BY DAYANG MILLIANA
FOR almost a decade, pastry chef and owner of Abg K’ju Cake House, Adhar Ibrahim, 37, has built a reputation for redefining the art of Kek Lapis (layered cakes) in Sarawak.
Adhar’s baking journey began in 2010 from his home kitchen, where he honed his talent in baking before upgrading his entrepreneurship to night markets in 2016.
A year later, he opened his own cake shop where he continued to grow his business despite facing stiff competition from long-established bakers.
“In Sarawak, there are countless kek lapis bakers, whether from retails or home-based businesses. To stand out, we must offer something different, ” he explained.
By maintaining the quality of their cakes and staying ahead of changing trends among consumers, Abg K’ju managed to build a loyal customer base due to the unwavering commitment of Adhar and his team.
Among his creations, the most recent, Black Royale Truffle stands out as a luxury cake, priced at RM1,700 and is adored by many across the region.
The Black Royale Truffle cake was inspired by the melt-in-your-mouth texture of chocolate truffles.
The price of this cake has created a buzz among the netizens as it is priced quite high for a layered cake.
However, according to him, several factors contribute to Black Royale Truffle’s exclusivity and makes it worth the price tag.
“It took 17 rounds of research and development to perfect the taste and texture of this premium cake,” said Adhar.
Extensive research and development was conducted to ensure the perfect taste and texture of Black Royale Truffle, hence a lot of time and effort were invested.
On top of that, the cake uses premium imported ingredients.
Each Black Royale Truffle cake contains 1.3kg of couverture chocolate which is a blend of three high-quality chocolates, alongside imported malt chocolate, pure butter, and mascarpone cheese.
“Creating a cake and coming up with its recipe is like crafting an artwork,” he said.
“Developing something truly unique requires immense effort. Each cake takes around seven hours to complete, with careful attention to every layer,” Adhar added.
To him, that alone makes the cake worth the price tag because he values the originality and craftsmanship behind the creation of Black Royale Truffle.
“Plus, many first-time buyers who purchase bite-sized pieces of Black Royale Truffle find themselves returning to purchase the whole cake,” he said.
Above all, the Black Royale Truffle represents the pinnacle of the Abg K’ju Cake House brand.
Baking a layered cake is a process that requires both skill and patience.
Thus, Black Royale Truffle requires a particular technique as it is crucial for cakes with a high chocolate content.
“Each layer is baked to 90 per cent of doneness to maintain its moisture and to prevent it from burning or drying out,” said Adhar.
He mentioned that if the person baking Black Royale Truffle is of someone who lacks skills and experience in handling layered cakes, any miscalculation can result in either undercooked or overcooked product.
Beyond the Black Royale Truffle, Abg K’ju Cake House offers more than 15 varieties of premium Kek Lapis.
That includes their best sellers, namely Baklava, Nur, Sofea Maryam Turkish Delight, and Belacan Lumut Cheese.
“For those looking for quality cake at an affordable price, Abg K’ju offers medium and budget-tier cakes priced between RM12 and RM30 per loaf,” said Adhar.
Looking ahead, Abg K’ju aims to elevate its brand to a national level and perhaps release an exclusive recipe book featuring his original creations.
