These Hyper-Realistic "Fruit Cakes" Are Taking Over The Internet, So I Tried Them To See If They're Worth The Hype (And Price Tag)
I destroyed my bank account so you don't have to.
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If you’ve been on Instagram at all lately, chances are you’ve seen a pastry from Aurora Los Angeles on your feed. Their intricate fruit-topped tarts and glossy, architectural confections practically scream, “You’re gonna want to take a picture of this.” So naturally, when I was sent to try them for myself, I was intrigued, hungry, and I’ll be honest, pretty freakin’ excited.
However, steeped down in my pastry-driven soul was a healthy dose of skepticism because how can something look SO beautiful and also taste delicious? See, I’ve worked in bakeries and I know first-hand that at times (I am trying my best to be careful here) the fancy, high-priced, fussy treats can fall flat on flavor.
In my humble opinion, some of the most delicious pastries and desserts out there are just, well, kinda ugly. Think, your grandma's peach pie, heavily spiced bread puddings, or fruit cobblers and crisps. I'm not saying pretty food isn't also delicious; I just know from experience that making something look perfect can also mean you're sacrificing flavor.
I picked up three of their most photogenic pastries: Rosé Razzleberry, Lemon County, and Mango Madness 2.0. I also grabbed their chocolate pistachio tart to measure the hyper-realistic cakes against something more traditional.
Each one looked like it had been handcrafted by a pastry wizard with a perfectionist streak — I’m talking pristine glazes, geometric details, and hand-brushed colors. These treats are truly beautiful and awe-inspiring in real life, just like online.
But here’s the thing, and I promise you this pains me to say: As beautiful as they were, the flavors didn’t live up to the visuals for me. (Please don’t be mad at me!)
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The Rosé Razzleberry definitely tasted the best. The chocolate mousse within the raspberry shell was the star; it was rich and creamy. I could have eaten it by the spoonful, and it paired very well against the raspberry jam inside. However, the proportions felt off to me — it was A LOT of jam to the other components. The description says it has a champagne mousse, but I didn’t taste much of that flavor at all.
The Lemon County, which I was hoping would be bright and zippy, felt flat and extremely subtle, and I didn’t taste the “French Riviera's lavenders” like the description promises.
The Mango Madness 2.0 had promise; as I’d seen online, this confection had real mango inside. I think it might have been dried mango bits rather than fresh, and while nice, it didn’t punch me in the face with flavor the way it did visually.
And the pistachio tart was unsweet, undersalted, and the flavors were subtle to the point of being forgettable.
I don’t need every pastry to be cloyingly sweet or over-the-top with flavor. In fact, I praise subtlety. But these items lacked any discernible flavor. I was expecting more complexity, more contrast, more…something.
Instead, everything felt a little too delicate and muted, especially for the price point, which is on the higher end. For example, the Rosé Razzleberry was $25, Lemon County was $9.50, and Mango Madness was $8.50.
That said, if you’re going for aesthetic, Aurora delivers. These pastries are gorgeous — the kind of thing you’d proudly serve at a dinner party or post to your Instagram story with a dozen heart-eye emojis. They’re undeniably made with care and artistry, and I respect the pastry chef for how difficult and complex the crafting process must be!
I just wish these delivered intensity and a lasting impression flavor-wise. All to say, if you’re after a pastry that’s as bold in taste as it is in looks, you might leave wishing there was just a little more flavor to back up the beauty.
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