(SPOT.ph) You know what they say about classics in the fashion world: they’re the tried-and-tested staples that stand the test of time. The same is true in the dessert world; some confections continue to wow us time and time again, like a proper cupcake that joins the fluffy bite of cake and the creaminess of frosting, or a well-made cheesecake that’s rightfully silky-smooth and rich.
One spot in Manila that pulls these bakes off reliably well is M Bakery, which came to our shores from New York and opened their first Philippine outpost in BGC in 2018. The brand was quickly embraced by the dessert-loving Filipino crowd, wowing with their whimsical store front and range of sweet treats that gave us a taste of classic Americana. Think banana pudding, Southern American cakes, cookies, and more that rely on proper execution—rather than frills or novelty—to stand out. Since making their splash in the country four years ago they’ve come to evolve, introducing new products and recently even debuting a new look—and if you’re torn on what to order, you can’t go wrong with these bestsellers.
Note: this link is not ranked.
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These are the desserts from M Bakery that you should have tried by now:
Banana Pudding
Think of M Bakery and we’re pretty sure the Banana Pudding (starts at P155/small) comes to mind. This classic Americana dessert well exemplifies the idea of a whole that’s more than the sum of its parts, with the perfectly creamy-fruity-lush way bananas, vanilla pudding, and vanilla wafers come together.
Cupcakes
For the true dessert enthusiast, cupcakes are so much more than just shrunken-down cakes; they’re a whole category of their own, and M Bakery does these confections justice. Their line of cupcakes (starts at P130) come in a number of flavor variants; included are classics like the Vanilla, Chocolate, and Red Velvet, though they also have other flavors on rotation. (The Date Cupcake, a personal favorite of the author, shouldn’t be missed when available.)
Tres Leches Cake
The definitive dairy dessert known as tres leches wows with its rich, milk-forward profile and M Bakery’s version (P265/solo, P2,200/family size) doesn’t disappoint. With evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream in their milk soak, there’s plenty of richness to be had here—yet it’s also worth noting that the sponge cake they use manages to absorb all that dairy without losing its its integrity.
Blueberry Jamboree
It’s easy to mistake the Blueberry Jamboree (starts at P395/bar) for its more popular dessert cousin, blueberry cheesecake, at first glance—but it’s distinct, and arguably even better. Here, a sheet of crumbly-buttery pecan shortbread serves as the crust, and a lush yet barely-sweet mix of cream cheese and whipped cream serves as the filling. From there, a topping of fresh and cooked-down blueberries breathe tanginess and vibrancy into every forkful.
Classic Icebox Cake
Icebox cakes are an ode to the cooling powers of the refrigerator—and time—as it takes biscuits, wafers, or cookies and layers it with some form of pudding and cream, and these components just about become one with each other (with the latter softening the former) after a couple of hours in the fridge. You’re likely familiar with it in the form of the popular Filipino dessert that is mango float, but for a more chocolatey variation, try M Bakery’s Classic Icebox Cake (starts at P215/solo) that’s got homemade chocolate wafer cookies layered with sweetened whipped cream.
Caramel Pecan Cheesecake
Fruit-topped cheesecakes tend to be more popular in these parts, but it’s well worth trading your usual blueberry number for M Bakery’s Caramel Pecan Cheesecake (starts at P305/three inches). For starters, it’s got a cheesecake base that’s rich and thick without being too dense, lightly kissed by real vanilla. And with a topping of buttery caramel and lightly toasted pecans, the resulting dessert delivers the best of tangy and sultry worlds.
Chocolate Parfait
More is more is more when it comes to M Bakery’s Chocolate Parfait (P215), which has chocolate pudding, chocolate cake, whipped cream, and chocolate shavings layered intricately in a clear cup that showcases their contrasting colors. Yet it all comes together cohesively with every element contributing to the whole: the silkiness and lightness of the pudding balances out the richness of the cake, and the whipped cream evens out the duskiness of the chocolate.
Carrot Cake
M Bakery’s take on the down-home dessert that is Carrot Cake is not for the faint of heart, being tall and thick (starts at P325/slice). Slice in and you’ll find alternating layers of smooth cream cheese frosting and moist cake; the cake layers are on the substantial yet fluffy side, studded with shredded coconut, raisins (haters can potate; they totally work), and shredded pineapple. Though a touch lighter in color and flavor than other versions around, you nevertheless get the subtly spiced, subtly tangy combo the classic dessert is well-loved for—and we are all for it.
Chocolate-Dipped Macaroon
Macaroons—the coconut-based confection that’s part-chewy and part-sweet—have a nostalgic appeal taken on their own. But add chocolate to the mix and you get a more sophisticated treat that delivers double the decadence. M Bakery’s Chocolate-Dipped Macaroon (P75) gives you exactly that, with a smooth dark chocolate dip adding dusky depth to every sweet bite of their macaroons made with desiccated coconut.
Calamansi Icebox
Key lime pie can step aside for M Bakery’s Calamansi Icebox (starts at P215/solo), a similar take on the Western dessert that instead uses our own calamansi. The result? A bright, tangy dessert with the signature zeal of the Filipino citrus, thanks to its combo of calamansi custard, a graham cracker crust, and whipped cream.
Photos courtesy of M Bakery
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