As I bite into buttery, flaky pastry on the outside, it gives way to moist sweetness from the plum cake. It is dense with rum-soaked fruits, nuts and spices. Baklava and plum cake is a decadent crossover from Anandhas Bakery this festive season. At Anandhaas, Christmas begins long before December. The bakery’s plum cake preparation starts nearly a year in advance, with fruits soaked patiently and recipes fine-tuned to strike the right balance in sweetness. “Plum cake is one of our top sellers,” says S Satheesh, vice president of Anandhaas. “Last year, the response surprised us. This year, we are expecting nearly double the numbers.”
Chef Franklin says preparations begin like clockwork with SOPs in place and in batches to ensure uniform taste. Unlike heavily spiced versions that dominate the market, the plum cake here is deliberately mellow. While the fruits content is kept higher, the spice level is low, to allow the orange rinds and soaked fruits to shine through. “When you open the pack, it should smell fresh, not overpowering,” Franklin explains.
Plum cakes are lightly spiced
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
With options available for whole cakes, slices, ginger cookies and more, the production begins from November. “We have added innovations like chocolate Christmas trees decorated with nuts. It is priced at ₹150. We are also launching shortcrust Santa Claus cookies this year. Nutty chocolates are another addition. All the goodies make up the festive gifting option,” says Franklin adding that they have also added miniature donuts, and Japanese cakes in four flavours for the festival season.
Miniature brownies in as many as five flavours is another delicious addition. “We have 20 varieties of butter cookies in flavours including butter coconut, dark chocolate, chocolate chip and more. We are also experimenting with no maida, no sugar range of cookies made with almond flour and palm sugar. There is also a line up of millet cookies that will soon hit the stands.”
While I try the sweet, salty, and garlicky Korean buns with cream cheese that leave a delicate taste, the pure butter puff combines the earthy flavours of mushrooms with the fresh zest of spinach, all encased in a flaky puff pastry. Franklin explains that pastries like tiramisu, caramel custard and tres leches feature among their top-sellers. “Butter puff is our innovation. Russian honey cake is another unique addition. Regular pastries like chocolate truffle, pineapple pastry, nutty chocolate, and black forest are fast moving. Old school butter cream cakes have a separate fan base. We pay attention to appearance, taste, and colour for every single batch.”
Santa Claus decor on cookies
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Now at two years into its bakery journey, Anandhaas caters to a wide audience, from basic sponge cakes to premium exotic offerings. “Miniature portions, including ‘cakes for two’, have become popular among young customers who prefer fresh, small indulgences over leftovers,” says Satheesh adding that freshness is a key philosophy across bakery counters. Though cookies may have a shelf life of 20 to 25 days, the brand limits its display to 10to 15 days. “We come from a restaurant background. Freshness matters to us more than extending shelf life. Use of colours and preservatives is kept to a minimum unless customers specifically request for it,” he adds.
Mini donuts for the festival season
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
While plum cake remains a Christmas staple, rising demand has prompted Anandhaas to consider making it available through the year. Priced at around ₹900 per kilo, the cake is designed to be accessible without compromising on quality. This Christmas, the bakery has also introduced festive additions such as ginger cookies, Santa cookies, plum tarts, butter cookies, and curated gift hampers.
As for the festive season, church and corporate orders form a significant part of the business. “In a competitive market like Coimbatore, value for money, quality, and variety are what customers look for,” Satheesh says, adding, “Our focus is simple. Make products people can enjoy more than once, not just admire.”
The plum cakes are available for pre-order and purchase across Anadhaas outlets in Trichy Road, Vilankurichi Main Road, Saibaba Colony and Lakshmi Mills Junction in the city. For more details, follow @anadhaas.bakery on Instagram
Published – December 25, 2025 10:19 pm IST
