From saving money and staying healthy to snapping the perfect picture, Koreans have plenty of reasons to love tiny cakes
In Korea, cakes are shrinking to the size of a single bite.
Search for “one-bite cake” in Korean on Instagram, and you’ll find over 22,000 posts celebrating these dainty desserts -- also known as “micro cakes” or “super mini cakes.”
Unlike cupcakes, these tiny treats are meticulously crafted to resemble full-sized cakes, often adorned with custom designs.
Just how small are they? Think a single slice, or even smaller -- about the size of a walnut.
The phenomenon has even sparked a viral “One Bite Challenge,” where dessert enthusiasts attempt to devour an entire mini cake in one go.
Do people actually buy them? Why?
The answer is yes -- and the reasons are as varied as the cakes themselves.
Choi Ju-hyun, for instance, a mother of a two-year-old, ordered mini cakes for a group birthday party she hosted for her daughter and other October-born toddlers.
“It was nice because each kid could have their own tiny cake, especially since my daughter loves blowing out candles,” she said. “Besides, I think traditional-sized cakes are for families of four, or larger gatherings. These days, I rarely have occasions that require a big cake.”
For 20-something Lee Ye-na, her introduction to the trend came in the form of a hand-sized cake from Nudake, a brand that recently gained traction for its designs inspired by K-pop star Jennie.
“Honestly, at first, I thought, ‘Who would this even be enough for?’ But it turned out to be a perfect little thing to share with my friends,” she said, adding that she split the cake with four others.
She also mentioned spotting Nudake’s viral Micro Burger Cake.
“I’d buy one for a friend, especially someone living alone. Since they’re so small, there aren’t any leftovers. Many of my friends hesitate to accept cakes because they don’t want to deal with leftovers.”
For 30-something Lee Eun-geum, a dinner roll-sized white cake adorned with black ribbons -- priced at 7,000 won -- was just the right fit.
“I found out about tiny cakes on Instagram a while ago,” she shared. “I bought one for my husband’s birthday. Neither of us are big cake eaters, so this size was perfect for just a taste.” She added that it created the celebratory vibe she wanted and that she’d happily purchase one again.
Kim Ju-yeon, who recently posted a picture of herself blowing out a candle on an apple-sized cake for her 29th birthday, echoed similar sentiments.
“The cake cost about 12,000 won. It was pretty and created a great birthday atmosphere,” she said. “The taste wasn’t amazing, but since it was so small, it didn’t matter much.”
For Kim Yu-jin, 32, the appeal of these pint-sized desserts lies in their combination of practicality and aesthetics.
“They’re Instagrammable and look cute in photos despite their size,” she said. “Then there’s the financial aspect. Cakes have gotten really expensive these days. Plus, people are more health-conscious and want to cut back on sugar.”
Shinsegae Food also noticed the tiny cake trend and recently launched the Maltese Strawberry Roll Cake, a mini-sized cake themed on the popular characters Maltese & Retriever, selling them for 9,980 won at local chain Emart.
“We paid attention to the trend of small cakes,” said Won Jung-kook, an Emart official who took part in preparing the launch of the new mini-cake. “I think recent cake trends have become polarized, with the clear popularity of both expensive hotel cakes over 100,000 won and cheap cakes. Also, with the prevelance of end-of-year party culture, we believe there will be a clear customer need for cost-effective cakes.”
The cake had cumulative sales of 30,000 units, including pre-orders, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 25, marking an increase of about 30 percent compared to the somewhat cheaper cakes sold in the same period a year earlier.
Too pricey?
As with any rising trend, not everyone is eager to embrace bite-sized cakes.
“For a cake that’s only the size of a slice, it’s way overpriced. I’d rather just buy an actual slice of cake,” said Park Jung-hyun, 28.
The trend has even drawn fire on TV. In a recent broadcast, panelists debated the trend after watching a clip of 21-year-old dancer Harimu celebrating with baseball-size mini cakes priced at 16,000 won each.
“For that price, you could buy a whole cake from Paris Baguette,” said actor Heo Hyung-kyu on the show. “And you’d finish this in just two spoonfuls.”
One baker also acknowledges the steep price tags.
“It’s true that making a small cake can require more skill and effort than a regular-sized one,” said Kim, who owns a local bakery in Gyeonggi Province. “But honestly, some of these cakes are overpriced, especially when you factor in the cost of ingredients.”
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