If a piñata cake packed full of M&M’s causes eyeballs to pop, and white chocolate and caramel eclairs kickstart the salivating, then you’d better follow the trail of drool and cake crumbs to the new Vanilla Pod Specialty Cake Kitchen in Albion. The success of the first Vanilla Pod cafe and deli in Ascot prodded owners Carla and Scott Burns to open the new catering and retail cake shop on the corner of Birbeck Street and Sandgate Road just last week. Boasting the finest of fresh ingredients, a range of naked cakes, novelty cakes, wedding cakes, shaped cakes, layer cakes, cake pops and cupcakes are all painstakingly crafted in the space. Think bases like red velvet sponge, caramel mud, or vanilla bean and lavender, and decadent frostings like cream cheese, chocolate ganache or fondant.

If you’ve learnt from the eyes-bigger-than-your-belly conundrum and are simply after a little something sweet to nibble, the store also offers a range of ready-to-eat treats from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm Monday to Saturday. Browse the shelves and cake stands for edible treasures like neenish tarts dusted with edible glitter, nutty date and cranberry bombs, and quirky cake pops. Grab a Campos Coffee, chai or hot chocolate from Xavi’s cafe next door and settle in to the light-filled space for a quick indulgence. Those with sturdier willpower can opt for the gluten-, dairy- and refined-sugar-free paleo options available, such as the tempting choc-caramel slice. Vanilla Pod also offers catering and cooking classes.

For contact information and trading hours, check out our Stumble Guide.