Mapo takeaway bake shop: matcha-coated madeleine box of 7, Fluffy

Exploring Gongdeok's dessert scene, I found Fluffy Bake Shop, a baked-goods specialist filled with the smell of premium butter — that rich Lescure AOP butter flavor. Today I want to introduce this dessert spot near Gongdeok Station that I visited a little while ago. Whenever I get a craving for sweet, buttery baked goods, I like to go on a little dessert tour, and this time I headed to a place near Mapo-gu that's been getting a lot of buzz.

Where Fluffy Bake Shop is, and what the shop feels like

Fluffy Bake Shop sits on the first floor of a commercial building at 8 Baekbeom-ro 31-gil in Mapo-gu, Seoul. As soon as I arrived, the clean yet striking exterior caught my eye. It's tucked into a cute, stylish street-level spot, so it was easy to find. The warm-toned interior elements all work together, naturally catching the attention of passersby.

Walking inside, even though it's mainly a takeout spot, I noticed a small but neatly arranged table area. I'd assumed it was strictly grab-and-go, so I was pleasantly surprised to see seats where you can sit and enjoy your dessert and drink in the store. Wood tones and warm lighting come together for a cozy, comfortable atmosphere. On one side of the store, they also sell pretty gift boxes separately — perfect for anniversaries or as a thank-you gift.

A 4pm visit: the display case was already sold out

The display case had that day's freshly baked goods neatly arranged. I visited around 4pm, and since this is such a popular dessert spot near Gongdeok Station, most of the signature desserts were already sold out. It was a bit disappointing to see the popular lineup go so fast, but thankfully there were still financiers and madeleines left, so I happily packed some up.

The 7 bakes in the takeaway box, and how to store them

I carefully picked out one Berry Berry financier, one black sesame madeleine, one Earl Grey madeleine, one espresso pecan madeleine, one chocolate madeleine, one chocolate canelé, and one matcha madeleine — 7 desserts in total. Each one was carefully wrapped individually in paper, so nothing got squished or misshapen on the way home. Thanks to the tidy packaging, everything made it home safely, and if I couldn't finish them all the same day, I could just pop them in the freezer and thaw them naturally later — they tasted exactly the same as fresh, which made storage really convenient. Made with top-grade Lescure AOP butter, the moment I opened the wrapping, a rich, savory butter smell gently filled the whole apartment — such a happy moment.

Chocolate canelé: crisp shell, chewy centre, cacao nibs on top

The first thing I tried was the chocolate canelé. I tasted it right after leaving the store, the same day I picked it up. It had a light dusting of cacao nibs on top, giving it a visually elegant look. Cutting it in half revealed a dense, dark canelé interior packed all the way through. Biting in, the crisp outside and chewy, moist inside — that classic crisp-outside-chewy-inside texture — really came through. The slightly bitter yet sweet cacao flavor paired perfectly with the crunchy exterior, leaving a deep, lingering aftertaste.

Matcha madeleine: a deep green chocolate coating

I enjoyed the rest of the desserts the next day after lunch, alongside an Americano. First, the matcha madeleine had a smooth, deep green matcha-chocolate coating that gave it a great visual appeal. Cutting it in half, the madeleine batter inside was also a rich green, making it obvious the matcha content was high. Taking a bite, the crunchy texture of the coated chocolate came with a bittersweet, grassy matcha aroma spreading through my mouth — savory and delicious.

Berry Berry financier: strawberry jam and dried berries

The Berry Berry financier had a lovely topping of tangy strawberry jam and dried berries arranged harmoniously on top. The rich, savory flavor of the Lescure AOP butter formed a solid base, while the sweetness of the strawberry jam and the tart little pops of the dried berries created a varied texture with every bite. The balance between sweet and tangy was excellent — I thought it would be an ideal pairing with an Americano or a cup of tea.

Chocolate madeleine: a chewy chocolate filling in the middle

The chocolate madeleine impressed me with a generous, rich, chewy chocolate filling packed into the center. The madeleine itself already had a deep, heavy chocolate aroma, and adding the filling in the middle made the whole thing feel wrapped in an even richer, softer flavor. It wasn't overly intense or tooth-achingly sweet — instead, made with good ingredients, it delivered a genuinely luxurious chocolate flavor that was very satisfying.

Earl Grey madeleine: glacé coating with cream cheese filling

The Earl Grey madeleine had a thin, translucent sugar glacé coating lightly covering the whole surface, giving a pleasant sweetness right from the first bite. Beyond the crisp, crackly sugar coating, the inside was packed with a soft, rich Earl Grey cream cheese filling. Biting in, the fluffy madeleine texture came together with a fragrant, strong Earl Grey black tea aroma filling my mouth — a truly elegant flavor. The savoriness of the cream cheese and the tea aroma blended beautifully — it was excellent.

Espresso pecan madeleine: coffee jam and crunchy pecans

The espresso pecan madeleine was filled generously in the center with a special espresso jam carrying a deep coffee aroma. The crunchy, savory pecans combined harmoniously with the bittersweet coffee flavor to fill my mouth. The coffee filling was concentrated enough that a rich depth lingered throughout, and the pecan's texture added extra body to what could otherwise have been a plain madeleine structure. Anyone who loves coffee would definitely be impressed by this one.

Black sesame madeleine: the nutty, old-school favourite

Last but not least was the black sesame madeleine, which, like the Earl Grey madeleine, had a thin sugar coating all around giving it a crisp, sweet first bite. The center was packed with a rich, savory black sesame filling, and the moment I bit in, the black sesame flavor was far more intense and heavy than I expected, filling my whole mouth. I'd especially recommend this one to fellow dessert lovers with old-fashioned tastes — the distinct savoriness and clean flavor of black sesame left a strong impression.