Just Desserts: Lollipop Bakery

By Nyima Pratten, 2015-09

Cupcake aficionado, Lexi Morris, founded Lollipop Bakery in Beijing after noticing the growing trend for cupcake stores in London, around the time that Hummingbird Bakery was just beginning to make its presence known in the UK capital. After studying in Beijing for a year during university, and realising that there weren’t any cake companies of this type in the city, Morris perfected her cupcake recipes on colleagues in London for a year, before finally taking the plunge and setting up shop in Beijing. After a few years in Beijing, Morris was invited to join Shanghai’s Pantry by the Co-op, which already included female cottage industry tastemakers Spread the Bagel, Strictly Cookies and Amelia’s Jams.
 
After a few years working out of The Pantry (205 Wulumuqi Nan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu), Morris was cycling her bike around the French Concession a few months ago and saw a small coffee shop that she thought would be ideal for Lollipop Bakery. Even though there was no To Let sign outside, it just so happened that the landlord was looking for a new tenant, and the rest, as they say, is history.
We loved the range of regular sized (RMB 25) and miniature (RMB 12) cupcakes, with a special deal of buy five get one free. Flavours are rotated and include Vanilla, Chocolate, Red Velvet, Oreo, Green Tea, Snickers, Lemon Meringue Pie, Black Sesame, Spiced Carrot, Banana Pie, Earl Grey and Cappuccino. And if that hasn’t already left you salivating, you can also choose from slices of larger cakes, the flavours of which are also on rotation. We indulged in a delicious slice of carrot cake (RMB 30 per slice), with a moist and light sponge base and creamy icing. Muffins (RMB 18) and cookies (RMB 12) are also available. If you have a special occasion coming up that you want to celebrate with cake (and why would you not?), Lollipop cupcakes and cakes are available for delivery as well as customisation.
 
Although this spot is first and foremost for when you have to give in to your sweet tooth, the bakery also offers sandwiches and a salad bar. In an ideal location, in the heart of the French Concession, the bakery had a steady flow of customers when we visited and was a very pleasant place to spend our afternoon.
 
Lollipop Bakery. 966 Changlu Lu, near Wulumuqi Lu. Tel: 156 1899 8253. Web: www.lollipopbakery.cn