Don’t all of us love old-school bakeries? There’s one thing about their no-frills interiors and sinking your enamel into some nostalgic bakes that simply whisks you away to ‘less complicated instances’. Craving that whiff of nostalgia one superb Thursday, I launched into a pilgrimage to the heartlands of Bukit Merah for none apart from Love Confectionery.
Nestled below an HDB block in Alexandra, 45-year-old Love Confectionery has been churning out old-school bakes since 1979. With old-timey brick crimson flooring tiles and a yellowed signboard with its identify written in a retro cursive font, its facade regarded as if it was plucked straight out of a classic {photograph}.
I gravitated in the direction of the wood-fronted glass cupboards that housed cabinets of bakes. Vibrant slices of buttercream truffles, bread buns and cream puffs— these goodies haven’t aged a day!
As if that wasn’t already sufficient to get me going, nothing was priced above S$1.50. I manoeuvred my method into the cramped store to fetch myself some tongs and a tray, and thus started my buying spree.
Love Confectionery gives an array of old-school packaged snacks too. I held again on the temptation to get myself a bag of sugary roti kok and a few chilli tapioca chips. I saved my concentrate on the recent baked items; they’re the essence of the bakery in spite of everything.
The vary of bakes wasn’t too large. It didn’t take me lengthy to pile my tray and hand it to the auntie to have them boxed up. In now not than quarter-hour, I used to be off on my journey again to the workplace to feast on all of them.
What I attempted at Love Confectionery
Judging by the sheer selection on show, it was clear that the Buttercream Cake (S$1.50 every) was Love Confectionery’s signature providing. As a lot as I needed to seize considered one of each kind, I settled on simply the 4 I needed to strive most .
I’d describe these as delicate; I needed to raise and switch every bit to my tray with further look after concern of them crumbling earlier than my digital camera and I might eat. Not with out shedding a number of sprinkles and crumbs alongside the best way, although.
The kid in me dove straight for the one with Rainbow Sprinkles. The cake was fluffy and never too dry. It had hints of vanilla with a light sugary sweetness supplemented by the rainbow sprinkles. I notably loved the textural distinction between the delicate sponge and the crunchy sprinkle bits.
The buttercream icing took me by nice shock. It didn’t have that oily texture that I discover off-putting. As an alternative, it was gentle and buttery, complementing the candy cake properly.
My different Buttercream Cake selections included the Rainbow Rice, Peanut and Coconut variations. It’s fairly self-explanatory— they shared the identical cake base and icing however differed of their toppings.
True to its (equally) multicoloured look, the Rainbow Rice Buttercream Cake tasted nearly precisely like its Rainbow Sprinkle twin. Nonetheless, the rainbow rice bits supplied a crunchier texture and a extra pronounced sugary profile.
Amongst these, the Peanut Buttercream Cake stood out as my favorite. The peanut crumbles supplied a pleasant crunch, complementing the buttery vanilla sponge completely with their nice nutty aroma.
Excitedly, I moved on to strive the Coconut variation. Its presentation resembled a mini snow-scape in cake kind, with superb flakes of desiccated coconut atop the mattress of white icing. Sadly, it fell in need of my expectations because the sponge cake turned out reasonably dry. It might’ve been simply my luck, although, as not one of the different truffles suffered from the identical downside.
It was time to change issues up slightly with one thing savoury. I went for none apart from my childhood favorite Hotdog Bun (S$1). Confession: I’ve at all times most popular the standard hotdog buns from neighbourhood bakeries to these from atas bakeries with their fancy Vienna sausages.
Love Confectionery’s Hotdog Bun hit that candy spot for me. The bread was fluffy and delicate, with a brioche-esque sweetness complemented by the salty hen frank. Oh, if solely my abdomen have been bottomless; I’d have 10, please.
At S$0.60, the Custard Bun felt like a steal, particularly contemplating its measurement — bigger than the palm of my hand. This hefty bun was formed like a 3-petalled flower with bits of yellow custard peeking out of little crevices.
Sadly, thiswas fairly a let-down. Whereas I actually wasn’t anticipating custard to stream out like lava after I tore into it, I hoped that it’d be greater than meets the attention. The bun was sadly bland and nearly devoid of custard. Not even the sugar and the sesame seed toppings might salvage this one, sorry.
The Butter Bun was subsequent on the roster. Just like the Custard Bun, this was properly well worth the S$0.60 it price. I’d liken this to jiam tao roti, cut up open within the center with a smear of shiny yellow butter. It was topped with a liberal sprinkle of sugar crystals.
Regardless of its no-frills look, the Butter Bun fortunately wasn’t underwhelming. The bread was surprisingly delicate despite its seemingly crunchy exterior. The sugar crystals have been the standout aspect for me a minimum of, lending each a pleasant textural and flavour distinction to the fluffy bun and salty butter respectively.
As an enormous kaya fan, I needed to get the Kaya Bun (S$0.60). I excitedly tore into the bun, solely to disclose a skinny layer of kaya inside.
Disappointing filling apart, I’ll give credit score the place it’s due. The silky kaya was candy and extremely aromatic. As with the opposite buns I’ve tried and written about, the bread right here was good and fluffy — large thumbs up for consistency!
As if I wanted any extra dessert to spherical off an already-sweet feast, I grabbed some Custard Puffs for simply S$0.50 per piece.
The Choux pastry of those puffs is, frankly, not at all high-grade Pâte à Choux. Nonetheless, it holds a sure kitschy appeal and I very a lot loved its ethereal and chewy texture.
Every puff contained a good quantity of candy, eggy custard with a considerably puzzling agency consistency. I wouldn’t essentially take into account it a nasty factor, although. In hindsight, the Custard Puffs would possibly’ve been extra pleasurable if I had refrigerated them.
Closing Ideas
Though there have been a number of misses among the many hits in my expertise, Love Confectionery churns out some love-ly bakes, little doubt. Whereas they aren’t mind-blowingly good, I’d say that the bakery is price a go to for that style of nostalgia. The Hotdog Bun and Buttercream Cakes are those it’s a must to seize.
Above all, a serious draw for a lot of is how wallet-friendly the bakes are. I, for one, was totally glad by my purchases as a complete. I imply, check out the tray I’m holding in that image; it’s unbelievable how that price me simply S$10.30, isn’t it?
