If, like me, you spend way too much time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, you have probably seen a stream of Dot Cakes appearing on your phone screen. They are the latest sweet sensation to emerge out of New York and, with their sprinkle topping, they have also become instantly recognisable to many of us in the UK. Made popular by foodies and ASMR influencers alike, they were sure to break through the algorithm at some point or another.
As the Dot Cake craze has seemingly been taking the internet by storm, I found my feed quickly became filled with videos of fans attempting to make their own. Not long after, versions also appeared to be popping up across the UK, including in London, Glasgow, Sheffield and, luckily for me, also in Manchester.
So, with it now being possible to get involved in the fad without having to take a trip to the airport, I decided to hunt down the cakes for myself. The first place I tracked down selling the kaleidoscopic cakes was Alex's Bakery on Deansgate, who launched their own Dot Cakes to give Mancunians the chance to get in on the experience.
Finding the Dot Cakes
The shop is nestled next to Great Northern Square and sure enough, as soon as I got to the counter, I could spot the now famous Dot Cake. I admittedly did go in with one main aim - just to try a Dot Cake - and so I hadn't given much thought to the actual flavours of the cakes; especially as the topping is hidden by sprinkles. So when I was asked which flavour I would like to try I was none the wiser of what to go for. I was told they had both chocolate and caramel flavours and so, in the spirit of fully experiencing Dot Cakes, I opted for both.
The ASMR Experience
From my time scrolling through social media, I knew that half the appeal of Dot Cakes is the ASMR-esque experience they create. If you search up Dot Cakes on TikTok you should quickly find an abundance of close-up shots of spoons being brushed against the sprinkles to create a somewhat satisfying scrape. Inspired by this, I tried to replicate these videos and I tapped my spoon against the toppings but found that, for me, it didn't quite create the same effect.
Tasting the Cakes
Giving up on the influencer lifestyle, I decided it was time to actually dig in and see what Dot Cakes are all about. I understand the original Dot Cakes made in New York consist of a vanilla frosting and so, when I delved into my first tub at Alex's Bakery, I forgot to expect a chocolate ganache. This was super thick, and so I was thrilled to be able to get a good serving of sponge and chocolate all on one spoon.
Moving onto the caramel topping, I found it required slightly less force to dig into the cake, as caramel oozed out as soon as I plunged my spoon into the tub. If you're wanting to replicate a close-up video of this moment, as many others have been doing on social media, this is definitely the option to punt for.
Both were sweet and impressively moist, while the sprinkle topping added a satisfying crunch. After trying two at once I did feel slightly overwhelmed with sugar, but that is completely my own fault for wolfing them down. They're very different to anything I have tried before, but interestingly the colourful sprinkles and ice cream-like tub did make the whole experience seem strangely nostalgic.
Final Verdict
It's probably important to say they are not designed to be a true replica of New York's own Dot Cakes. They've been created in their own right, with their own unique toppings, and I think they are all the better for this. If you're looking for the true taste of the original Dot Cake you probably still need to head across the pond, but, for me, I was thrilled it only took a short tram ride to get involved in the experience.
Each cake is £4.95 and they do come in pretty deep tubs. And to say they initially started out exclusively in New York, I'm grateful that we no longer need to fork out on a plane ticket to try them.
