Best shops for kids' birthday cakes

Besides the run-of-the-mill requests for superhero-, Disney-, Pixar- or animal-themed cakes, Su Yin  Huen, the wonder mum behind Delectable by Su, bakes unique cakes for tots who want something   different. On her son’s third birthday, Su baked an astral cake that was out of this world. Cake balls stood in as miniature replicas of the planets, the sun and the moon. ‘The kids loved naming the planets  and eating them after,’ she beamed. Simple, ready-made cakes are available at Su’s outlets in The Gardens and Pavilion, but if you’d like a custom-designed cake, be sure to call ahead two to three weeks prior to the party to go over specifications. The ballpark figure for a cake feeding up to 12 guests is RM400-800 with higher charges for more complicated designs.

There are various reasons why Jelly Cake House is a staple in our books: Firstly, the company has five pick-up locations spread throughout Cheras, Petaling Jaya, Subang Jaya and Kepong, which makes it very convenient to collect. Secondly, they offer a mindboggling array of colourful cake designs. From teddy bears to basketballs and racing cars to rabbits, Jelly Cake House has cakes moulds of every imaginable theme and design. If you’d like to avoid the hassle of cutting and plating a whole cake, order a tray of jelly cupcakes or individually-sized jelly bites. Best of all, Jelly Cake House’s confectionery is suitable for kids with food allergies. Kids who normally have to shy away from gluten or dairy can happily tuck into their jelly products sans fear of allergic reactions. Prices dip or peak according to weight; one typically pays RM45 for a cake weighing 500 grams and RM170 for a five kilogramme cake. Simply fill in and submit an order form on their website two days prior to your party.

One of the original purveyors of the cupcake craze in KL, Wondermilk is number one in our books for bite-sized treats. Circumvent the messy process of cake cutting and get the kids to help themselves to individual cupcakes instead. Named after different types of birds, Wondermilk’s three cupcake collections cater to different occasions; the Robin Collection is simple and classic, the Goldfinch

Collection features elegant and intricate designs, and the Bluejay Collection keeps popular celebrations and holidays in mind. Pre-order three days ahead if you’re walking into a Wondermilk outlet and a week ahead if you’re making an online purchase. Custom orders that involve colour changes or the addition of a message can only be processed for walk-in orders. Delivery service is also available on weekdays. A box of 36 petite cupcakes (1.5” in diameter) costs between RM60 and RM80 while a box of 25 maxi cupcakes (2” in diameter) ranges from RM80 to RM100.

Ask any true blue Penangite about Maxim’s Cakes and you’re likely to stir up fond memories of  childhood birthdays and ice cream. In addition to churning out Italian-style gelato, the bakery specialises in ice cream cakes to make sweltering days a little sweeter. Established in the 1980s, Maxim’s has decades of experience preparing large sheet cakes and old school confectionery such as cheese tarts and pandan chiffon rolls. From key-shaped cakes for 21st birthdays to butter cream creations for Deepavali, there aren’t many cake designs Maxim’s hasn’t already attempted. Despite Maxim’s willingness to experiment with cake designs, don’t expect complex flavours from this institution; you’d best ask for the classic butter cake or flawless fresh cream cake.

394 Jalan Penang, George Town, Penang (04 226 7020).

This bakery boasts a large fan base in Melaka and beyond – some of their orders come from Singaporean customers who willingly transport the cakes across the Straits of Johor! Established by Mr Wang Tin Woo and Madam Lim Moy Lim in 1982, Happy Cake House is now a second-generation business overseen by the couple’s daughter, Suk Wang. ‘It feels really good to see happy faces when my clients receive their cakes,’ said Suk Wang. ‘I guess this is why my late father named the shop Happy Cake House – it’s as simple as that.’ The creative director and ‘cake artist’ of Happy Cake House has never set foot in culinary school. Nevertheless, a background in graphic design and advertising gives her an edge in the business. Happy Cake House also lays out impressive spreads for special functions. Dubbed ‘dessert tables’, these smorgasbords see a wide array of sweet treats such as cookies, tarts, brownies and cake pops.

22 Jalan KSB 13, Taman Kota Syahbandar, Kota Laksamana, Melaka (06 288 0862)