In our Dessert Detectives Series, El Estoque takes on a new case at a bakery or a café to decipher the quality and cost of its most popular items. Continuing the alphabetical trend, we visited Q Baking Corner, a bakery in East San Jose that sells an assortment of cakes, donuts and pastries, including some Vietnamese desserts.  

Taro Mooncake: $4.50

This Asian-style mooncake consists of a thick taro paste encased in layers of flaky, spiral pastry crust in purple and white shades. In a crowd of brown and white pastries, these bright purple mooncakes with sophisticated swirls immediately stood out. Upon the first bite, the mooncake pastry tastes crumbly and dry. However, the center of the dessert contains a softer paste filling with an intense taro flavor. Although the combination of textures makes the mooncake slightly unpleasant to chew, the taro flavor shines through and makes the pastry as delicious as its appearance.

Rating: 7/10

Pandan and Coffee Flan Jello: $5.00

The flan jellos come in a package of two flavors: coffee and pandan. Molded into bite-sized flower shapes with coconut between layers of agar, the jellos failed to live up to their intricate presentation. Both flavors were satisfyingly firm and gelatinous, but the texture was unevenly distributed. The pandan jello was bland with a hint of grassy sweetness, while the coffee jello was infused with a richer espresso flavor that did not distract from its overall tastelessness.

Rating: 4.5/10

Dulce de Leche cheesecake: $4.25

The dulce de leche cheesecake was the highlight of the desserts we tried. Topped with an eye-catching dollop of cream and chocolate chips, the slice was rich and dense and its caramelized milk flavor was an eccentric take on the standard cheesecake. Although an excess of cream put it on the edge of being overly sweet, the cheesecake was ultimately a unique and mouthwatering treat.

Rating: 8.5/10

Gallery • 3 Photos

Sarah Liu

OVERALL: 6/10

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Q Baking Corner is a small family-owned bakery with various doughnuts, cakes and other desserts. For those looking for a quick bite, this bakery is an affordable stop with several hidden gems on the menu. However, the desserts lack variety, and some appear stale despite their attractive presentation. This local bakery will meet expectations if you’re in the neighborhood, but it’s ultimately not worth visiting if you’re seeking a special sweet.