In a continuation of Melbourne’s love affair with sweet baked goods, Pop Up Scroll is a temporary pop up shop on Smith Street pedalling scrolls and I was invited for an afternoon tea of scroll tasting.

 A former Chinese herbalist shop has been transformed by the married owners (a pastry chef and interior designer) into a gelati-coloured doll’s house with retro features.

Inside is a temporary purpose built kitchen (the lease expires in May), a counter luring customers with different scroll flavours and some cute seating along the wall and in the window.

 

Twice a day scrolls are freshly baked, glazed and topped. Their sell out is the original cinnamon scroll with cream cheese frosting and it is my favourite. Unlike traditional cinnamon scrolls, say from Scandinavia, these scrolls are not dense, yeasty and bread-like. The dough is based on a brioche recipe, which means the texture is butter and fluffy. Really it’s more like a doughnut than a bread product – and hence you can easily eat more than one!

 

In fact, my recommendation is to buy mini scrolls ($3) rather than the large scrolls ($4) so that you can try more than one flavour. Other favourites include the peanut butter and banana and decadent chocolate with salted caramel. I’m not such a fan of the coconut and white chocolate scroll as the dessicated, caramelised coconut topping was tooth-achingly sweet, even for a seasoned sweet tooth like myself.

 You can pair your fragrant scrolls with a coffee by Coffee Supreme and if you’re desperate for something savoury they do offer a few options.

 After the 6 month lease is up there are plans for a more permanent shop for Pop Up Scroll in the inner north (which will then be called Eat a Scroll). Until then, get your scroll fix on Smith Street.

 Pop Up Scroll, 86 Smith Street, Collingwood

Monday-Friday 8am-4pm

Saturday 9am-4pm