The Twisted Trio: Watermelon Rose Cake & Fudgy Brownies From Cosy Bakery in Toa Payoh

Whenever we think of intricately-crafted cakes and confectionery, we’d expect some upscale, minimalistic bakery in the heart of CBD, or a hipster café charging upwards of S$20 for the brunch menu.

The Twisted Trio 6

Neighbourhood bakeries and cafes sometimes lack finesse when it comes to these desserts, but The Twisted Trio is here to prove you wrong.

Located inconspicuously under Block 85C in Toa Payoh, this dessert parlour occupies a fairly tiny space—its seating fits two, or at a squeeze, three. It’s more of a takeaway spot, anyway.

But when they say good things come in small packages, you better believe it.

The Twisted Trio 4

We arrived rather early, in order to secure their famed brownies. My colleague was also eagerly anticipating the watermelon rose cake, since she used to live in Australia—home to the well-known Black Star Pastry, the store that exploded into fame thanks to its strawberry watermelon cake.

Stepping into the space, the aroma of scrumptious baked goods immediately wafted to our noses. Most of the store is taken up by the kitchen and baking area, which also means that you can watch the cakes and bakes come to life in front of you.

To beat the heat, we decided to try two of The Twisted Trio’s drinks: Espresso Tonic (S$5.50) and Dirty Matcha (S$6).

The Twisted Trio 9

The Espresso Tonic is exactly what it sounds like—a shot of espresso mixed in with sparkling tonic water. I found it quite refreshing, though I can see why it might not suit every tastebud.

The quinine commonly found in tonic water added a bitter, astringent edge to the drink, but for someone like me who chugs kopi o kosong (black coffee without sugar or milk), it was delightfully bitter.

The Twisted Trio 7

My colleague is a matcha lover, so she was initially quite excited to try the Dirty Matcha. Alas, while the rich and aromatic matcha flavour came through, she found the coffee notes to be too overpowering. That said, she’s not a fan of coffee.

To me, I could barely taste the espresso shot in the Dirty Matcha, save the faintest whiff of burnt caramel. I did enjoy the drink, but I prefer more robust coffees when it comes to getting my caffeine fix.

The Twisted Trio 13

For desserts, we started with the Watermelon Rose Cake (S$8). The first thing I noticed was that distinctive layer of watermelon, right in the middle of the cake.

The Twisted Trio 12

Layers of fluffy pastry cream and airy shortcake sandwiched the juicy watermelon layer, and it’s topped with a generous portion of strawberries and grapes. A sprinkling of pistachios and rose petals completed this Instagram-worthy dessert.

The Twisted Trio 10

Another equally pretty cake is the Blue Pea Passionfruit (S$5.50). Pale-blue and fluffy cake layers alternate with passionfruit mousse, and it’s topped with smooth pastry cream.

I was pleasantly surprised by how citrusy-sour the cake was, though some might find it too sour. I liked how the citrus notes helped to brighten the cake layers; I would probably be able to finish the whole slice on my own!

The Twisted Trio 11

The Lychee Rose (S$5.50) came in a cheery sunflower-yellow, topped with rose petals. With thicker cake layers alternating with lychee cream, this was a little more crumbly than dense.

Sweet and aromatic with just a hint of acidity, the blush-pink lychee cream made a good addition to the cake. There were even juicy lychee bits embedded in the layers! Together with the distinct rose fragrance, this was truly a refreshing slice of cake.

The Twisted Trio 15

But the Dark & Milk Choc Brownie (S$4) was the real star of the show. Fudgy, dense, and chocolatey to a fault, the edges held just the right degree of crisp. I’m usually not a milk chocolate fan, as it gets too sweet for me. The Twisted Trio, however, blended the dark and milk chocolates really well—I could taste bittersweet notes, while each bite still finished with caramel sweetness.

Each piece of brownie was rather substantial too, so I’d recommend sharing this with a friend. Of course, if the calories don’t deter you, go ahead and treat yourself to an indulgent piece all for yourself. I loved the brownies so much that I actually got another piece for takeaway so that I could share it with my husband—who almost fought me for the last bite.

If you stay around Toa Payoh, The Twisted Trio is a lovely spot for your cake cravings. You’ll have to tapau, but that just means you can stock up on brownies, cakes and more for the whole family!

Expected Damage: S$4 – S$8 per cake

Price: $

Our Rating: 5 / 5

The Twisted Trio

85C Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-385, Singapore 313085

Price
Our Rating 5/5

The Twisted Trio

85C Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-385, Singapore 313085

Operating Hours: 10.30am - 6.30pm (Mon to Tue & Thurs to Fri), 9.30am - 6.30pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Wed

Operating Hours: 10.30am - 6.30pm (Mon to Tue & Thurs to Fri), 9.30am - 6.30pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Wed
Instagram

Newest