The Noche Buena celebration is not complete without the centerpiece: the cake! Sink your teeth into these decadent cakes that you can find around malls in manila.
Chocolate Fudge Cake from Mom & Tina’s Bakery Café (P550/6”, P950/8”, P2,850/12”)
Remember that iconic scene in the 1996 film Matilda where Matilda’s classmate Bruce was punished to eat a giant, chewy, gooey, chocolate cake by the terrifying Miss Trunchbull? Well, we’re pretty sure it’s this exact cake from Mom & Tina’s.
You might be thinking, what so special about this chocolate cake? It’s a no-frills, heartwarming classic that you can always rely on, but most especially this holiday season where a dash of nostalgia is always welcome. The rich and moist cake base is wrapped in a thick layer of fudgy icing that you can gnaw on. And who can say no to that?
Mom & Tina’s is located at O Square Building, Greenhills Shopping Centre
S’mores Snowman Train from Boulangerie22 (P799)
The beloved campfire treat has taken many different forms over the years: brownies, cookies, dips, and now, cake! You get all the sweet toasty taste and gooey crunchy texture in one convenient package with adorable snowmen and Christmas trees toppers to boot.
The festive s’mores cake from Boulangerie22 has a crunchy graham cracker crust layered with coffee chiffon and coffee mousse, then topped with torched marshmallow fluffs. Protip: this sweet delight pairs perfectly with a cup of black coffee.
Boulangerie22 is located at Shoppesville, Greenhills Shopping Center
Mango Passion from Caramia (P1,150)
The best thing about living in the tropics? Mangoes are always in season! So it comes as no surprise when cafe and bakeshops whip up their own creative iteration on the juicy yellow fruit.
The Mango Passion from Caramia is made to visually impress. The gelato cake is generously mixed with mango chunks and layered between shortbread pie crust. It’s topped by even more mango slices and a blend of fresh berries. Caramia, obviously, doesn’t like to skimp out on ingredients. It feels almost painful to have to slice into this tall beauty.
Caramia is located at Lower Ground Floor, Left Wing, Estancia Mall and Promenade, Greenhills
Carrot Cake from Wildflour (P2,875)
Leave it to Wildflour to give sweet tooths the heftiest cake they can eat in one sitting. This carrot-y confection is a massive tower of alternating layers of cake and cream cheese. A slice will allow you to get a good view of its filling ingredients: thin strips of carrots, raisins, and walnuts. It is moist and dense – you will definitely feel the weight with every slice. Expect to taste hints of cinnamon and ginger, which is perfect for the holiday season. Plus, the generous spread of tart and tangy cream cheese balances its overall sweetness.
Wildflour is located at O’Square Building, Greenhills Shopping Center
Sans Rival from Cafe Mary Grace (P459/Mini, P1,229/Whole)
Because of its popularity, Sans Rival is a dessert specially reserved for special occasions including Christmas! Sans Rival literally means “unrivaled” in French, and we agree. This Filipino classic is a well-cherished treat that stands second to none.
Every slice of Cafe Mary Grace’s Sans Rival has silky and crunchy meringue layers and butter frosting with a dusting of roughly sliced cashews. It’s always a reliable dessert option after feasting on savoury Noche Buena dishes.
Cafe Mary Grace is located at Lower Ground Floor, Left Wing, Estancia Mall and Lower Ground Floor, Unimart Building, Greenhills Shopping Center
For more self-indulgent treats, visit malls in manila: Estancia, Greenhills, Tiendesitas, and Industria.
