Millennial Takes Over Mum’s 18-Year-Old Cafe, Creates Viral Square Doughnuts Including X’mas Panettone Flavour
Let’s be honest: Caffe Pralet used to be a nondescript cafe that was somewhat forgettable amid the trendier coffee spots in Tiong Bahru. “It had aunty vibes,” recalls our editor. However, it has transformed into quite the hipster hangout after it underwent a renovation and menu overhaul. The mod-looking space now sells viral square-shaped sourdough doughnuts and loaded sandwiches.
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Mother and son team
The cafe was opened in 2006 by 61-year-old chef Judy Koh, who also owns nearby culinary school Creative Culinaire Academy. The brand was injected with a fresh lease of life after her son, Tim, 32, started heading the business.
TikTok reel made their doughnuts go viral
The square sourdough doughnuts were Tim’s idea. Although they were launched last March, a TikTok reel by a customer propelled it into social media virality only this year. At its peak, customers faced two-day waiting times for online orders, with queues snaking outside the cafe. The signature flavour is the Brown Butter Honey Glaze, beloved for its condensed milk-esque glaze and mochi-like texture.
Panettone doughnut, $4.80
Now, Tim has unveiled a fun Christmas creation with an Italian spin: Singapore's first-ever panettone-inspired doughnut. The inspiration came naturally, as the café has been selling traditional panettone (a dome-shaped enriched sweetened bread eaten at Christmas time in Italy) for several years.
What’s panettone?
The cake-like bread originated in Milan and has become a holiday staple across Italy and beyond. Traditional panettone is known for its feathery texture and fragrant flavour profile featuring candied fruits and citrus zest.
Making it requires a complex process involving days of natural yeast fermentation and careful proofing, resulting in its distinctive tall, airy structure and rich, buttery texture.
Photo: Google/Xiu Jin Guo
Caffe Pralet’s doughnut-panettone recipe
Caffe Pralet’s creation involves a 13-year-old sourdough starter and three-day fermentation process. Rather than simply deep-frying traditional panettone dough, Tim combines their signature doughnut base with authentic panettone flavours by incorporating five different dried fruits and house-made orange paste. Each doughnut is finished with powdered sugar delicately dusted in Christmas tree patterns.
Hola, another Christmas flavour…
Joining the Panettone doughnut is the Christmas time special of Pistachio Raspberry ($4.80). It features a doughnut cloaked in white chocolate and pistachio paste glaze dotted with crushed nuts and drizzled with raspberry jam.
Festive box
The Jolly X’mas Box ($26) of six makes a nice gift. It has two of each Christmas-flavoured doughnut alongside two of the crowd-fave Brown Butter Honey Glaze ones. Their regular offerings, priced between $3.40 and $4.20 each, includes classic flavours such as Cinnamon Sugar, Triple Choc Fudge and more unique ones like chicken floss with furikake and kombu aioli.
The Christmas specials are only available till December 24. Pre-ordering is recommended to avoid disappointment.
Beyond photogenic doughnuts, Caffe Pralet also offers hearty sourdough sarnie options (from $12) like roasted pork collar, beef and cheese or sesame tofu using house-baked bread, alongside soups, salads, house-baked cakes and cookies.
Caffe Pralet is at #01-04 Eng Hoon Mansions, 7 Eng Hoon St, S169767. Christmas doughnuts available till 24 Dec. Open daily Mon - Sun, 9am to 6pm. More info via Instagram & website.
Photos: Caffe Pralet
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