Overview
Companies small and large have been rolling out compelling COVID-19 vaccination incentives of late — from Qantas' flight discounts and travel rewards to Nobody Denim's personalised jeans giveaway. But we might have just found the tastiest — and cutest — form of vax encouragement yet, in a new line of colourful creations from local baking business Beurre. The newly dubbed Vaxx Cakes are frosting-topped beacons of positivity, proudly emblazoned with messages like 'great jab', 'congrats on your vax!' and (our personal favourite) 'poppin buttons for Sutton'.
The bakery is the brainchild of local Zahara Valibhoy, who left her job at an automotive company in 2013 to dive head-first into the world of cake-making. After landing a covetable gig working at Paris' famed Laduree bakery, she returned to Melbourne where she's been serving up specialty sweet treats under her Beurre label for the past few years.
Some pandemic-induced pivoting in 2020 saw Valibhoy extend her talents to making tasting boxes and rainbow-sprinkled celebration cakes. Now, following a friend's custom request for a special post-vax treat for her husband, she's been inspired to create a dedicated range of cakes celebrating the important act of getting a COVID-19 vaccination.
Beurre
"I can't convince someone that science is cool, but I can definitely help to congratulate someone who has gotten a vax," explains Valibhoy. "Even if it was a really scary decision for them."
Sporting brightly-hued icing and sprinkles aplenty, the Vaxx Cakes are available in three of Beurre's most popular flavour combinations: there's a pecan number with Biscoff chantilly and pecan praline; the vanilla plum cake finished with whipped cream cheese and a cheesecake crumble; and a chocolate creation starring milk chocolate chantilly and berry gel (also available gluten-free). Each cake is sized for four generous portions, or eight smaller serves. Though of course, if you were particularly brave getting your jab and feel like scoffing the whole damn thing yourself, you'll get absolutely no judgement here. Orders are open now over on the website, with delivery available across metro Melbourne.
As you can imagine, the cakes are so far going down a treat. "I definitely wasn't expecting such a big response," says Valibhoy. "It's so, so good to see so many people getting vaxxed, and then on top of that, seeing their loved ones wanting to brighten their day and congratulate them by sending cake."
Beurre's Vaxx Cakes are available to order online, for delivery across Melbourne. They clock in at $45 each.
Images: Beurre