Annalise here, keeping on top of all the international dessert trends arriving in Metro Detroit.
The latest: Cakes that look like large sculptures of the fruit or nut they’re flavored with are spreading across the country, filled with decadent mousse, fruit compote and spongy cake.
- You don’t have to go far down a social media rabbit hole to stumble on viral videos of food influencers testing giant raspberries and lemons from fancy Los Angeles bakeries. An orange version — complete with a stem and leaves — costs $25 at Aurora in L.A.
Dig in: Contributing to the trend here is Cannelle, a high-end local bakery with a location in downtown Detroit.
- After seeing local food influencer Pattalinaeats try them, I knew I had to, too.
- I had a lot of options for food-shaped baked goods. I chose mango, raspberry and hazelnut, though it was hard to turn down the others: pistachio, vanilla bean and a matcha-flavored dumpling.
Best bites: My favorite was hazelnut, with absurdly rich chocolate and Nutella flavors. The raspberry and mango also shone with bright notes and fresh fruit inside.
- Note that all these pastries are giant, so share with friends. Around $11 each.
Flashback: Desserts that imitate fresh fruit are having a moment, but they aren’t new. One famous French patissier, Cédric Grolet, has been crafting them for years…