Care for a slice or two of Carrot Cake Cheesecake? Or a bite of Homemade Truffles? Perhaps a scoop of Ensaimada Ice Cream? How about a moist cupcake spiked with sweet wine?

These and over 120 more of the country’s finest sweets can be tasted on May 28 during the “Inquirer Lifestyle Best Desserts Book 4” launch and exhibit at SMX Convention Center, SM Aura Premier, Taguig City.

The “Best Desserts” series, published by Philippine Daily Inquirer Inc., is a listing done by Lifestyle food writer Vangie Baga-Reyes, of the certified blockbuster sweets in the Philippines, the crème de la crème of the pastry and baking industry.

About 127 mouthwatering desserts—from Metro Manila to Pampanga and Cebu—are exclusively featured in the book.

For the launch, booths set up by the 100-plus bakers will offer samples of their desserts.

So, what could be more indulgent than scooping the Chilled Almond Pudding with Lychee Sorbet of Conrad’s China Blue, or taking a bite of the moist and decadent Mocha Meringue Cake of Rossana Hwang?

For the health conscious, there’s Organic Caramel Cake of Costa Brava’s Judah Liu. Vegans can go for the Gluten-free Vegan Dark Chocolate Cake of Jertie’s Kitchen by Jertie and Jaq Abergas. Very timely as well is the Paleo Chocolate Cookies of Jamie Lao’s Paleovore.

Karen Young’s creamy Avocado Pie also made it to the elite list, as well as Ginny de Guzman’s Carrot Cake Cheesecake, Gigi Gaerlan’s Crusted Rum Cake, Arie Cuerva Kidder’s Cheesecake Fudge and Cay Cuasay’s Green Tea Strawberry Shortcake.

Cebu, Antipolo

Cebu’s Plantation Bay Resort and Spa will proudly present its best-selling, melt-in-your-mouth Chocolate Stonehenge, while Antipolo’s pride Casa Abuela will showcase its much talked about Cashew Sans Rival and Cream Puff.

The “Best Desserts” series is written by Baga-Reyes and edited by Alya Honasan. Layout is by Riki Velarde, photographs by Leo Sabangan II, and foreword by Lifestyle editor Thelma San Juan.

The book launch, in partnership with SM Aura, will be hosted by Lifestyle columnist Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Super editor Pam Pastor.

A welcome remark from Inquirer president and chief executive officer Sandy Prieto-Romualdez will kick off the program, followed by a video presentation of the desserts and awarding of certificates of recognition.

Proceeds of the entrance fee (P100) will go to Gota de Leche, which helps malnourished children and breastfeeding mothers.

Special raffle prizes will be given.