Anyday Cakes brings a sweet Kristang treat to the masses

SUBANG: Two large gas ovens stand near the entrance of the bakery, trays of golden batter slowly baking inside.

Step through the door and the air is rich with the scent of butter and toasted semolina. Nearby, a silver-haired man in a black chef’s uniform moves easily between customers and cake samples.

Friendly and eager to chat, Fabian Especkerman has spent the past five years introducing more Malaysians to sugee cake.

“I’m proud to say I’ve reached many Malaysians outside of the Kristang community with my cakes,” the 66-year-old told FMT Lifestyle.

For generations, the beloved Eurasian cake was largely the domain of home bakers, with customers often waiting days or even weeks for an order. Especkerman wanted to change that.

“When I came into the business, I took it upon myself to make sure the customer gets it within one day or the same day,” he said. “I don’t bake to order – I just bake.”

That philosophy underpins Anyday Cakes in Putra Heights, where sugee cake is available year-round rather than only during festive seasons.

Customers can choose from classic, orange, chocolate, nutty, rum and raisin, and fruitcake varieties at wallet-friendly prices.

Of Portuguese, Dutch and German descent, Especkerman views sugee cake as an important part of Kristang heritage, one worth preserving and sharing with a wider audience.

His fascination with the cake goes back to his teenage years, when his sister-in-law brought one home during Christmas.

“I was really intrigued by this cake, especially the texture,” he recalled.

“Every time she brought the cake to our house, I would beg my mum to cut me a slice. And I always looked forward to going to her house during Christmas for her sugee cake!”

Years later, after marrying his wife Sheri Gabrial, the couple searched for old family recipes until they found one, passed down through three generations, that closely matched the cake he remembered.

“I could still remember exactly how it tasted,” he said with a smile.

The result is a classic sugee cake that feels comfortingly familiar. Its grainy texture gives way to a rich buttery flavour, while notes of almond add depth and warmth to every bite.

The orange variation offers a brighter take on tradition. The citrus notes are unmistakable yet restrained, complementing rather than overpowering the cake’s buttery richness.

The chocolate sugee is perhaps the most surprising: rich and deeply chocolatey, it retains the distinctive texture and character that make the traditional version so beloved.

The business began as a church fundraiser in 2018, when Especkerman sold sugee cakes during festive celebrations to raise money for charity.

Encouraged by repeat customers, he left corporate life during the pandemic and launched a baking business from home in 2021, before moving into the current premises two years later.

Before that, Especkerman had spent two decades in hospitality and another 20 years with German and Italian multinational companies.

“Having been in the scientific research industry, I dealt with precision and accuracy. So I brought this knowledge into the baking scene,” he noted.

His meticulous approach has enabled him to scale production without sacrificing consistency. Today, the bakery’s four ovens and four mixers can produce nearly 100 cakes a day.

“People doubted me, even some family members. They didn’t think I could do this,” Especkerman added.

Today, many customers tell him his cakes remind them of their grandmothers or aunties, and childhood celebrations.

“A lot of them thank me for making this cake. That’s what it’s all about.”

Looking ahead, he aims to expand into Melaka Portuguese cuisine as well as pineapple jam tarts and saltfish pickles, while preparing to export his products next year.

If those plans succeed, they will carry more than food beyond Malaysia’s shores: they will carry an entire community’s memories and traditions, which Especkerman is determined to keep alive.

Follow Anyday Cakes on Facebook and Instagram.

Anyday Cakes
6, Jalan Putra Mahkota 7/4b,
Putra Point Commercial Centre,
47650 Subang Jaya, Selangor

Business hours:

• 10am-4pm (Mondays to Fridays)
• 10am-2pm (Saturdays)

Contact: 017-315 0465