Chinese New Year is essentially a snack galore with bakeries and restaurants pushing out their own festive pastries. With so many offerings of traditional and contemporary recipes this year, we’ve narrowed down a list of huat finds we think you should invest your wealth in, be it for yourself or your visiting guests:
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Slide in the subtle coffee pick-me-up for your guests who have been house hopping all day in the form of these Kopi Siew Dai Cookies ($18.80, 270 g). Fragrant with the aromas of butter and coffee, expect these aromatic cookies to perk anybody up!
Kopi Siew Dai Cookies are one of the new creations by Mdm Ling Bakery this year, in addition to their Purple Sweet Potato Cookies, Hae Bee Hiam Cookies and Double Chocolate Cookies – all at the same price of $18.80.
What’s more, Mdm Ling Bakery is partnering with SingHealth Community Hospitals (SCH) to raise funds for needy patients by donating $1 for every item purchased online from 21 December to 23 January 2020.
Kopi Siew Dai Cookies are available at 2 Soon Wing Road, #03-07, Singapore 347893, tel: 8468 0201 and online until 23 January 2020. You can also email sg@mdmlingbakery.com.
Din Tai Fung’s specialties not only lie in their restaurant’s culinary creations but also in their exclusive festive treats. This year, their Lunar New Year Edition Taiwan Pineapple Cakes ($23.80 for a box of 10) are fragrant gold nuggets that have travelled miles to Singapore from Din Tai Fung Taiwan’s central kitchen. A good choice for sharing and gifting, the decadent pastry of these cakes will crumble in your mouth, oozing sweet Taiwanese pineapple filling.
Lunar New Year Edition Taiwan Pineapple Cakes are available at all Din Tai Fung outlets except Bedok Mall, while stocks last.
The traditional Cantonese dish Ho See Fatt Choy symbolises wealth with its auspicious ingredients of dried oysters and black sea moss. These cookies carry those exact ingredients within their buttery crumbs, and their umami-worthy flavours are sure to keep you salivating for more. At $23.80 (180 g).
You can also try their Herbal Chicken Cookies at the same price. Like the Fatt Choy cookies, these cookies are inspired by the dish Imperial Herbal Chicken containing wolfberry, Chinese angelica, ginseng and star anise.
Available at L1-72 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018972, tel: 6688 7341; and 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, #010-48 Clarke Quay Central, Singapore 059817, tel: 6224 0915 until 8 February 2020. Also available at B2, Takashimaya Square until 23 January 2020 and online until 24 January 2020.
We understand the universal problem of pigging out shortly after making your New Year resolutions to eat healthy. If you’re struggling to keep your hands off the indulgent and addictive goodies, visit Singapore’s first wholly Ketogenic bakery Seriously Keto for keto-friendly, low-carb, zero-sugar and fat-burning snacks that don’t compromise on taste.
Check out their rendition of Cashew Cookies – the buttery and nutty must-have every year (usually at 62 calories per piece!). It’s also suitable for diabetics, so everyone can have a piece this CNY. At $28.80 (for 30 pieces).
Available at 32 Seah Street, Singapore 188388 and online for pre-order and delivery until 8 February 2020. Get Cashew Cookies in a bundle with Cheese Crisps ($20.80, 27 pieces) and Kueh Buloh ($18.80, 22 pieces) at a special price of $58 (UP $68.40).
The Marmalade Pantry is bringing back traditional favourites we all grew up with to celebrate the taste of home. The special highlight goes to the Pineapple Tarts with melt-in-your-mouth crust and rich and lightly-spiced pineapple jam. Other familiar flavours include Cashew Nut Cookies and Sambal Shrimp Rolls; all of which come in cute and classy pink tins that will look amazing on your living room table! At $22+ for 16 pieces (330 g). Cashew Nut Cookies at $19+ (380 g); Sambal Shrimp Rolls at $19+ (300 g).
Available at The Marmalade Pantry outlets from until 7 February 2020 and online for pre-order. Customers who pay with Mastercard before 12 January 2020 will receive an Early Bird Discount of 15 per cent.
Had enough of bite-sized cookies? Go for this auspicious cake at Andaz Singapore instead, where you will be treated to a divine combination of moist Pandan chiffon core with zesty citrus Yuzu mousse drizzled with orange.
What’s more, the whole cake is coated in a red glaze and adorned with CNY decorations that will be sure to invite a cacophony of wows when served! At $16++ (medium) and $34++ (large).
Available at Alley on 25, Andaz Singapore, 5 Fraser Street, Level 25, Singapore 189354, tel: 6408 1288 and online until 29 February 2020. All orders must be placed at least three days in advance. Last date for orders is 25 February.
Trust PrimaDeli, Singapore’s home-grown bakery, to deliver goodies that will satisfy Singaporean taste buds. Besides bringing back classic flavour favourites like Pandan Chiffon, Deluxe Almond, Cashew Nut, Double Chocolate Chip and Earl Grey, the bakery is also introducing three new flavours that will fit right into the festive season.
Embrace the nutty and indulgently bitter Black Sesame, or go for something light and decadent like Butter Sugar. Those with a penchant for woody fragrance can opt for the Cranberry Cinnamon. At $19.80 per tin of each flavour.
Available at PrimaDeli outlets from 13 to 24 January 2020. Special Promotion: 15 per cent off Prosperity Cookies, Supreme Pineapple Tarts, Pillow Pineapple Tarts, Cheese Pineapple Tarts with minimum purchase of two tins.
This other much-loved local bakery has its own creations to boast for CNY. Even though its outlets are often frequented for breakfast buns, we think their cakes are also worth a try, be it for gifting or sharing with company.
Our special mention goes to the Orange Almond Wheel, a light and moist financier (French almond) cake. Each bite in a slice lets you taste the nutty scent of beurre noisette and the fragrance of the orange-on-top! Custard cream and candied almond slices will also ensure you have a sweet year ahead. At $9.80*.
BreadTalk has a whole range of other Chinese New Year cakes, cookies and buns. Check them out here.
Available at BreadTalk outlets until 8 February 2020.
*Price may vary depending on location.
If you’re waiting for us to mention love letters, we’ll have you know it’s worth the wait with Mdm Ling Bakery’s newest innovation. While the well-established bakery has always been known for its home-style recipe for love letters, this year it is marrying the flavours of sweet and savoury in an almost heavenly fusion with the addition of chicken floss and seaweed. Be one of the first to try it! At $18.80 (250 g).
Available at 2 Soon Wing Road, 03-07, Singapore, 347893, tel: 8468 0201 and online ($2.50 off every bottle of festive goodies) until 23 January 2020. You can also email sg@mdmlingbakery.com to order.
Surprise everyone with this fluffy bread from Antoinette containing a variety of delectable and festive ingredients. The slightly sweet bun is infused with dragon fruit and combines French and Japanese bread techniques to achieve a bouncy texture.
Within is a compact filling consisting of sweet in-house black sugar mochi or nian gao cooked with the aroma of fresh shallots, lightly candied yam and sweet potato; contrasted and complemented by savoury pork floss and salted egg. Serve it with tea for a good mid-afternoon gathering! At $10 (small) and $25 (large).
Available at 30 Penhas Road (off Lavender Street), Singapore 208188, tel: 6293 3121; and 9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-28 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596, tel: 6235 5109. Visit their e-store here.
Savour something new from one of the best pastry chefs in Singapore, Chef Janice Wong, who has trained under some of the world’s best chefs. She’s rolled out some interesting treats for the Year of the Rat, that includes these Dark Chocolate Bakkwa Barbeque Cookies featuring 70 per cent dark chocolate laced generously with bakkwa. Expect richness and lots of crunch in every bite. At $25 (220g).
Available at Janice Wong outlets and online until 31 January.
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Text: Cherrie Lim
This post was updated on January 17, 2020.
