This article is by Lee Jian and read by an artificial voice. With less than a month left until Christmas Day, hustle is key for many looking to spend the perfect holiday in the city. The best rooms, restaurants and gifts sell out fast, but arguably, the most competitive items are cakes, particularly those made by the bakeries of five-star hotels. Considered the crème de la crème of the industry, these cakes become more refined - and pricier - each December. The Shilla Seoul in Jung District, central Seoul, set a new record on Monday by launching a black truffle holiday cake costing 400,000 won ($287). The same dessert cost 300,000 won last Christmas, but the price rose 33 percent because "this year's contains 25 percent more truffle," said the hotel in a statement. The hefty price tag of these cakes is also indicative of the extensive labor that goes into them, according to Grand InterContinental Seoul Parnas's statement. The hotel said it takes multiple pastry chefs at least 24 hours to finish a whole single cake. "It is a craft that leans closer to art than food," the hotel spokesperson said. There are comparably more reasonable options as well. Four Seasons Hotel Seoul's Crimson Noel Cake, priced at 120,000 won, is an elegant yet wholesome pound cake baked in a Bundt pan, covered with red glaze and topped with chocolate ribbons. Infused with spices, nuts, dried fruit and a dark rum ganache, it evokes a warm Christmas spirit. Four Seasons also offers petit options, ranging from 14,000 won to 23,000 won. Grand Hyatt Seoul sells slightly quirky yet adorable Christmas-shaped chocolates for 95,000 won. Banyan Tree Club & Spa Seoul has one of the most affordable cakes of this season: a 68,000-won pistachio sheet cake with berries. Christmas vibes also started earlier than usual this year - a commercial phenomenon led by local department stores to compensate for the lack of sales during the longer-than-usual summer weather. Some hotels, likewise, pulled forward holiday cake reservations "to coordinate with the city's move to begin Christmas as early as October," local hotel conglomerate Paradise Group stated in its press release. Most hotels have now opened reservations. The following is our annual list of hotel Christmas cakes on the market this season. The Shilla Seoul This year's Taste of Luxury black truffle cake, in mille-feuille style covered with truffle cream, shavings, powder and oil, reportedly contains 48 grams (1.7 ounces) of European black truffle for each whole cake. The batter has a fruity aroma enriched by figs and nuts marinated in Château d'Yquem wine. It is layered with truffle slices and chocolate ganache. The idea behind the cake, according to the hotel, is to give diners the impression of "enjoying a fine dining course" in one bite. The hotel also newly launched The Shilla Bear's Whisper (300,000 won), in the shape of its stuffed animal mascot, the Shilla Bear. It is a chocolate cake at large, incorporating Valrhona chocolate mousse, but different parts of the bear have varying tastes and textures - up to six different flavors - according to the hotel. (02) 2233-3131 shilla.net/seoul/ Andaz Seoul Gangnam Andaz Seoul Gangnam is offering four Christmas cakes: a coronet-shaped Vanilla Raspberry Crown Cake (90,000 won), a chocolate Black Forest Log Cake (75,000 won), its best-selling Strawberry Charlotte (100,000 won) and the newly added Andaz Festive Tree Cake. Priced at 200,000 won, the tree cake is a red velvet with seven layers of cream cheese frosting. The exterior is covered in green tea chocolate leaves and the tree trunk is recreated with Valrhona chocolate. It takes three chefs three days to make, said the hotel. Andaz is also offering an End of Year chocolate cake (150,000 won), only available on Dec. 30 and 31. It is overlaid with a delicate clock design. Its wheel chains are molded by hand by the hotel's pastry chef, according to the hotel. (02) 2193-1234 hyatt.com/andaz/selaz-andaz-seou