Top 5 chocolate fudge cakes in Singapore

Nothing beats a Lana chocolate fudge cake. It came up tops in a blind taste test conducted by The Sunday Times to find the best chocolate fudge cake in Singapore.

The panel, comprising Alysia Chan, executive sous chef of American smokehouse Meatsmith in Telok Ayer Street, Straits Times food editor Tan Hsueh Yun and food critic Wong Ah Yoke, sampled 10 chocolate fudge cakes from 10 stores across Singapore.

The cakes were presented in rectangular sizes no matter what shape they came in. They were assessed on the taste and texture of the chocolate cake and frosting, and the appearance, for a total possible score of 25 points.

Cakes from Awfully Chocolate and The Patissier rounded up the top three. The judges say the cake and frosting have a good chocolate flavour, a good cake-to-frosting ratio and neat, distinct layers. And if you would like a Lana chocolate fudge cake, better hurry down as owner Violet Kwan is retiring and putting the business up for sale.

Ranked according to taste test results:

1. Lana Cake Shop

Where: 36 Greenwood Avenue; tel: 6466-8940; open: 10am to 6pm (Tuesday to Friday), 10am to 5pm (Saturday), closed on Sunday and Monday

Price: From $42 for an 800g cake, order one week in advance

Score

Cake: 6.5/10

Frosting: 6.5/10

Appearance of cake: 3.7/5

Total: 16.7/25

Tan says: “The cake’s layers are fluffy and light, without an oily taste.The smoothand glossy frosting has a stronger chocolate flavour with a hint of salt and the cake has distinct layers and a homespun look.”

2. Awfully Chocolate

Where: 12 outlets, including 2 Orchard Turn, Ion Orchard, B4-50 and 5 Changi Business Park Central 1, Changi City Point, B1-07; various opening hours; go to www.awfullychocolate.com

Price: From $34 for a six-inch All Chocolate cake

Score

Cake: 6.3/10

Frosting: 5.7 /10

Appearance of cake: 3.7/5

Total: 15.7/25

Chef Chan says: “I like the texture of this cake most among the 10. It is dense but relatively moist. The chocolate flavour is strong, but the frosting is too gooey and has less chocolate flavour than the cake.”

3. The Patissier

Where: 4 Mohamed Sultan Road, 01-01 ; tel: 6737 -3369; open:10am to7.30pm (weekday), 10am to 4.30pm (weekend); go to www.thepatissier.com

Price: From $48.15 for a 500g cake, order at least four days in advance

Score

Cake: 5.2/10

Frosting: 6/10

Appearance of cake: 3.7/5

Total: 14.9/25

Wong says: “I like how the taste of the frosting changes. It tastes like milk chocolate initially and ends off on a darker note. The consistency of the frosting is quite good and the thin and even layers of cake and fudge makeit look like a French pastry. However, the cake does not have much of a chocolate taste and is a little too sweet.”

4. Chocolate Origin

Where: Seven outlets, including 313 Orchard Road, 313@Somerset, B3-10A and 1 Jurong West Central, Jurong Point, 02-K3; various opening hours; go to www.chocolate-origin.com

Price: From $32.80 for an Original six-inch cake

Score

Cake: 5/10

Frosting: 5.3/10

Appearance of cake: 3.8/5

Total: 14.1/25

Wong says: “The cake is more mousse-like, which makes the texture light and smooth. It looks quite beautiful and glossy. However, the chocolate taste is not strong enough.”

5. Choc.a.bloc

Where: Block 86 Bedok North Street 4, 01-179; tel: 6446-6096; open: 11am to 9pm daily, go to chocabloc.biz

Price: From $38 for an 800g cake, order three days in advance

Score

Cake: 5/10

Frosting: 4.5/10

Appearance of cake: 3/5

Total: 12.5/25

Chef Chan says: “The cake is moist but lacks chocolate flavour. The ratio of frosting to cake is off, as the top of the cake is quite thick. However, the frosting is smooth.”

Adapted from The Sunday Times