‘Built for flavour and Instagram likes’: The cafe doughnuts that are flying off the shelves

Don’t be fooled by the modest location of this in-demand, Korean-influenced eatery - customers are lining up to get in.

In an open-air shopping centre in Underwood, just off Logan Rd, sits a tiny, unassuming cafe bordered by carparking. There’s a gym a barbell toss away, a bedding store within a sheet flick, plus a handful of other small eateries and takeaways in a spot that looks more like a grab-and-go destination for tradies than a culinary hotspot.

But at Bake It Bakery & Cafe, there’s a line of customers snaking out the door – the kind of queue usually reserved for London or New York gourmet institutions.

Bake It Bakery and Cafe, Underwood. Picture: David Kelly

This modest Korean-influenced eatery, however, has become an unlikely destination for foodies – those in search of fluffy, white baked goods that fill a cabinet in the window ready for customers to self serve on to trays, as well as their all-day breakfast offering built for flavour and Instagram likes.

Their “chubby doughnuts” have arguably become their signature bakery item from a line-up that includes the likes of salted butter rolls, cakes, cookies and sweet and savoury breads.

In flavours like Earl Grey, blueberry, Oreo, tiramisu and strawberry, the clam-shaped, soft doughnuts are packed with enough cream to give a vegan heart palpitations.

The French toast at Bake It Bakery and Cafe, Underwood. Picture: David Kelly

Our Nutella version with an inch-thick wedge of chocolate and hazelnut mousse is far too rich for me, but my lunch date inhales every last bite like a Dyson, declaring it “amazing”.

What’s “amazing” to me, however, is the bulgogi Korean hotdog ($19.90, including a bottled water, soft drink or popper) – one of two hotdogs from the broad menu of mostly traditional breakfast and lunch fare given a few twists here and there.

This version is like an amalgam of the world’s greatest hot dogs – the classic American, the German and Korea’s beloved dagwood dog-esque corn dog featuring a bratwurst tucked inside a soft white bun, topped with a corn and onion salsa, jalapeños, a crumble of uber salty beef bulgogi and grated tasty cheese before a generous drizzle of aioli and American mustard.

There are burgers, too, zucchini fritters, eggs Benedict and several sweet options including honey butter bread and their signature French toast ($17.90).

The bulgogi hotdog. Picture: David Kelly

The latter features two hefty slices of their fluffy, house-made milk loaf dipped in a cinnamon-spiked egg wash before being caramelised in the pan with halved bananas. It’s plated like a work of art with segmented fresh orange, dried orange, blueberries, watermelon, a swirl of maple syrup and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. And it’s as delicious as it is pretty.

Also impressing on the aesthetics front is the cafe’s specialty cream coffee, which features a long black using beans from Brisbane’s Wolff Coffee roasters in a short glass topped with an inch-thick layer of cream ($6).

It can be served either hot or cold and is one for those who love their brew rich and milky.

There are normal coffees too, plus matcha, chai, house-brewed French Earl Grey peach tea, fancy sodas, and thick smoothies to quench all manner of thirsts.

So join the queue at Bake It. You won’t regret it.

For more reviews visit delicious.com.au/eatout

BAKE IT BAKERY & CAFE

2/3231 Logan Rd, Underwood

0412 066 974

Open

Tue-Sun 8am-5pm (kitchen closes at 2.30pm)

Verdict

Food 4.5 stars

Service 3.5 stars

Ambience 3 stars

Value 4 stars

Overall 4/5 stars