Cakeshakes: Where to grab these over-the-top milkshakes
The best of cakes and milkshakes served in a glass. We share where you can find ‘cakeshakes’, the latest dessert trend to hit food-obsessed Singaporeans.
By Hong Xinying
‘Over the top’ shakes from The Benjamins, $16 each. Image: The Benjamins/ Facebook
Meet the ‘cakeshake’, the latest dessert trend to hit Singapore.
This trendy ice-cream based milkshake is stacked with overflowing layers of candyfloss, marshmallows, cake chunks and more sweet treats.
The food fad was said to have started this July as ‘freakshakes’ at Patissez, a bakery-cafe in Canberra, Australia.
Patissez cafe owner Anna Petridis told Australian newspaper Canberra Times that they wanted to create milkshakes that were “so ridiculous and over the top that people just had to take a photo of it before they ate it”.
The ‘cakeshake’ label was coined by Singapore cake shop Cake Spade, which fashions similarly decadent milkshakes.
Whatever name you call it, these milkshakes continue to sell well, for now. According to local newspaper the Straits Times, cafe-bakery The Benjamins is said to serve up to 200 of such drinks a day over the weekend.
Try it for yourself to see what the fuss is about. We list the places to check out, for these milkshakes.
The Benjamins
Where: 583 Orchard Road, Forum Galleria, #01-20/21
Old-school ‘over the top’ shake, $16 from The Benjamins. Image: The Benjamins/ Facebook
Go big or go home right? The massive milkshakes here come towering with cotton candy, pretzels, wafers, marshmallows and even avocado slices. To give the drink a local twist, its ‘Old School’ shake features ais gems (iced gem biscuits) next to cotton candy and other classic snacks.
Cake Spade
Where: 1 Tras Link, Orchid Hotel, #01-06
Matcha Adzuki Cakeshake, $16.90 from Cake Spade. Image: cakespadesg/ Instagram
The originator of the ‘cakeshake’ moniker started off as a cake specialty shop. So, it should be no surprise to see chunks of cakes (like the red velvet) topping of their milkshakes. One notable flavour, the ‘Asian Fusion’, brings together a mix of matcha (Japanese green tea), adzuki beans, gula melaka (palm sugar) and more sweets. The cake store offers these drinks on weekday evenings from 5.30pm and Saturdays from 1.30pm. A word to the wise, they sell out fast so get there early.
The Lab SG
Where: 1 Jalan Pisang, #01-01
Strawberry cheesecake milkshake with strawberry jam drizzle, wafer, pocky stick, waffle biscuit, and fruit loops, $12 from The Lab SG. Image: The Lab SG/ Facebook
‘We experiment’ goes the slogan of this Muslim-owned cafe, which is known for its unusual takes on standard cafe fare. Its latest dessert hops onto the milkshake trend too, albeit with a strawberry-centric focus. You’ll find this milkshake topped with all things strawberry flavoured, from the cheesecake, jam, pocky sticks, as well as fruit loops and wafer sticks.
The House of Robert Timms
Where: 501 Orchard Road, Wheelock Place, #01-02/03; 321 Orchard Road, Orchard Shopping Centre, #01-01/02; 3 Temasek Boulevard, Suntec City, #01-361/362
Strawberry Whoopee, $16 from The House of Robert Timms. Image: The House of Robert Timms/ Facebook
If you find some of the earlier examples too over-the-top, try the milkshakes from this Australian cafe-restaurant chain, which are topped with a mix of sweet-savoury treats like popcorn, doughnuts as well as pocky sticks and marshmallows. While the toppings on these milkshakes may not look as extravagant (and prone to falling over), you might actually come close to finishing one of these drinks on your own.
Other notable mentions
Makeshake
Where: 1 Jurong West Central 2, Jurong Point Mall, #02-K3
Pebble Peach Frozen Yoghurt Shake, $4.80 for the mini size from Makeshake. Image: Makeshake/ Facebook
This drink stop offers you the chance to customise your milkshake, so in theory, you could try taking it to a cakeshake-like extreme by piling on more toppings. The only catch is that it might not look as artfully arranged as the specialty stores. You can also opt for popular orders such as the Pebble Peach Frozen Yoghurt Shake, which is a yoghurt based milkshake topped with fruit loops cereal.
Banana Tree
Where: 26 Keong Saik Road
Som Som Latte with cotton candy, $7 each at Banana Tree. Image: Banana Tree/ Instagram
The ‘Som Som Lattes’ served at this South Korean dessert chain may not strictly be milkshakes but these can look as Instagram-ready. These drinks are actually flavoured milk coffee (decaffeinated versions are also available for certain flavours), topped with fluffy cotton candy. Coffee flavours offered at the dessert cafe include banana, milk caramel, matcha, Chai tea and chocolate.
