One of the few things we love about Chinese New Year? The mind-boggling variety of snacks that bakeries and restaurants creatively conjure up. We’ve narrowed down a list of delicious baked goods from the myriad of brands, so you know just what to zero in on.
For those who love their goodies with a little zodiac inspiration, there’s the Ah Ma Homemade Cake’s adorable and auspicious Moo Moo Cookies ($15.80/bottle) to usher in the year of the ox, made with premium Danish butter Lurpak and a delectable pineapple paste. For those who love the crumbly base of pineapple tarts, there are heart-shaped and lucky four-leaf clover butter cookies to satisfy the munchies, too. If you’re a fan of the open-faced version, the classic Sunflower Cookies ($12.80/bottle) are the quintessential festive treat to have, with just the right amount of sweetness.
Available at all Ah Ma Homemade Cake outlets and online at https://www.ah-mah.com.sg/.
For cookies with a Peranakan flair, head to Baker’s Brew. For added nostalgia, they’ve packaged their snacks in miniature old-school biscuit tins. A must-try is their signature Ondeh Ondeh Cookies ($27.80/tin). Made with a pandan-infused dough and filled with a generous amount of gula melaka coconut filling, these moist and flavourful cookies are simply irresistible. Bak kwa lovers will definitely enjoy the Pineapple Bak Kwa Cookies ($26.80/tin), which puts a savoury spin on a favourite. For something unique, there’s the Muah Chee Peanut Cookies ($26.80/tin), made with roasted peanuts and peanut butter, topped with more ground peanuts for extra crunch.
Available at all Baker’s Brew outlets and online at https://www.bakersbrew.com/. Get 8 per cent off when you place your orders before 24 January 2021. Minimum of three tins. Use code CNY2021 at checkout. Free delivery to a single location for orders above $500.
This Lunar New Year, BreadTalk is ushering in the new year with their stellar line-up of festive cookies. Their offering? 14 savoury and sweet cookie options that can be purchased in individual containers or as gift sets, this is their largest festive cookie collection to date. Ranging from $10.80 to $14.80 per tin, select from an assortment of flavours such as the Mini Milk Chocolate Cookie, Coffee Butter Cookie, Prosperity Floss Cookie, Pumpkin Matcha Crisp, Salted Egg Roll, and more. If you fancy having a little taste of everything, the cookies are also bundled into gift sets ($26.80 to $56.80) that come with an assortment of cookies, nuts and bak kwa.
Available at all BreadTalk outlets and online at breadtalk.com.sg/shop from 7 January to 25 February 2021.
Savour something new from one of Singapore’s most-known pâtissiers. Janice Wong, who has trained under some of the world’s best chefs, has rolled out some interesting treats for the Year of the Ox, such as the Dark Chocolate Coated Pineapple Tarts ($32/tin), Love Letters with Hazelnut Dip ($35), and our personal favourite, the Chocolate Koi ($58 for a box of 5), which are beautiful chocolate praline crunchy wafers and candied oranges shaped in the form of koi fish and painted with Wong’s signature paint swirls.
Available at all Janice Wong outlets and online at https://www.janicewong.online/
Let Mdm Ling Bakery take your tastebuds on a journey with more than 25 festive goodies made with ingredients sourced from all over the world. From Singapore, there’s the aromatic Kopi Siew Dai Cookies ($18.80 for 180 g), a small pick-me-up for guests who have a packed day of visitations, and the Hae Bee Hiam Cookies ($18.80 for 300g), made with homemade spicy sambal chilli that’s rather addictive. The Purple Sweet Potato Cookies ($18.80 for 260g) — inspired by the Land of the Rising Sun — has a natural sweet taste with a mild flavour of chestnut, while the are the Red Velvet Cheese Cookies ($16.80 for 340g) beetroot coloured red velvet cheese cookies is said to be inspired by France.
Available at Mdm Ling Bakery’s Takashimaya Booth from 14 January to 10 February 2021, online at mdmlingbakery.com/ and more than 50 Shell Select outlets. For the full collection of cookies and buns, pre-order on Shell Select Online for pick up at any Shell Select outlet of your choice.
Home-grown brand Old Seng Choong, helmed by renowned local pastry chef Daniel Tay, is well-loved for its quality and quirky Asian-inspired bakes. This year, they’ve a line-up of festive treats with an inventive twist, including the Yuzu Swiss Roll ($33.80 for 800g), a light and aromatic treat made with quality Japanese flour, yuzu zest and puree from Japan, local tze-char inspired Crispy Har Lok Cookies ($23.80 for 160g), a Cantonese inspired dry-fried prawns dish that’s brimming with the umami flavour of dried shrimps and a whiff of fried shallots, Marmite Chicken Floss Cookies ($23.80 for 160g), as well as the returning favourite, Bak Kwa Pineapple Tarts ($48.80 for 18 pieces), a snack filled with a generous centre of homemade pineapple jam spiked with parmesan and hand-chopped bak kwa bits.
Available at all Old Seng Choong outlets and online at oldsengchoong.com. Order before 20 January 2021 to enjoy the early bird discount of 20 per cent.
At Pan Pacific’s Pacific Marketplace, the hotel’s gourmet grocery and café enjoy original creations such as the new Prosperity Brown Sugar Peanut Cake ($72) and the Cantonese Sponge Cake with Fragrant Almond Flakes ($24 for 300g). Back by popular demand, the Signature Caramel Walnuts with Sesame Seeds ($35 for 250g), Pineapple Pastry Combination ($68 for 16 pieces) a set that has a mixture of Tangerine, Pineapple Tiles, Black Gold and Pineapple Shape cookies and Koi Fish Nian Gao ($32 for two pieces) will definitely impress. As a gift, the Chinese New Year Prosperity Hamper ($368) checks all the right boxes with a bottle of Sangre de Toro Original, Premium Signature XO Chilli Sauce with Dried Scallops, Caramel Walnuts with Sesame Seeds, Hai Tien Lo Tea Leaves in Tin, Abundance Chocolate Pralines (12pcs), Pineapple Pastry Combination, Tian Bai Mushroom Set, A bottle of Organic Black Garlic, Peanut Cookies and Mandarin Oranges (8pcs).
Available for pre-order at ppsinshop.com from 4 January 2021 collect their purchases from 25 January to 26 February 2021 at Hai Tien Lo between 12pm to 8pm (except 11 January 2021, where collection is from 10am to 5pm).
Liven up the Lunar New Year festivities with Paradise Group’s special handmade Chinese New Year goodies such as the Steamed Yam Cake with Chinese Sausage, Golden Fa Gao with Red Date, Steamed Nian Gao with Coconut Milk, and Steamed Carrot Cake with Chinese Sausage. Weighing 1.2kg each, the yam and radish used in its festive cakes are freshly minced upon production. Each festive cake is priced at $29.80, or get the Festive Cake Trio Set ($86.80) that consists of the Steamed Yam Cake with Chinese Sausage, Steamed Nian Gao with Coconut Milk, and Steamed Carrot Cake with Chinese Sausage. There is also a Festive Goodies Trio Set ($56.80) which comes with addictive Nutty Almond Cookie, Butter Cookie, and Honey Sesame Walnut that will be a hit with guests coming to your place.
Available at all Canton Paradise, Beauty in The Pot (The Centrepoint) and Paradise Dynasty outlets from 7 January 2021.
For traditionalists, the Handmade Pineapple Tarts ($32.80) at this heritage bakery are a hot favourite. It’s always the first item to be sold out and long queues at the bakery is a testament of the hard work that was put into making them. Other things worth adding to cart include the Popcorn Cookies (price TBC), a buttery soft gem that has a cookie base with a toasty popcorn taste, Kueh Bahulu ($17.40), as well as the Yuzu Pineapple Tart Rolls ($36), which are a healthier option with reduced sugar.
Available at all Pine Garden outlets and online at pgcake.com/products.
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 ($19.80 for 20 pieces) – 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. From crust to crown, their Pecan Coconut Tart ($88.80) is passionately prepared and gorgeously adorned with gold leaves for the festive season. This keto-friendly, gluten-free, and low carb tart contains zero added sugars and carries subtle whiffs of butterscotch.
Available at 32 Seah Street, Singapore 188388 and seriouslyketo.com for pre-order and delivery. Use the promo code“SKCNY10” when checking out from their website to receive 10%off all bundles from 6 January until 9 February 2021.
Love pineapple tarts from this Taiwanese brand? Try the limited-edition Fortune Cakes ($43 for nine pieces) made with SunnyHills hallmark organic non-GMO pineapples, encased in a soft pastry that melts-in-your mouth. The pineapple inspired motif on the pastry hides the ‘secret recipe’, salted-egg made into a custard, gives a new twist to everyone’s favourite pineapple tarts. The Apple + Pineapple Cake Gift Box ($32 for 10 pieces) has both the original pineapple as Kougyoku Apple Cake Tart. Nicely packaged in a limited-edition gift box and linen tote bag, it’s designed with a paper-cut bull motif that can be hung up to symbolise the welcoming of wealth and prosperity for all recipients.
Available at all SunnyHills outlets and online at shop.sunnyhills.com.sg/index as well as Shoppee and Lazada.
While celebrations are going to be a little different this year, there are still ways to show your appreciation to your loved ones with a thoughtful hamper, just like this one by The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore. Filled with some of your quintessential favourites including pineapple tarts, kueh bang kit and green pea cookie, this year’s hampers arrive in two different sizes for you to choose from — Petite ($288+) and Big ($388+). Aside from the traditional goodies, you’ll also find other premium must-haves like canned abalone, dried oyster and dried black moss as well as, a box of TWG tea leaves and a luxuriant bottle of red wine that’s sure to be anyone’s cup of tea.
Hamper prices range from $288 to $388 (excluding GST). SPH Subscribers enjoy 18% off their orders.
Order at springfair.capitolsingapore.com.
The 2021 Chinese New Year limited edition tin box ($48) by renowned Japanese confectionery brand Yoku Moku is made for gifting, and is a lighter alternative to traditional festive tidbits.
The box contains an assortment of cookies – there are eight pieces of the Cigare (rolled butter cookie), four pieces of hojicha butter cookies, and eight pieces of matcha butter cookies. All of this comes packaged in a beautiful red tin, where the intricate flower design signifies the beginning of the “niu” year.
If you prefer, the 2021 Chinese New Year Cigare Tin ($38) is also available, containing 20 pieces of just the Cigare.
Order at www.yokumoku.com.sg.
In 2019, local confectionery Kele ingeniously came up with Rose Pineapple Tarts ($32.80 per tin). Then in 2020, the good folks there came up with a gorgeous open-faced Purple Sweet Potato Pineapple Tart ($32.80).
This year, both versions are available, alongside their newest creation, the buttery and tangy Tangerine Pineapple Balls ($32.80). Other crunchy options available include Green Pea Cookies ($23.80), and the irresistible Grandparents’ Almond Cookies (S$21.80).
Kele is well known for having one of the best pineapple tarts in Singapore, so you can be sure you won’t be disappointed with any of their offerings. Case in point: they won Jurong Point Shopping Centre’s ‘The Search for the Best Pineapple Tart’ competition in 2016.
Order at www.kelepineappletarts.com.sg.
Originating from Johor, this Malaysian bakery has amassed a following in Singapore with their line-up of moreish and addictive Chinese New Year goodies.
Their range runs the gamut from the Award-Winning Premium Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pineapple Tart Ball ($31.90) and Premium Peanut Folded Love Letters ($24.90), to crowd favourites such as the Premium Spicy Hae Bee Hiam Roll ($25.05) and Crispy Salted Egg Crab Stick ($25.90).
Order at www.cnygoodies.sg.
This homegrown brand has launched a range of nine new pastries to spice up this year’s festivities. Must-try concoctions include the Lychee-licious Pineapple Tarts ($26.80), MaMa LaLas (mala butter cookies; $18), TomTom Yummy Muruku (tom yum-flavoured muruku; $17.80) and Blessed Chiku Chips ($16.80).
Order at www.littlenonyascookies.com.
Homegrown bakery PrimaDéli has launched a line-up of seven Prosperity Cookies this year, where new flavours include Pandan Chiffon Cookies, and Cornflake Raisin Cookies, both costing $19.80 per tin.
This is in addition to its Supreme Pineapple Tarts ($25.80) – made with freshly-grated pineapples and premium butter – and its stalwart bakes like the Premium Pandan Chiffon ($7.90), and kueh lapis ($50.80).
Order at www.primadeli.com. Festive items are available until February 11, 2021.
The Radish Cake with Conpoy and Preserved Meat ($62) and Yam Cake with Pumpkin, Dried Shrimps and Preserved Meat ($62) are truly oldies but goodies. We are glad that these two savoury cakes have stayed on Li Bai’s CNY menu over the years, because they are exactly what traditional Chinese palettes would crave. Perfect as breakfast or a hearty snack anytime of the day.
Order at https://shopatsheratonfestive.oddle.me/.
Additional text: HerWorld
