Home bakes but in a store

If you have always wanted to get your hands on coveted home bakes, you can now head to the new Baker X cafe at Orchard Central.

Launching on Monday, Baker X is set up by real estate developer Far East Organization to support and showcase home-based bakers looking to scale up their business and get a taste of running a physical store.

Over two to six weeks at a time, each baker will operate - rent-free - from the 776 sq ft, 10-seat cafe. The bakers can keep 100 per cent of sales proceeds and just have to cover ingredient and packaging costs.

So far, bakers have been lined up till June next year. The cafe also houses social enterprise Foreword Coffee Roasters, which will be open daily.

The bakers were selected for their "unique baked treats that are visually appealing and in demand", says Ms Deborah Tan, deputy director of Far East Organization's retail business group. The company owns Orchard Central.

She adds: "We conceived Baker X to give budding home-baking entrepreneurs the opportunity to (try out at) a physical outlet at no cost and scale their business production.

"Baker X also aims to encourage the entry of new brands and provide customers with more choices."

Kicking off at the cafe is White's Bakery, known for its Basque cheesecakes and "fat" macarons. It will be followed by Browned Butter Bakehouse, which offers a range of desserts; and Mon Cerise Patisserie, which specialises in French-style cakes and tarts.

At Baker X, all three brand founders are looking forward to meeting and interacting with customers.

It is also timely for Browned Butter Bakehouse founder Julie Ng, 23, who is in the midst of looking for a physical shop space.

She says: "I hope to have a better understanding and feel of what it is like to run a physical store at Baker X and, at the same time, get more brand exposure and awareness from the public. It would be nice to interact with customers, which a home-based business does not necessarily allow for."

For Ms Cherry Chiu, 32, founder of Mon Cerise Patisserie, her stint at Baker X may lead her to consider expanding.

She says: "It will be a big leap for me - from owning a home business to a physical shop with a lot more overheads and costs. Baker X will be a great experience to see whether it's something I wish to do in the future."

The first three home bakers

1. WHITE'S BAKERY (@WHITESBAKERY)

When: Monday to Jan 9 Ms Tan Hui Yi, 23, started the business three years ago and usually runs weekly bake sales on Saturdays.

At Baker X, the full-time business management undergraduate will dish out her signature Basque cheesecakes (from $10 a slice and from $38 for a whole cake) and Korean-style chunky macarons (six for $30).

Try the unusual taro Basque cheesecake, made with housemade taro paste. Taro powder is also used for the cheesecake base. Other flavours include matcha and hojicha, Earl Grey, and Lotus Biscoff Cookie Butter.

The macarons (till Dec 25) come in festive flavours such as peppermint mocha, and toffee nut with salted caramel swiss meringue. Or go for the slightly savoury ones - taro, Ritz cheese cracker or salted pistachio.

When: Jan 11 to 30 Get a variety of desserts such as tarts, cinnamon rolls and whipped ganache popsicles.

Highlights include Browned Butter cinnamon roll ($4) with housemade blueberry compote and glazed with cream cheese; Luxe tart ($5.80) filled with caramelised chocolate ganache, topped with a Biscoff mousse dome and crowned with clusters of toasted corn flakes tossed in Biscoff and white chocolate; and White Choc & Raspberry Popsicle ($4.50) coated in chocolate.

Browned Butter Bakehouse founder Julie Ng is in the midst of looking for a physical shop space.

When: Feb 8 to 20 (closed on Mondays) Instagram shutterbugs will love these picture-perfect tarts and cakes.

Flavours for the Les Petites Tarts ($4.50 each) include Lemon & Basil, chocolate, and Chestnut Mandarin.

On weekends, go for the individual-sized cakes ($10 each) - such as Strawberry Charlotte; White Princess, an apple and yuzu cheesecake; and Pretty in Pink, which has soursop, lychee and raspberry.

Hong Kong-born founder Cherry Chiu, 32, a graduate of culinary school Le Cordon Bleu in London - will also run a Valentine's Day special.