If there’s one small silver lining that appeared from the Covid-19 crisis, it has to be the influx of Instagram home bakers that have blossomed during the circuit breaker. In fact, some of the desserts we’ve seen appear online have been so incredibly creative, it’s become our latest obsession! From customised cakes to delectable brownies and cookies, there definitely a home baker online that will have something you love.
But be warned, some of these pastries go out fast—sometimes even within minutes. So if you’ve got a sweet tooth and some spare cash to burn, turn on your Instagram notifications ‘cos you won’t want to miss out on any of these home bakers and bakeries on our list.
Founder of Mimieu Bakery Liz was one-half of the former home bakery Farine Affairs. The Instagram baker is known for sourdough, who transforms it into flavours such as Slutty Spam with spam and cheddar cheese and Double Camembert Sourdough with the namesake French cheese. Mimieu Bakery also does sweets too, including cookies and cheesecakes. DM via Instagram to order.
The other half of Farine Affairs is Rachel, who went on to start Alouette. Similarly, Alouette offers similar products in terms of sourdough, focaccia and cheesecake like Mimieu Bakery. Conversely, Alouette has unique flavours such as Chunky Giant Valrhona Chocolate Cookies ($34 for four), Baileys Burny Cheesecake ($72) and Valrhona Chocolate x Baileys Burnt Cheesecake ($108). DM via Instagram to order.
If you need a showstopping cake to impress your family and friends, head over to Zizou Cake Boutique. The home bakery was founded by mother-of-two Azizah Mohamed in 2015 and has since amassed a sizeable following hankering for her unique cakes and cupcakes decorated to the nines with buttercream, macarons and more. Email them via hi@zizoucakeboutique.com to order.
If soft, fudgy cookies and cream-filled doughnuts are your things, then you need to follow Puffs And Peaks’ Instagram page, stat. This home baker makes small batches of artisanal baked goods and does limited-edition drops that are best served with its housemade cold brew coffee. Puffs And Peaks has since expanded to its own store in Tampines and takes preorders every Monday at 7pm. Order here.
866A Tampines Street 83, #03-03 Central Community Complex, Singapore 521866
With a star resume peppered with world-renowned restaurants such as Restaurant Andre, Noma, Black Star Pastry, Zumbo and Quay, you’re in good hands when it comes to Chef Matin’s pastries. If you love experimental pastries with interesting flavours, you’ll definitely want to order one of Le Matin Patisserie’s pastry boxes. Alternatively, head to the physical store at Raeburn Park and pick from the myriad of options available.
10 Raeburn Park, #01-25 Block B, Singapore 088702
Basque burnt cheesecakes continue to be popular despite having been around since 2019. And with its cool flavour variants and artisanal look, we can see why this cake has become Instagram catnip. If you’re looking to order one, head over to The Whisking Well to try their MSW Durian Burnt Cheesecake. Founded by the duo Francesco and Jaz, the bakery prides itself on its modern rustic desserts and we bet you their desserts taste just as great as they look.
183 Jln Pelikat, #01-73 The Promenade @ Pelikat, Singapore 537643
Started by Karen, who calls herself the friendly #Doughminatrix, Bespoke Bread was created as a way to combine Karen’s love for visual storytelling and baking bread. A freelance video producer and editor, Karen is a self-taught home baker who pivoted to making bread when most of her corporate and broadcast projects were shelved due to Covid-19.
Luckily for all of us bread fiends out there, now she specialises in making fusion sourdough bread that goes big on Asian flavours. She uses ingredients that are readily available here, which allows her to create unique flavours that you can’t find at any commercial bakery.
Karen currently focuses on sourdough baking classes and occasionally opens up for bake sales. Keep up with her via her website.
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One look at the cakes appearing on Say Lee’s Instagram page, and you know this is one baker who is dedicated to #aesthetics. This art director is also heavily dedicated to the art of flower arrangement, and that influence can be seen in the way she decorates her cakes.
While not much be found on her Instagram bio apart from the fact that she specialises in chiffon cakes, Say Lee does seem to take special commissions and uses the brief given to her by her customers to come up with these wonderful and tasty creations. This one, in particular, was inspired by Singapore’s birthday and reputation as a garden city and is made with pandan chiffon, gula melaka and durian.
Founded by Fiona, Whiskdom specialises in soft baked gooey gourmet cookies and brownie bake boxes. They are so popular that they have expanded to two outlets, one along North Bridge Road and another in Orchard Central, making their bakes even more accessible to us.
757 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198725 and 181 Orchard Rd, #04-22/22B Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
If you’re the sort that loves soft fluffy buns, then Nico Bakes is the account for you. While she started out with cakes and cinnamon rolls, she’s now known for her cream-filled Cloud Buns. Like its name, these fluffy buns tempt you to squish them through the screen. Each box comes with six buns and retails at $18 a pop. Nico Bakes also bakes them daily and delivers them on the same day to maintain ultimate freshness.
Here are some of the flavours available currently:
- Cinnabuns
- Strawberry Milk Clouds
- Nutella Clouds
- Speculoos Clouds
- Matcha White Choc Clouds
- Choco Clouds
- White Choc Clouds
- Coffee Clouds
- Vanilla Bean Clouds
Frostedbyfang was started by accidental baker Fang, who looked at baking as a creative outlet. One thing led to another, and now the self-taught home baker receives orders from delighted customers and corporate companies looking for specialised gifting. If you’re up for being surprised with new and creative desserts, Fang holds regular bake sales where she curates a box of assorted baked goods that are a combination of bestsellers as well as new flavours she experiments with.
While most of the bakers on Instagram have been concentrating on Western desserts, Terang Bulan specialises in Martabak Manis, a sweet Indonesian pancake smothered in cheese, chocolate and bananas. You can order directly from Terang Bulan and have the martabak delivered to you. Else you can check out their Instagram for updates for whenever they open a stall at a Pasar Malam. Prices start at $8.50 for a standard pancake.
This is arguably one of the most popular places to get croissants. Brotherbird Bakehouse is in-demand that customers are only allowed to purchase five boxes per order. Each box, selling at $32.50, usually consists of both sweet and savoury croissants, as well as an original flavour so that you can try their croissants in their purest form. Order via the website here.
Brotherbird Bakehouse has multiple locations in Singapore
This bakery was set up by ex-primary school teacher Amrita and specialises in burnt cheesecake. However, the other options on the menu are just as exquisite-looking, making them perfect for any special occasion. When in doubt, you won’t go wrong with the Naked Burnt Cheesecake and Berried Burnt Cheesecake. Amrita also conducts baking workshops for those who want to learn a skill. Order via the website here.
Best known for its sourdough bread, this humble artisanal bakery also offers freshly made cakes and cookies, as well as four-cheese grilled cheese. The hole-in-the-wall bakery also serves up comforting favourites like nut butter toast ($8), which is layered with a generous spread of nut butter, which can vary from hazelnut to almond. You can also head to any of Micro’s two outlets to enjoy the bakes on the spot.
10 Jalan Serene, #01-05 Serene Centre, 258748 and 63 East Coast Rd, #01-06 The Red House, Singapore 428776
Specialising in sourdough bread and cookies, Witty Wheat is all about quality ingredients (they only use French, German and Italian wheat/rye and grains in their bread) and creating delicious bread without preservatives, dairy (except in cheese bread), sugar, commercial yeast, additives and colouring. Order via the website here.
Inspired by her grandmother’s recipes and a love for baking at home, Julia’s bakes offer classic flavours and elegant designs in a range of cakes, cookies, cupcakes and brownies. Her Viennese Whirls expand beyond traditional flavours to include coffee and speculoos, ondeh ondeh and kinako sesame making them a treat for the tastebuds. Just Julia also placed a notice on Instagram that they are closed for walk-in and website orders till February 4, 2023. Order via the website here.
11 Cavan Road, #01-08 Cavan Suites, Singapore 209848
Text: Cheryl Chan, Karen Fong and Ho Guo Xiong