It’s no secret that most Singaporeans have a love affair with durians. And while our island isn’t short on fruit stalls offering fresh durians, especially during the upcoming peak season, there has been a slew of cafes sprouting up that are dedicated to the thorny fruit, whipping up tempting dessert creations (and even an afternoon tea experience) that will satisfy any craving.
Born out of a love for the thorny fruit, The Durian Bakery started in 2020 and has a repertoire of durian desserts that will leave you dithering over what to order. Think durian cakes, mille crepe cakes, Swiss rolls cheesecakes, craquelin and choux puffs, mochi and even Portuguese egg tarts infused with the fruit.
Its creations are made using durians from Pahang’s renowned Tiger Hill plantation, and baked fresh on the daily.
The Durian Bakery is at #01-47 Kensington Square, 2 Jalan Lokam, Singapore 537846. Opens daily from 9am to 6pm. Visit its website to order or for more information
Think indulgent durian treats and Goodwood Park Hotel’s annual Durian Fiesta comes to mind.
It’s now on till Aug 6, 2023, with a slew of decadent sweets crafted with quality D24 and Mao Shan Wang varieties. For one, there’s the D24 Honeyed Pear Mousse ($22 nett per slice), a well-balanced concoction that marries refreshing Williams pear slices and mousse, together with indulgent D24 durian mousse atop a biscuit base. Another fruity morsel is the D24 Pineapple-Lime Zest Dome ($22 nett per piece), pairing the king of fruits together with a zesty mix of pineapple and lime, white chocolate hazelnut and Chantilly cream.
For Musang King fans, you can dive into familiar favourites and mainstays, like the signature jumbo-sized ‘Mao Shan Wang’ Power Puff and ‘Mao Shan Wang’ Mousse Cake.
Psst! Watch out for flash deals on Goodwood Park Hotel’s Instagram page.
You can pre-order them online, available via delivery or self-collection.
A standalone cafe at Jalan Besar (it was previously at Poiz mall in Potong Pasir), its repertoire of durian desserts run the gamut from Mao Shan Wang durian cake to ice cream, puffs, and even whiskey-infused durian cakes. Or sink your teeth into the MSW Durian Craquelin ($3.50 per piece) that has the durian piped into a freshly baked craquelin choux pastry.
Can’t get enough? It also has a durian high tea set ($45+) teeming with treats like durian tart, cheese mousse, baby craquelin choux pastries, and macarons. Even the included beverage’s a mao shan wang durian coffee. And just so your palate doesn’t get overwhelmed by all that richness, it’s also got savoury bites like pan-seared salmon and fried cheese. The high tea set is available from Mon to Fri, with two seatings at 1pm and 3pm.
Durian aside, the cafe’s also got various all-day brunch (10am to 4pm daily) starters and mains like truffle tater tots, orange butter chicken, smoked duck eggs benny on the menu.
Ms Durian is at 11 Kelantan Road, Singapore 208604. Visit its website for more information or to order.
Just right next to well-known durian retailer Ah Seng Durian’s Bukit Merah outlet is its Durian Lab Cafe, where diners can tuck into a variety of delights starring the fruit.
Feast on the likes of MSW Burnt Cheesecake ($11), a durian tart ($8.50), shortcake ($9.50), and cruffins ($7). Or if you like an icy treat, there’s Mao Shan Wang ice cream (from $6.90 for a single scoop), as well as chocolate and vanilla flavours, which you can enjoy with waffles.
Durian Lab Cafe is at 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-22, Singapore 151119. Opens Tue to Sun, 12pm to 10pm. Visit its Instagram page for more information.
Another fresh durian seller, Durian BB has since expanded into offering desserts, too. Its King-on-King MSW Durian Burnt Cheesecake ($88 for a six-inch cake or $29.80 for a mini cake) makes for a seriously indulgent fix, with rich toasty burnt cheesecake topped with whole seeds of mao shan wang durian.
Other sweet treats include petite durian and fruit cakes (including adorable mini durian- and bao-shaped ones with chocolate mousse), mao shan wang puffs, and durian gelato.
Durian BB is at 462 Crawford Lane #01-65, Singapore 190462. Visit its website to order or for more information.
Originally a fruit stall, Four Seasons Durian has been doling out durian-centric treats since 2002, starting with a store at Takashimaya Department Store. It now has various outlets, including Nex, Ang Mo Kio Hub and Century Square.
Its range of offerings runs from durian puffs, crepes, Swiss rolls, fudge cake and mochi to 3D durian cake crafted in the shape of the fruit (there’s even an ultra-cute mini version) that’ll win the hearts of durian lovers.
Visit its website to order or for a list of outlet locations.
This article was originally published on March 1, 2022, and updated on May 24, 2023.
Read Next