Sweet Treats In Sydney

Those of you who follow my Instagram account will know I have been filling my pie hole with some very good cake since we touched down in Sydney. There is a reason for that. Aside from bringing me unbridled joy, the cake-tasting has been all in the name of research – I felt it was my duty to bring you a confirmed list of the best sweet treats in Sydney. Plus Three Mobile challenged me to tweet my best #HolidayBraggies whilst in Australia and Oz does give envy-inducing cake.

So without further ado, these are my favourite sweet treats I have so far sampled in Sydney.

(NB I see this as an ongoing piece of research so if you have other suggestions please do leave them below and I’ll do my best to get around them all – dedicated cake-taster that I am!)

Tim Tam Pie at The Pie Tin

First up, a confession: I don’t really like Tim Tams. I mean, they are ok, but to me they taste like Penguins gone wrong (am I right Britain?) Put them in a pie, however, and I am all over it.

The Pie Tin specialises in what it says on the door – pie. Pie of every variety. Savoury pies served the way they should be – with mushy peas – and a drool-worthy cabinet of sweet pies including Mississippi, Malteaser, Oreo Cookie, Snickers, Coconut Cream, Peanut Butter and Chocolate… (I daren’t go on for fear of filling my keyboard with saliva – you can download the full menu here.)

Although Tim Tam is not my favourite biscuit I thought I should embrace the Aussiest of the pies and man was it good. Crumbly base, rich, fudgey middle and a chunk of biscuit on top. Yum.

Slices are big enough to share. You can eat in or take away. Either way you’ll be given a cute metal pie tin with your order number on as you wait.

Cake Rating: 7 out 10
The Pie Tin, 1 a Brown Street, Newtown

Orange, Rose and Persian Fig Cupcake at Black Star Pastry

I usually only call a cake a cake if it involves chocolate, any other variety just doesn’t cut the mustard for me. Black Star Pastry made me think differently though when it floated the idea before me of a cake involving not only fruit but flowers. The unusual cupcake combination of orange sponge, cream cheese frosting, Persian fig and rose petal topping at Black Star Pastry was a cake like none other I have tasted before. A little surprising to the palette, it was none the less a sweet treat I remembered for a long time after.

Black Star sell a number of delicious looking fresh cream cakes as well as brownies and tarts. They have seating inside and outside the store but there is nearly always a queue and hustle for tables. Take your cake away and it comes in a graphic designed box that you’ll want to keep.

Cake Rating: 8 out of 10
Black Star Pastry, 277 Australia Street, Newtown

Lemon Tart at Bourke Street Bakery

Even mid-week the Bourke Street outlet of Bourke Street Bakery had a queue out of the door. Surry Hills locals were queueing up to order freshly baked pies and sausage rolls to go. I had my eye on the tarts though, in particular a lemon one, and wanted to save room and savour it. At which point I made a big mistake and ordered a sandwich to go with it. The server asked me if I wanted it warm or cold and when I said cold that was exactly what I got –a premade chicken sandwich still cold from the fridge ☹

Anyhow to get over this disappointment I had my tart waiting for dessert and she did not disappoint. A surprisingly crunchy base complimented the creamy, lemony filling. It was nowhere near as tart or sugary as I was expecting, I could have eaten another.

Since scrolling through the Foursquare reviews it seems the ginger brulee tart is the one not to be missed. Guess I’ll have to go back for that.

Cake Rating: 9 out of 10
Bourke Street Bakery, 633 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

Cinnamon Scroll at Infinity Sourdough Bakery

Infinity Sourdough are, as you can probably guess from the name, best known for their artisan sourdough bread. You can see the bakers prepping it in their Darlinghurst store and smell the ovens from down the street. But as I (and this post) are all about the sweet treats my dilemma was what cake to try. The flourless mud cake perhaps? Or how about a frangipani (whatever that is) and raspberry tart? The server could sense my dilemma and already had a tray of mini tasters on the counter to help speed up the process. I tried one bite of what turned out to be a cinnamon scroll and the decision was made.

My bun of choice was the last of its kind and I could see why. A chewy bun with a generous sprinkling of cinnamon and sugar, it was exactly how these things should be done. (I shall never look at the Starbucks equivalent again.)

The store has a small wooden bench outside that I sat on to consume my scroll but everyone else took their orders away. The scones seemed to be the hot order of the day – I’ll be back for one of them.

(As a side note the above image was one of my most popular on Instagram ever – cake lovers unite!)

Cake rating: 9.5 out of 10
Infinity Sourdough Bakery, 225 Victoria St, Darlinghurst

So after almost 2 weeks of cake tasting I am yet to find my perfect 10. The search shall go on…

This post was bought to you in association with Three mobile who have asked me to say #sorryforthesweettreats. Three have advised all of their customers who are using data abroad at no extra cost with Feel At Home to please brag responsibly. (You must watch the video – it’s very funny.)