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.
Originating from Johor, this Malaysian family 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 ($38.20) and Premium Peanut Folded Love Letters ($33.20), to crowd favourites such as the Premium Spicy Hae Bee Hiam Roll ($29.80) and Crispy Salted Egg Crab Stick ($33.20).
Available at www.cnygoodies.sg.
Tradition is prized at Ah Mah Homemade Cake, which has released three cookies in time for CNY. The first is the Pineapple Tart ($13.80 for 300g) where auspicious pineapple jam is wrapped within a buttery crust. The next is the Coconut Tarts ($15.80 for 300g) filled with sticky gula melaka-enriched coconut filling before they are rolled in shredded coconut. Lastly, to celebrate the year of the Tiger, the Hoo Hoo Cookies ($13.80 for 250g) are individually painted pineapple tarts in the likeness of an adorable tiger that will delight your guests. Moreover, Ah Mah is also releasing the Hoo Hoo Orange Cake ($12.80 for 500g) that’s made with orange juice, zest and pulp.
Available at all Ah Ma Homemade Cake outlets and online at https://www.ah-mah.com.sg/ from 6 January 2022.
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 ($27.80/tin), which puts a savoury spin on a favourite. For something unique, there’s the Hae Bee Hiam Cookies ($27.80/tin), made with umami shrimp and spicy sambal. Want to savour all five flavours? Get the Fortune Cat Collection ($128) and collect all the uniquely designed tins.
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 14 January 2022. Minimum of three tins. Use code CNY2022 at checkout.
BreadTalk is ushering in the new year with its stellar line-up of festive cookies. Their offering? A slew of savoury and sweet cookie options that can be purchased in individual containers or as gift sets. At $12.80 per tin, select from an assortment of flavours such as the Almond Cookie, Mini Ondeh Ondeh, Mini Pineapple Pastry, and more. If you fancy having a little taste of everything, the cookies are also bundled into gift sets ($32.80 to $138) that come with an assortment of cookies, abalone and even red wine and pork floss.
Available at all BreadTalk outlets and online at https://www.breadtalk.com.sg/shop.
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 Tiger, such as the Chocolate Coated Pineapple Tarts ($35/tin), CNY Love Letters Tin ($40/tin), and our personal favourite, the Chocolate Koi ($48 for a box of 3), which are beautiful chocolate praline crunchy wafers and candied oranges stuffed with popping candy 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/ from 5 January 2022.
Let Mdm Ling Bakery take your tastebuds on a journey with a variety of sweet and savoury flavours. There’s the aromatic Kopi Siew Dai Cookies ($18.80 for 180g), 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 230g) is made with Japanese sweet potatoes and has a naturally sweet taste with a mild flavour of chestnut, while the Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Cookies ($18.80 for 260g) brings a salty twist to the classic cookie.
Available at Mdm Ling Bakery website online at https://www.mdmlingbakery.com/product-category/cookies/.
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 Pineapple Tart ($29.80 for 270g), a light and aromatic treat infused with yuzu juice and pulp, Chocolate Orange Sea Salt Cookies ($22.80 for 180g) made with dark chocolate chips and orange oil and Ginger Black Tea Cookies ($22.80 for 140g) infused with bergamot oil. They are selling Traditional Bak Kwa ($42.80 for 500g), Black Truffle Bak Kwa ($48.80 for 500g) and Yuzu Bak Kwa ($48.80 for 500g) this year too.
Available at all Old Seng Choong outlets and online at oldsengchoong.com. Order before 15 January 2022 to enjoy the early bird discount of 20 per cent (does not apply to bak kwa).
At Pan Pacific’s Pacific Marketplace, the Signature Caramel Walnut with Sesame Seeds ($38.52 for 250g), Pineapple Pastry Combination ($77.04 for 16 pieces) a set that has a mixture of Tangerine, Pineapple Tiles, Black Gold and Pineapple Shape cookies and Prosperity Lunar New Year Koi Fish Nian Gao ($40.66 for two pieces) will definitely impress. As a gift, the Prosperity Hamper ($500.76) checks all the right boxes with a bottle of Xanadu Exmoor Shiraz, Australian Canned Two Head Abalone (200g), Japanese Dried Premium Scallops (118g), Premium XO Chilli Sauce with Dried Scallops, Caramel Walnut with Sesame Seeds, Hai Tien Lo Tea Leaves in Tin, Prosperity Chocolate Pralines (9pcs), Pineapple Rounds (400g), Almond Cookies (245g), Dried King of Cordyceps Flower (45g), White Mushroom Gift Box (300g) and Red Packet. If you want something cute for gifts, consider the Lunar New Year Zodiac Macarons or the Lunar New Year Prosperity Macarons ($72.76 for 12 pieces)
Available at ppsinshop.com for delivery and collection at Hai Tien Lo from 10 January 2022, 11.30am to 9.30pm. There are early bird and credit card discounts from now till 9 January 2022.
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 ($27.80), Prosperity Steamed Nian Gao with Coconut Milk ($29.80), and Steamed Carrot Cake with Chinese Sausage ($27.80). Else, you can get the Festive Cake Trio Set ($80.80) that consists of all three. There is also the Steamed Folden Fa Gao with Red Dates ($29.80) too, for anyone who has a sweet tooth. There is also a Festive Goodies Trio Set ($78.80) which comes with addictive Malt Sesame Walnut, Almond Pastry and Pineapple Tart that will be a hit with guests coming to your place.
Available at Taste Paradise, Paradise Teochew, Seafood Paradise, Paradise Dynasty, Canton Paradise and Paradise Classic.
Love pineapple tarts from this Taiwanese brand? Try the limited-edition Pineapple Fortune Cake CNY Gift Set ($48.80 for nine pieces) made with SunnyHills hallmark 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 Pineapple Cake + Apple Cake CNY Gift Set ($35.30 for 10 pieces) has both the original Pineapple Cake and Kougyoku Apple Cake Tart. Nicely packaged in a limited-edition gift box and linen tote bag, it also comes with a greeting card that doubles as a CNY decoration. SunnyHills also released the D24 Durian Roll ($29 for 20 pieces) which are love letters made with the French Langues de Chat recipe and premium D24 durians from Pahang.
Available at all SunnyHills outlets and online at https://www.sunnyhills.com.sg/collections/cny-pineapple-tarts-and-snacks. Order before 7 January 2022 to enjoy early bird offer and free standard shipping on orders above $100.
Yoku Moku has released two limited edition tin boxes for Chinese New Year gifting. The first is the CNY Cookie Assortment ($78 for 44 cookies) that includes 20 Cigare, 12 Billet au chocolat au ait and 12 Billet aux amades chocolat. The other is the CNY Cigare ($38 for 20 cookies) featuring just the signautre rolled butter cookies. Both are housed in a red tin with a statement tiger motif.
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. In 2019, local confectionery Kele ingeniously came up with Rose Pineapple Tarts ($35.80 for 700g). Then in 2020, the good folks there came up with a gorgeous open-faced Purple Sweet Potato Pineapple Tart ($35.80) For 2022, they introduced the Tangerine Pineapple Balls ($35.80) that has the pineapple filling infused with tangerine as well as the Golden Osmanthus Pineapple Tarts ($36.80) created using the namesake tea from collaborator and fellow local company Gryphon Tea Company.
Available at www.kelepineappletarts.com.sg. Order before 16 January 2022 with the discount code CNY8 for eight percent off selected pineapple and cookie series.
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 ($27.80), TomTom Yummy Muruku (tom yum-flavoured muruku; $17.80), Happy Kueh Bangkit ($21), Nonya Belachan Shrimp Rolls ($18), Blessed Chiku Chips ($16.80) and Newtella Nutty Tarts ($18).
Available at www.littlenonyascookies.com.
Homegrown bakery PrimaDéli has launched a line-up of seven Prosperity Cookies this year, where new flavours include Black Sesame Cookies, Crabstick Cookies and Parmesan & Cheddar Cheese Cookies, each costing $20.80 per tin. This is in addition to its Supreme Pineapple Tarts ($26.80) – made with freshly-grated pineapples and premium European butter – and its stalwart bakes like the Premium Pandan Chiffon ($7.90/$14.90), and Kueh Lapis ($50.80).
Order at www.primadeli.com. There is an early bird discount till 11 January 2022 where you can get 25 percent off Pillow Pineapple Tarts and Prosperity Cookies and 50 percent off every second tin of Supreme Pineapple Tarts. From 12th onwards, there is 15 percent off Supreme/Pillow Pineapple Tarts and Prosperity Cookies.
The Radish Cake with Conpoy and Preserved Meat ($65) and Yam Cake with Pumpkin, Dried Shrimps and Preserved Meat ($65) 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. Li Bai also has Traditional Nian Gao with Red Date and Lotus Seed ($65) and Water Chestnut Cake with Osmanthus ($65) for those who can’t live with their sweets.
Available at https://shopatsheratonfestive.oddle.me/. Credit card hodlers can get 15 percent off festive goodies till 15 February 2022.
For those who who have dietary restrictions or want to go vegan and gluten-free, get RÓA’s Midnight Bites Cookies (from $8). It is a sandwich cookies consisting of two chocolate cookies hugging a creamy dark chocolate centre. They are also made with avocados, unrefined sugars and artisanal chocolate so you can indulge with less guilt.
Available at https://www.roa.com.sg/.
A Halal-certified bakery started in the 1980s, Bread Garden has released a slew of indulgent CNY goodies. Bestsellers include Premium Pineapple Tart ($26.80), Old School Almond Cookies ($23.80) and Spicy Shrimp Rolls ($22.80), while must-try flavours Spicy Curry Rolls ($22.80) and Premium Honey Almond ($27.80). For something unique, get the Premium Charcoal Pineapple Tart ($27.80) where the crust is blended with charcoal powder that lends an earthy taste to cut through the rich sweetness of the pineapple jam.
Available at https://www.breadgarden.com.sg/. Order before 5 January 2022 to get 15 percent off CNY items (excluding gift sets) with a minimum purchase of $100.
Fullerton Hotel has prepared a whole range of traditional cakes and desserts to celebrate the Lunar New Year. These include the rose-scented Rose Water Chestnut Cake ($42), the ‘gram-worthy Harmony Koi Fish Osmanthus Nian Gao ($38) and Fortune Radish Cake ($42). For little bites to nibble on, there are the Golden Peacock Pineapple Cookies ($42 for 6 pieces), The Fullerton Bak Kwa (from $30) and the dried peach and white lotus paste-filled Baked Peach Cookies ($42 for six), among many others.
Available at https://shop.fullertonhotels.com/chinese-new-year.
Shangri-La is adding their own luxurious touch to classic Chinese New Year goodies. Their nian gao, for example, is a three-layered spectacle made with purple sweet potato and Japanese pumpkin ($35) while Radish Cake come with variants such as Abalone ($63) and Dried Scallop ($33). Cookies-wise, they have options such as Shangri-La Charcoal Yuzu Pineapple Tarts ($59 for 16 pieces), Shang Palace Honey Cashew Nuts with Sesame ($33) and Shangri-La Cranberry Macadamia Cookies ($33).
Available at https://www.shangri-la-sgdining.com/singapore-celebrations/web/order-now.aspx or their Shopee store. Get 15 percent off selected items by ordering before 16 January 2022.
Lek Lim is another homegrown, Halal-certified bakery that was founded in 1960. They have a whole range of traditional Chinese New Year cookies such as Almond Ball ($15), Chiku Chips ($9), Kueh Boh Lu (from $8), Love Letters (from $12) and both open and closed Pineapple Tarts (from $13). For this year, Lek Lim also launched the adorable Tiger Butter Cookies ($21.80) that will definitely tickle the fancy of adults and children alike.
Available at https://kuehkueh.com.sg/ and their Shopee store.