If you’re into light, fluffy cakes and fruit-based desserts, look no further than local bakery Not So Sweet Cakes and their two best-selling, homemade creations: the Mango Crème Brûlée Cake and the Strawberry Cloud Cake.

The heavenly Strawberry Cloud Cake is a dreamy delight, and is the bakery’s own worthy take on the favorite strawberry shortcake. It really does feel like a “cloud” – fluffy, soft, and moist vanilla sponge cake is layered and covered with a light, refreshing meringue buttercream made with real fresh strawberries. In between are sweet macerated strawberries and on top are white chocolate-covered juicy strawberries for more of that sweet and tart goodness!

What’s their secret? Not So Sweet told Rappler it’s never using any artificial flavors. “They’re all baked to order and loaded with fresh, sweet strawberries. We purée the strawberries for an added punch and cook it down,” they added, which explains the cake’s natural sweetness.

The Strawberry Cloud Cake is available in 8″ size for P1,400 – a good price to pay for a hefty, delicious cake that’s good to please five to six people.

If you prefer mango over strawberry, Not So Sweet has an equally good option for you – their Mango Crème Brûlée Cake is similarly made but with fresh, ripe mangoes instead and a homemade custard topping that’s blow-torched until crisp and caramelized.

Two layers of pillowy, yellow sponge cake are also used here, and filled with a smooth, mango-flavored chantilly cream and chunky, soft ripe mango cubes. The combination of sweet cream and refreshing fruit – mango heaven – is easily likable.

The Mango Crème Brûlée Cake costs P800 for the 6″ size and P1,100 for the 8″ version.

Both cakes live up to the bakery’s name – they’re “not so sweet” and flavored just right. The inspiration for Not So Sweet came from the owners’ – a married couple – travels to Japan, where fruity, light cakes like these are commonly sold.

“My travel to Japan was an eye-opener. It inspired me to make the strawberry cloud cake, because it’s simplicity at its best. They were everywhere – from the bakeries, train stations, and convenience stores! It’s a simple cake with lots of flavors that I enjoy making,” said the owner.

Not So Sweet’s home bakery was founded by a wife who grew to love baking; she was a banker during the day, and a baker at night. She and her husband’s main source of income was a paper plate business.

“I practically live in the kitchen now, cooking and baking. I collect tried-and-tested recipes. With the pandemic, together with my staff, we formed our own factory, and just started baking and selling,” she said.

Not So Sweet is located in Marulas, Valenzuela City. Customers can place their orders via Instagram. – Rappler.com