I’m standing outside Amna Mohideen’s home, and an incredible whiff of cake wafts over to the door and hits me. It smells warm, comforting and above everything, just delicious, which I discover later is indeed quite true.
A few seconds later, the door opens and I am greeted by Amna’s warm smile and friendly demeanor. Getting into conversation a few minutes later, I learn that she has been running Caked, her home-run bakery venture for almost four years. “I started in 2010, after completing a course in cake decorating at the Prima Baking Training Centre in Rajagiriya. I’ve always wanted to be able to create cakes that don’t just taste good, but are beautiful and creatively decorated as well,” she explains.
Caked consists of a simple but tasteful menu specialising in decorated cakes, cupcakes, brownies and macarons. While Amna’s forte is the cakes she so lovingly creates for birthday parties and special events, she does some mean cupcakes, probably one of the most moist, rich and indulgent I’ve ever eaten anywhere in Colombo. Biting into a chocolate chip chocolate cupcake, I am taken aback by the moistness of the cupcake, followed by a rich chocolatey frosting coupled with small chocolate chunks embedded into the cake that slowly sink into my teeth. Far too indulgent, I declare and am unable to delve into another, but promise to indulge in the rest later.
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The cupcake varieties feature chocolate, vanilla, chocolate chip vanilla, double chocolate chip, chocolate chip chocolate, strawberry, passion fruit, red velvet and cream cheese, and coffee. Amna pays attention to the cupcake fillings, such as the passion fruit cupcake, which she fills with a passion fruit curd. Cakes and tiered cakes can be made in any of the cupcake flavours mentioned above. Amna’s tiered cakes are what she calls her main specialty, getting herself motivated after making a three-tiered princess themed cake for her niece’s birthday on one occasion. She does themed cakes and cake structures for birthday parties, weddings, wedding events and other events too. Customers can speak to her regarding specifications and details.
Macarons took Amna a great deal of time and patience to finally get right, as she says the consistency has to be perfect. “It’s a bit difficult to get right, and everything has to be precise.” She makes the macarons in three different shells, which are almond, chocolate and pistachio. The fillings however are adventurous and feature salted caramel, chocolate, pistachio, vanilla, raspberry, coffee, mocha and a chocolate orange.
Amna’s recipes are what she’s come up with on her own and she stresses on the importance of her business being home-based because it’s more personal. Ingredients used are locally sourced.
She requires at least a day’s notice for small orders for cupcakes, a week’s notice for larger orders and orders for macarons. For wedding cakes and cake structures, she requires at least three month’s notice. Pick up time for an order is at 5.30PM. For regular updates, information and address details, visit the Caked page on Facebook.
Text by Sarah Kellapatha
Photos courtesy Caked
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