A HOME-BASED business by Simone Mahl Gonzalez, Sweet Monkees Bakery shares a mother’s cherished recipe to the rest of Cebu’s sweet tooths. But don’t be mistaken, there’s no monkey business here—just pure cheesecake goodness.
With premium ingredients and balanced flavors, Sweet Monkees sets the bar high for cheesecakes, each bite delightfully indulgent without being cloying. But what truly makes it special is the heart of it: family and of course, a genuine love for baking.
The name was coined from the loving moniker Simone calls her children—“Monkees”—who also happen to be first to judge their mom’s creations. It has to be, as Simone calls, “Monkee-approved” before it officially goes on the menu.
“My cheesecakes are a reflection of my inspirations and my family. I create and introduce a new flavor only after it has been tried, tested and approved by my ‘Monkees.’ Their feedback is what I use as a benchmark,” said Simone.
The Blu Monkee, Simone’s take on the quintessential blueberry cheesecake, has been a family favorite for years. It wasn’t until last May during quarantine when she finally decided to experiment with more flavors and turn her passion into a small entrepreneurial venture.
As of writing, Sweet Monkees has 11 flavors on the menu, from the classics to more playful takes on the cheesecake. For those who like it plain and simple, one can never go wrong with The Original, Blu or Lemonkee.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are also fun, one-of-a-kind flavors such as the Monkee’s Dream (double-crusted with peanut butter), Little Miss Monkee (a light cheesecake with strawberries and almonds) and Monkee Streusel (topped with apples, crumble and chia seeds).
Sweet Monkees’ roster of flavors is indicative of the fact that it does not shy away from novelty and creativity. With Halloween and Thanksgiving just around the corner, expect a surprise flavor or two dropping real soon.
Being a newly minted business, Sweet Monkees has no plans of expansion anytime soon, but Simone is definitely determined to take her brand to greater heights in the future. For now, Sweet Monkees Bakery happily operates from where it all started: Home.
For orders and inquiries, message its Instagram page @sweetmonkeesbakery.