just the right amount of savoriness to balance all the flavors out. You can visit their website to get your fix.
For orders, check out Cara Mia’s website.
Big Al’s Cookie Jar’s Butter Caramel Cake
Big Al’s Cookie Jar’s got more to them than just their famous Decadent Chocolate Cake; give their Butter Caramel Cake (P400) a try as well. This cake highlights the rich and buttery taste of caramel in the form of a butter cake topped with their signature caramel sauce—perfect by itself, or with a cup of good coffee on the side. You can place your orders through their website; note that you’ll have to book your own courier for delivery. You also have the option of ordering via GrabFood.
For orders, check out Big Al’s Cookie Jar’s website or find Big Al’s Cookie Jar on GrabFood.
Pasteleria Manila’s Red Bean Cake
While Pasteleria Manila rose to fame with their Brazo Bars and witty Caramel Cakes, their Red Bean Cake (P1,735/whole cake) deserves its time in the spotlight too. Think hopiang hapon turned into a light, fluffy, creamy dessert: It’s got a red bean-speckled frosting that coats its soft cake layers, plus a topping of sweetened red beans for good measure. You can order this cake through their website.
For orders, check out Pasteleria Manila’s website.
Nono’s Blueberry Cheesecake
You might not automatically associate Nono’s (a.k.a. the makers of the famous Chocolate Oblivion cake!) with cheesecake, but they serve up an excellent rendition—dubbed the Blueberry Cheesecake (P1,555/eight inches)—which deserves to be on more people’s radars. With its dense and rich cheese filling, chunky crust, and thick and tart blueberry topping, it even landed on our Top 10 Blueberry Cheesecakes in Manila list. You can order through Foodpanda or by giving the branch nearest you a call.
For orders, find Nono’s on Foodpanda. You can also contact the branch nearest you. For more information, check out Nono’s website.
The Pastry Cart’s Lemon Meringue Cake
The Pastry Cart’s Creme Brulee Cake is famous for good reason, but that’s not all The Pastry Cart does well. Try their Lemon Meringue Cake (P1,200) too—it’s got a wonderfully tart lemon-curd filling and sweet, lightly torched meringue topping that makes for a vibrant-tasting afternoon treat. You can text one of their contact numbers to place your order.
For orders, send a message to 0916-745-7729 (Valle Verde Pasig), 0905-283-2413 (Tomas Morato), or 0917-504-1204 (Makati, Taguig, or Parañaque). For more information, check out The Pastry Cart’s Instagram page.
Patisserie Bebe Rouge’s Mont Blanc
This Japanese-French bakery has more up their sleeves beyond their famous Strawberry Shortcake. Try the Mont Blanc if you get the chance—their take on the classic French chestnut-cream pastry, which features a smooth chestnut-cream exterior and a light, not-too-sweet interior of chestnut, cream, and cake. You’ll find the mini size (P185) on their pastry shelves on some days, but you can also order a 12-centimeter (P830), 15-centimeter (P1,210), or 18-centimeter (P1,820) version if you call two to three days ahead. Bebe Rouge doesn’t deliver, but you can book your own courier to get their goods sent to your doorstep.
For orders, contact 0917-851-9636. You can also check out Patisserie Bebe Rouge’s Facebook page.
Lia’s Cakes in Season’s Avocado Sansrival
Lia’s Cakes in Season has proven to have a good hand at avocado desserts, and while its cake version is most famous, be sure to check out the Avocado Sansrival (P1,580). You get the same earthy avocado flavor as in the cake, but with a different textural experience—one that’s crisp, chewy, and creamy all at once. You can check out their website to order your own.
For orders, check out Lia’s Cakes in Season’s website.
Costa Brava’s Ube Cake
Who doesn’t love Costa Brava’s famous Caramel Cake? Don’t miss out on their Ube Cake (starts at P1,000), though. As with all their cakes, it uses a delicate and jiggly chiffon base—but this time it’s paired with an equally light and not-too-sweet ube buttercream that takes on a natural, grayish-purple hue. The flavor isn’t of artificial purple yam, either—we suspect it’s made with real ube halaya in the mix. They don’t deliver, but you can give them a call at least a day before to order and book your own Grab or Lalamove car to get it sent to your doorstep.
For orders, contact 8896-1267, 8896-6272, 8403-6627, 8984-3949, or 0917-701-1370. You can also check out Costa Brava’s Instagram page.
Cupcakes by Sonja’s Supreme Salted Caramel Cake
Yep, Cupcakes by Sonja has more to offer than just cupcakes! Don’t miss their Supreme Salted Caramel Cake (P1,650), which has a moist and fudgy chocolate-cake base, rich Valrhona ganache buttercream, and a layer of salted caramel that adds just the right amount of savory to balance out all the chocolate. To order, you can look for them on Foodpanda, GrabFood, or LalaFood.
For orders, find Cupcakes by Sonja on Foodpanda, GrabFood, or LalaFood. You can also check out Cupcakes by Sonja’s Facebook page.