All The Sweet Nothings

10 minutes in the steamer and you get these pretty baos very soft and fluffy! Just Dough sells these baos in lots of different flavours, most of which come with these generous fillings. Didn’t really know what to expect with this durian one, but it was actually pretty impressive for its price. Albeit a little too sweet for me, it was not bad in creaminess and had a slight hint of that familiar durian bitterness. May not be for everyone though!

If you’re like me and don’t like lemon curds that are more sweet, this would be your thing! Really enjoyed the tangy and citrusy homemade lemon curd filling here that’s much sharper than the usuals. Cruffin’s fluffy and flaky. A delightful treat to have, best warmed up for a better crunch.

All the tarts we’ve tried from June Bakery thus far have been lovely and this Apple Crumble was no exception! There’s different textures here, from the crumbles and buttery tart shell to the soft apples. Even though it’s small, you get a good ratio of apples to pastry. It’s sweet enough to satisfy without being cloying.

I know it doesn’t look the most satisfying without a browned top, but this cheese tart had a very satisfying balance of savoury cheesiness and sweetness. Even better after warming it up in the oven!

If you’re a fan of orh nee, I’d recommend going for their Orh Nee Tarts ($1.20)! The yam paste was much more distinct there as compared to being a little overwhelmed by the peanuts here. That aside, the muah chee is soft and chewy but slightly thick.

After missing out on these on the first visit, we made sure to call beforehand to reserve some! Really like how June Bakery’s tart fillings are all mildly sweet and come in their melt in your mouth kind of buttery shortcrust pastry. This orh nee paste was smooth, fragrant and came in a generous portion. Will definitely be back for more. The friendly sweet couple who owns the place does all the baking themselves!

Was hoping to try the Hojicha version, but they only had Matcha available the day we went. Liked that this was less sweet compared to the original and the matcha notes were pretty distinct. Texture wise though, we still liked the original better as it had more of that creamy ooziness.

Missed this during the previous visit and was glad to be able to pick it up this time round! Unlike the usual kouign amann, the sweetness level is taken a notch down here - works out nicely if you’re not a big fan of sweets. It’s also less dense, with a fluffier texture. We enjoyed the crunchy buttery layers, but it’s a bit pricey for its size.

Am sure Tom’s Palette needs no introduction! It’s my favourite spot for quality yet affordable ice cream with unique flavours. Their Parmesan Cheese & Cream Crackers is one of the ones I always get, for its savoury sweet notes and generous bits of crackers.

Though their new spot is not officially opened, you can still get your hands on their tubs via weekly online pre-orders for delivery and self-pickup. Just like how they rotate their flavours in-store, they do so for these pre-orders too! They’re also giving a free DIY ice cream kit for every 2 tubs purchased for self-pickup, or 4 for delivery. Updates are all on their Instagram, @tomspalettesg.

Got to try these brownies from @inanutshellbakery recently, and they reminded us of chunkier old school brownies! There were hidden bits of dark chocolate and crunchy walnuts in between - was a nice snack to have as they were chocolatey without being too sweet. Orders can be made via their Instagram.

The onde onde skin was unfortunately too thick for our liking. Haven’t tried their other types of kueh, but definitely try their lemper!

Finally got to try Bakery Brera’s rendition of the trending burnt cheesecake. Loved the oozy molten centre, and its creaminess with a rich use of cheese! While it was still a nice slice with good texture, we found it too sweet especially with the caramelised glaze on top.