★ Doughcakes, bronuts and cookie sandwiches

Muffins and macrons are so yesterday, Melbourne has gone crazy for cookie sandwiches, bronuts and all manner of gourmet doughnut fillings in 2015. These five specialist bakers are doing it well:

1. Doughboys Melbourne – popping up on counters all over the city this year with their Merlot, Maple Bacon, Earl Grey and Lime Toast doughnuts. A new permanent location at St James Retail precinct slated for September/October will keep customers guessing what flavours are next.
2. Lune Croissanterie – has customers lining up at 5am at their Elwood location waiting for Kouign-Amann, croissants and other traditional puffed delights. 29 Scott St, Elwood, +613 9077 6463
3. Two Little Pigs – a Sydney Road stalwart which alongside some pretty awesome coffee, offers a serve of berry-topped doughcakes – a cross between doughnuts and pancakes, of course. 146 Sydney Rd, Brunswick, +613 9939 4042
4. Brioche by Philip – a specialist and award-winnng bakery by French trained Philip serving modern variations of the traditional French brioche bun – including the distinctive black charcoal brioche bun, and bronuts (a cross between a brioche and a donut) with flavours such as cherry brandy, coffee almond and raspberry brandy. 99 Queen St, Melbourne, +61 413 523 696 and others.
5. Butterbing – Melbourne made, American inspired cookie sandwiches with flavours that include Salted Caramel, Chocolate Orange, Peanut Butter, Nutella and Vanilla Bean. Available at good cafes and coffee houses around the city including Kinfolk, Kinship & Co, Patricia Coffee Brewers, Dukes Coffee Roasters, Tom Thumb and Manchester Press.