In our Dessert Detectives series, El Estoque staff members take on local bakeries to review the quality and cost of their menu items. Continuing the alphabetical trend, we ordered the Spring Launch from Wildflour Desserts, a South Bay bakery run by high school students. As there is no physical store, all orders are made through an online Google form and delivered to the customer’s address. Each $13 order from the Spring Launch contained two cookies and two cream puffs.
Raspberry & Caramel Brownie Cookies
Each box came with two raspberry-filled brownie cookies, topped with a layer of still-dripping salted caramel — a unique contrast of tart and decadence that makes each bite burst with flavor. The brownie base is delectably chewy and fudgy, amplifying the tartness of the smooth, jam-like raspberry filling. While the caramel is messy and fades into the background against the raspberry and chocolate, the cookie doesn’t even need it — it’s a delightful dessert on its own.
Rating: 9.5/10
Coffee Custard Cream Puffs
The coffee custard cream puffs are fragile and filled with a fluffy cream that oozes from the sides. The taste of coffee in the cream is faint but distinct. In combination with the rather plain pastry, this means the coffee custard cream puff offers little in terms of flavor compared to the raspberry brownie cookie. Still, the puff proves itself an enjoyable treat — the recipe allows the hazy coffee flavor to take center stage, and the cream filling is light and airy, satisfyingly dissolving in one’s mouth.
Rating: 8/10
Strawberry Cream Puffs
From the outside, the strawberry cream puff resembles its coffee-flavored counterpart. However, the strawberry honey whipped cream this puff is filled with promises more vibrant flavors than the coffee custard cream puff. Upon first impression, the inside of the pastry is soft and dense, and the whipped cream center is mixed with chunks of fresh strawberry, adding subtle notes of sweetness. While small, it lives up to expectations, and the texture of the strawberry chunks is ultimately what sets it apart from the coffee puff, making it an even more delectable experience.
Rating: 9/10
OVERALL: 9/10
$$/$$$
Wildflour Desserts is a hidden gem of a bakery. The desserts are small, sweet and simple, but also infused with creativity, making for some truly unique finds. If you’re looking to support a local high school-owned bakery that donates its profits to charities like the Malala Fund, Wildflour Desserts’ next seasonal launch, which will likely take place in the summer, is the perfect place to start. Not only is it convenient, as all orders are delivered to customers’ doorsteps, but Wildflour Desserts also exceeds expectations in terms of quality, originality and heart.
