Cover image via Borneo Post
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A luxury version of the beloved Sarawak layer cake is making rounds for its astronomical price
Sold at Abg K'ju Cake House in Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, this premium dessert is created by Adhar Brahim, 38, who has been baking luxury cakes since 2024.
According to the Borneo Post, he began with the Luxury Baklava cake that year, followed by the Luxury Black Royal Truffle cake in 2025.
This year, he is presenting the 10-layer Luxury Kek Lapis Sultan, priced at RM1,800 per tray.
That makes it one of the most expensive layer cakes on the market.
To put it in perspective, that's higher than Malaysia's minimum wage of RM1,700!
Adhar said the cake underwent a year of research and development to perfect its quality and presentation
All 10 layers offer a different flavour profile, and Adhar recommends enjoying the cake in two parts for this reason.
From the pistachio layer downward, the cake has flavours reminiscent of traditional cakes, while the upper section, starting with the hazelnut praline layer, tastes like hazelnut caramel macchiato.
Adhar experimented with various premium ingredients and flavour combinations for his creation, which also informed his earlier luxury cakes.
His idea was to elevate kek lapis into a luxury product on par with international premium desserts.
Adhar Brahim, the creator of the artisan cake.
Image via Borneo Post
The cake's 10 layers have to be individually baked.
Image via New Straits TimesThe cake's high price comes from its premium ingredients, meticulous techniques, and lengthy preparation time
To provide the rich taste and unique texture, ingredients such as Wijsman Dutch butter, imported dried fruits, premium chocolate, and specially selected nuts are used, and the cake takes more than eight hours to produce from the initial batter mix to the final bake.
Every layer also has to be baked manually, adding to manufacturing costs.
Adhar said maintaining a consistent soft texture is the most challenging part of baking the cake, as it is highly sensitive to temperature and timing, requiring a great deal of patience.
Once baked, a full tray weighs 5kg and costs RM1,800, but smaller batches are also available at RM910 for a half-tray, RM310 for loaf size, and RM160 for a half-loaf.
The bakery's other luxury product, Luxury Black Royale Truffle, sells for RM1,700.
Image via Borneo PostAccording to Adhar, some new customers are initially surprised by the price, but loyal ones understand its value
Production of the Kek Lapis Sultan is also limited to 200 trays to maintain their exclusive value.
Since the start of the year, over 7,000 bite-size pieces of the bakery's luxury creations have been sold, including online orders.
"My creation is more than just a cake; it is a work of art."
