From hand-painted sugee cakes to time-honoured fruit cake recipes, baker Anita Thaver reflects on the nostalgic flavours and traditions that define a Eurasian Christmas celebration.
Text by: Derrick Tan, Photos by: Marcus Lim
Anita Thaver, a Eurasian cake artist and baker, bears sweet treats of sugee cake and fruit cake made with love from time-honoured recipes. The proof is in the pudding – or in this case, the magic infused in Anita’s fragrant sugee cake and boozy fruit cake. They may look unassuming; however, nostalgic flavours shine through in both desserts.
“Sugee cake and fruit cake are at the heart of every Eurasian Christmas I remember. They are not just desserts; they are part of who we are as a community. Both carry a certain magic, just like the magic of Christmas togetherness, and love.”
“Baking these cakes today keeps those memories alive,” says Anita. “Christmas time meant a lot of prep work for tarts, cookies, cakes, and the various savoury dishes. Though hectic, the tantalising aroma of cakes and curries permeating the house, and the Christmas tunes all made it an enjoyable time,” she adds.
Establishing herself as The Cake Lady (thecakelady.sg), Anita’s expertise in baking has gotten her featured by local Eurasian community groups on Facebook, showcasing her custom hand-painted sugee cakes and their raves about their authenticity.
She stays faithful to her recipes. “Changing recipes would mean altering the dish altogether and not preserving the culinary heritage – apart from reducing salt and sugar (for health reasons). These recipes have been handed down for generations and are a vital part of our Eurasian heritage that we have come to know and love.”
Besides the two homely bakes, Anita’s Eurasian Christmas meal isn’t atypical of others in the same ethnic group and would always feature chicken pie, shepherd’s pie, devil curry, achar and a good roast with all the trimmings.
“A Eurasian Christmas table is a blend of cultures – Portuguese, Malay, Chinese. Each dish tells a story of our roots, our adaptations, and how food connects us across generations.” She adds that Eurasians are proud of their ancestry and heritage, as well as their commitment to keeping traditions alive through food.
Nowhere else, except for the Eurasian Christmas spread, can you find the ubiquitous devil curry, alongside feng, pies, and confections such as sugee cakes and fruit cake.
“Each sugee cake and boozy fruit cake is handcrafted lovingly to evoke fond memories of celebration and connection. By continuing to bake, I hope to help the next generation appreciate the beauty of our heritage — and remind them that food is not just about taste; it’s about keeping our culture and family spirit alive.”