Dulcet Cafes & Sweets opened in Burwood in early 2017. Rumour has it that they’re ‘different’ from other dessert parlours, by virtue of having ‘healthy’ desserts that aren’t as heavy on the sugar. Not that that’s a draw card – if I’m going to eat dessert I want to do it properly! Anyway, after assurances from C that their early teething issues in customer service were ironed out, this here is the Yuzu hōjicha guava ($11.00).
The cake is a yuzu mousse with a centre of hōjicha and guava on a square of puff pastry. Each of the flavours of yuzu, hōjicha and guava are prominent when each is tasted on its own buttogether the flavour of the yuzu mousse dominates the more subtle flavours of the other two. Perhaps it’s their attempt to be health but the yuzu mousse, while citrusy, has the flavour of cream cheese without much distinction between its softness and the hōjicha and guava. A firmer jelly or a more liquid gel would’ve been appreciated.
And this is the Matcha Crepe Cake ($9.80). Crepe cakes seem to be having their moment in Sydney, and this one here has the healthy flavour of good quality matcha. The crepes are thin, although the cream between the layers becomes a bit too much after a few bites. That said, we’re not great fans of the thin and dense texture of crepes as they lack the light fluffiness of cake.
If you’re a fan of crepe cakes, then Dulcet Cakes & Sweets is a good place to go. For someone after cakes, like myself, overall the flavours are there and the cakes look the part, but the balance of flavours and textures are far inferior to the finesse of La Renaissance Patisserie and Cafe or KOI Dessert Bar leaving Dulcet Cakes and Sweets world’s away from being able to justify the higher prices they demand ($11.00). Perhaps I should try their other cakes, but friends who have visited have not been very impressed by them either.
2021
After visiting Dulcet Cakes & Sweets in 2017, I swore to never return. But I’m not one to turn down cake, so tried them again after D’s colleagues celebrated his birthday with crepe cakes from the store.
This is the Black Sesame Crepe ($9.80). The black sesame came through bright and nutty in the crepes and more subdued in the layered cream. The cream cheese in the sandwiching layers was smooth and the cheesy flavour was evident but well restrained (and masked) by the prominence of the black sesame.
This is the Dark Chocolate Crepe ($9.80). The richness and boldness of the dark chocolate made this our favourite of the three flavours as it pushed the cream cheese further into the background.
This is the Sea Salt Caramel Cheese Crepe ($9.80). The sea salt amplified the cheesy quality of the cream, making it decidedly unpleasant and not something we ever want to eat again.
There are interesting flavours in the crepe cake menu — rose lychee, peach oolong and yuzu osmanthus — but the use of cream cheese rather than a ganache or compote or flavoured whipped cream is a major turnoff.
Dulcet Cakes & Sweets is at 31 Belmore St, Burwood NSW 2134.