With group gatherings finally on the table again, everyone is making up for lost time by getting together for a feast with their closest friends. For those who aren’t yet fully vaccinated and can’t eat out at a restaurant, or who prefer to stay indoors, house parties are a worthy (and comparatively cosy) alternative.
The next time you’re invited to a gathering, offer to bring dessert and proceed to pick up one of these sweet treats from some of Singapore’s finest purveyors. From cream puffs to chocolate tarts, here’s a list of a few favourites that are sure to knock your friends’ socks off – and score you an early invitation to the next shindig.
You may have had your fair share of cream puffs. But have you tried the choux a la crème from Pantler? These gorgeous, golden and giant-sized treats consist of crispy pastry that’s been piped with luscious and velvety cream and studded with crunchy nougatine nuggets. The exterior is sturdy enough to hold up to the generous amount of filling, so you won’t run into an issue with transporting these babies, and the nougatine adds a wonderful flavour and textural dimension to the already-delicious bakes.
474 River Valley Road, Singapore 248359, +65 6221 6223
Anticipating a huge dinner and don’t want to bring a heavy dessert? These cute and colourful bite-sized tarts from popular bakery Carpenter and Cook should do the trick. Flavours include passionfruit meringue, lemon, chocolate sea salt, mixed fruit and yuzu basil. We’re partial to the passionfruit meringue, which achieves a lovely sweet-and-sour balance between the zesty curd and fluffy, lightly torched meringue. Even if you’re already absolutely bursting from the main course, we bet you won’t be able to stop at just one.
19 Lor Kilat, #01-06, Singapore 598120, +65 6463 3648
There are times when all you want for dessert is a few scoops of ice cream. Denzy Gelato – which has branches in Bishan and Bedok and offers island-wide delivery – is a great spot to grab a couple of pints. Standouts include the Whisky & Salted Pecan Brittle, where crunchy pecans are swirled into a bold and buttery whisky base; the rich and decadent Oat Milk Dark Chocolate Ganache for those who are avoiding dairy; and the unique Yogurt Speculoos that blends a tart yogurt base with thick ribbons of speculoos cookie butter.
506 Bishan Street 11, #01-404, Singapore 570506, +65 8876 4925
509 Bedok North Street 3, #01-103, Singapore 460509, +65 8922 5061
If you’ve already made your way through most of the city-state’s burnt cheesecakes and want to sample something a little different, order this delight from cheesecake specialist Burnt Bakes. It stays largely true to the original, but comes infused with fragrant vanilla and tiny flecks of herbal thyme. Texture-wise, the cake is rich, dense and intensely creamy with a perfectly molten centre, and doesn’t feel too heavy on the palate. They also do a nutty and earthy houjicha cream flavour and, for the traditionalists, a stellar original version.
For a dessert that’s almost too pretty to eat, pick up some eclairs from L’eclair Patisserie at Jewel Changi Airport or Singapore Shopping Centre near Dhoby Ghaut MRT station. One of their most popular flavours is the Ispahan: a millennial-pink, rose-flavoured pastry made with fresh raspberries, lychees and rose cream, and topped with a single edible rose petal. Other permanent flavours include Salted Caramel – which is finished with crunchy popcorn pieces – and Vanilla & Caramelised Pecans. You’ll also find a range of seasonal offerings.
78 Airport Boulevard, #01-235, Singapore 819666, +65 6909 9601
190 Clemenceau Avenue, #01-28, Singapore 239924, +65 6635 7909
With Italian donuts being all the rage these days, why not order a dozen from Spank My Dough for your next house party? As with all good bomboloni, these are made with a spongy brioche dough and filling that’s thick and oozy without being too runny. Flavours rotate periodically and include the likes of Nutella, Vanilla Bean, Biscoff Cheesecake, Tangy Lemon Curd and Pistachio Ganache. If you’re lucky, you may be able to nab the crowd-favourite Milo Dinosaur, which is stuffed with a 70% dark chocolate Milo ganache and dusted with plenty of Milo powder.
These swiss roll-style cakes will immediately transport you back to your childhood. The pretty Japanese-inspired desserts are made using premium Japanese flour, fresh fruits and zero artificial preservatives. Available in a range of local flavours like Ondeh Ondeh, Adzuki Gula Melaka and Black Sesame Peanut Roll, the fluffy and spongy bakes are piped with a subtly sweet cream that feels pleasingly light on the palate – so we won’t judge you for finishing an entire roll on your own (just remember to bring enough for your friends).
1 Harbourfront Walk, #B2-K10, Singapore 098585, +65 8841 4621
2 Smith Street, Singapore 058917, +65 6908 1511