Any food-obsessed TikTok user is guaranteed to have come across the viral fruit pastries. Typically featuring a chocolate shell with mousse and fruit puree inside, these desserts are racking up millions of views on social media for their realistic looking appearance — closely mimicking the fruit they are emulating.
“I used to see it a lot online, on TikTok. I would always see it and I was like, ‘I think I want to give that a shot,'” Diaz said about starting to make these Trompe-l’œil (French for “deceive the eye”) pastries, which blew up online in the past year.
At Cakes by Sonia, the formula is similar to other viral version where the fruit mouse is on the inside of the dessert while a chocolate shell surrounds the filling. Found in the mousse are a fruit puree and a layer of cake or cheesecake, Diaz said. For example, the banana-shaped pastry has banana mouse with banana pudding inside.
There’s even non-fruit options in the same style like the Oreo milkshake (which resembles an Oreo sitting on top of a milkshake), made with a cookies and cream mousse.
Diaz said that the mango, strawberry and raspberry fruit pastries are among her top bestsellers at the bakery. She added that the desserts have helped drive business to her shop on Barnum Avenue.
In addition to serving up the viral fruit pastries, Cakes by Sonia is known for its wide assortment of cupcakes as well as its custom cakes made by Diaz.
Those looking to grab one of the viral fruit desserts will have to go early as these fruit pastries have been selling out almost daily, Diaz said. Cakes by Sonia is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Dining and Cooking