• Wholegreen Bakery’s Cardboard Cake challenges the perception that gluten-free products taste like cardboard.
    Wholegreen Bakery’s Cardboard Cake challenges the perception that gluten-free products taste like cardboard.
  • Wholegreen Bakery’s Cardboard Cake challenges the perception that gluten-free products taste like cardboard.
    Wholegreen Bakery’s Cardboard Cake challenges the perception that gluten-free products taste like cardboard.
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Those living with Coeliac disease and gluten intolerances have long battled against the perception that gluten-free products taste like cardboard. Up for a challenge, Sydney-based artisan and gluten-free Wholegreen Bakery teamed up with creative agency The Hallway to create the Cardboard Cake – gluten-free and most importantly, full of flavour.

The intricate layered cake is designed to deceive the eyes, and is structured to look like literal cardboard, featuring ingredients including butterscotch, coffee, cocoa powder, pastry, caramel, and brown rice flour.

Wholegreen Bakery founder Cherie Lyden, said the cake tastes as impressive as it looks, proving you don’t need to compromise on taste when observing a gluten-free diet.

“One of the biggest issues gluten-free providers face is the misconception that gluten-free products don’t taste as good as their non-gluten counterparts, and that gluten free products are almost a consolation prize.

“So we thought to ourselves, if people say gluten-free products taste like cardboard, let’s show them a gluten-free cake that isn’t a consolation at all,” said Lyden.

Wholegreen Bakery founder Cherie Lyden.
Wholegreen Bakery founder Cherie Lyden.

The Hallway chief creative officer Simon Lee said it was a ‘little cake with a big point to prove’.

“The journey to perfecting the Cardboard Cake was marked by experimentation and ingenuity. Wholegreen Bakery's team explored various materials and techniques before settling on the method. Despite encountering challenges along the way, the unwavering commitment to this challenge ultimately resulted in a product that looks amazing and tastes even better,” said Lee.

Wholegreen Bakery said it invites everyone, regardless of dietary restrictions, to try the Cardboard Cake, aiming to redefine the way consumers think about gluten-free desserts and products.

The Cardboard Cake is accredited by Coeliac Australia and is available to try at Wholegreen Bakery’s Alexandria store.

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