Places to get unique homemade CNY goodies
Calories don’t count when it comes to Chinese New Year – from pineapple tarts to kueh bangkit, this festive season is practically a bingeing bonanza with so many irresistible goodies to munch on. This year, some local bakers have come up with creative renditions of our favourite CNY goodies so you can upgrade your snack situation.
Whether you’re looking for healthier, vegan options or adventurous flavours to spice things up, check out these unique homemade CNY treats we’ve rounded up to kick start the noms:
Table of Contents
- Places to get unique homemade CNY goodies
- 1. Ding Bakery – 100% homemade tarts & cookies
- 2. Pineapple Tarts Singapore – Salted egg & charcoal truffle flavours
- 3. Old Seng Choong – Classic recipe with imported ingredients
- 4. Wang Lai Bakery – 8 different flavours of pineapple tarts
- 5. BoTart – Pineapple tarts without filling
- 6. The Custom Bites – Unique cookie flavours
- 7. Janice Wong – Chocolate-coated pineapple tarts
- 8. Mdm Ling Bakery – Extra large paus & highly raved pastries
- 9. Avomin – Eggless cookies with flavours like avocado & matcha
- 10. Olsen Bakehouse – Cookie flavours with a local twist
- Stock up on unique homemade CNY Goodies
If you were lucky to grow up with a relative who’d bake delicious snacks each CNY, you’d probably appreciate homemade goods all the more. Look no further than Ding Bakery for their traditional handmade Nyonya tarts and cookies.
Image credit: Ding Bakery
Stock up on their Award-Winning Premium Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pineapple Tart (Ball) ($22.90, U.P.$45.80). This comes with Ding Bakery’s signature butter crust and premium pineapple filling that’s soft and velvety. On top of that, you’ll be able to find other Peranakan staples like the Award-Winning Melt-In-Your-Mouth Kueh Bangkit ($18.90, U.P.$37.80).
Order from Ding Bakery website.
2. Pineapple Tarts Singapore – Salted egg & charcoal truffle flavours
Image credit: Pineapple Tarts Singapore via Facebook
You might be familiar with melt-in-your-mouth pineapple tarts, but the unique renditions of the CNY cookie from Pineapple Tarts Singapore will make your mouths water even more. Their Double Truffle – Charcoal Truffle Pineapple Tarts ($30.90, U.P.$59.80) have that umami flavour to really impress the guests coming over during the festive season.
If pineapple tarts aren’t your cookie of choice, they also have the aesthetic Yin Yang Love Letters ($17.90, U.P.$33.80) with charcoal and classic flavours and Salted Egg Fish Keropok ($18.90, U.P.$35.80) to curb your munchies. After all, CNY is the one holiday where you can snack guilt-free.
Order from Pineapple Tarts Singapore.
3. Old Seng Choong – Classic recipe with imported ingredients
They come in a red metal box with 12 pieces of pineapple tarts.
Image credit: Old Seng Choong
Old Seng Choong’s Original Pineapple Tarts ($38.80/box) are a luxurious take on a classic. The filling uses pineapples from Malaysia and Thailand, which are said to be sweeter. The buttery crust is no afterthought either; the tarts are made with premium butter and flour from Japan.
Image credit: Old Seng Choong via Facebook
While their classic pineapple tarts are a popular choice, opt for the Assorted Pineapple Tarts ($42.80) which includes their Mandarin Orange Pineapple Tarts as well. These tarts have a zesty and citrusy kick. You can also buy a tin of just the Mandarin Orange Pineapple Tarts for $45.80.
Order from Old Seng Choong website
4. Wang Lai Bakery – 8 different flavours of pineapple tarts
Image credit: Wang Lai Bakery
You’ll be hard pressed to find another bakery that has this many flavours of pineapple tarts than Wang Lai Bakery. Of course, they’ve got the OG – the Melt-In-Your-Mouth Pineapple Tarts ($22.90) that feature a buttery crust enrobing a ball of sticky pineapple jam.
Their other popular flavour is the Cheese Pineapple Tarts ($22.90). The salty cheese adds a savoury touch that balances out the sweetness of the pineapples. Other flavours in their lineup include the Premium Cranberry ($23.90),as well as Matcha, Pandan, Earl Grey, and Sour Cream, all priced at $22.90 each.
Image credit: Wang Lai Bakery
For a one-of-a-kind experience, try their Chilli Crab Pineapple Tarts ($22.90). Don’t worry, the spice is minimal. Instead, you’ll get a subtle hint of chilli and umami seafood notes that surprisingly complement the sweet pineapple in each bite.
Order from Wang Lai Bakery website
5. BoTart – Pineapple tarts without filling
Image credit: BoTart via Facebook
Pineapple-less pineapple tarts may sound just as absurd as ordering chicken rice without chicken. But just 5 years back, BoTart took Singapore by storm with the launch of their Original Butter Tarts that sold out as soon as we found out about it.
For those who still want the Ong Lai for the huat, go for the Pineapple Glazed Tarts that’s 90% tart and 10% pineapple.
Image credit: BoTart via Facebook
That was when all of us found out that we weren’t the only ones nibbling off the tart and secretly throwing the pineapple paste away. Not only will you cut down on calories; these tarts are also more affordable with prices starting from $21.80/jar compared to other bakeries charging $30 a jar.
Apart from melt-in-your-mouth butter tarts, they now have new flavours like Sea Salt Milk Caramel ($23.80) and Pineapple-less Money Tarts (from $21.80). You can place your order now and enjoy an early bird 15% discount.
Order from BoTart website
Image credit: The Custom Bites
If you find the classic CNY cookies every year a tad too repetitive and want more variety, The Custom Bites has unique flavours like Fortune Seaweed Rolls ($24.80) and Gula Melaka Kueh Bangkit ($23.80).
They’re all handmade without any refined sweeteners, artificial flavourings or preservatives so you can snack guilt-free.
Order from The Custom Bites website
7. Janice Wong – Chocolate-coated pineapple tarts
Image credit: Janice Wong
Renowned Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong took the simple pineapple tart and elevated it by coating it entirely with chocolate. Each jar has 6 of these atas cookies and the price starts at $38, so it’s something you’d want to break out only for the VIP guests coming over to bai nian.
Image adapted from: Janice Wong
Upgrade your CNY snack spread from basic to baller with Janice Wong’s unique bonbons like the Pecan Orange Chocolate Koi Fish Set of 3 ($58) and Lion Head Set of 5 ($68). If you’re in the mood for a variety of them, the CNY Assorted Cookie Tin ($58) packs some of your favourite treats in a nostalgic butter cookie tin.
Order from Janice Wong website.
8. Mdm Ling Bakery – Extra large paus & highly raved pastries
Image credit: Eatbook
You might have chanced upon Mdm Lim Bakery’s huge handmade paus on your friends’ IG stories recently and wondered what all the hoo-ha is over these buns. For starters, they’re twice the size of what you’d normally get at kopitiams, which makes it perfect for a filling CNY breakfast treat.
Plus, they don’t sacrifice quality for quantity – their fresh, fluffy buns and natural, siew dai fillings have received rave reviews about how addictive they are. Their best-selling Premium Red Bean Buns ($9.90 for 6 pieces), for example, are tirelessly made with dehusked red beans boiled for more than 8 hours.
L-R: Cranberry Pineapple Balls (from $10.80) and Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Cookies (from $10.80).
Image credit: Mdm Ling Bakery
To add to the mix, Mdm Lim Bakery has launched a new collection of CNY goodies that includes traditional pastries with a twist. Instead of classic pineapple tarts, they’ve added cranberries to the mix of ingredients that makes it less jelak.
Their Pink Himalayan Sea Salt Chocolate Almond Cookies (from $10.80) have also been highly raved for how addictive they are, as it offers the perfect balance of salty and sweet. Kopi lovers can get their caffeine fix with the Kopi Siew Dai Cookies (from $10.80), and those who can’t live without chilli can try their Sweet & Spicy Belinjo Bites ($17.80) that offer crispy belinjo chips and a fiery kick.
Order from Mdm Ling Bakery website
Image credit: Avomin
Shoutout to the vegans and lactose-intolerant; you don’t have to miss out on the noms during CNY as Avomin has got you covered with eggless, dairy-free cookies. They sold Singapore’s very first avocado brownies which offered a guilt-free option for dessert lovers, and they’ve now launched healthy Avocado Cookies for CNY.
They’re made with fresh avocado, and you’d get to taste avocado bits in each bite. If you’re watching your sugar intake or calories, these cookies would be a sinless alternative from the usual CNY treats too. Other flavours include matcha, earl grey, and chocolate brookies, each going at $20/box.
Order from Avomin website
10. Olsen Bakehouse – Cookie flavours with a local twist
Image credit: @olsenbakehouse_ via Instagram
For the adventurous folks, Olsen Bakehouse has given their CNY cookies a quirky, local twist. Their flavours are inspired by Singaporean’s favourite foods like CNY Laksa Cookies ($25), and even CNY Cereal No-Prawns Cookies ($25), inspired by cereal prawn dishes at tze char restaurants. All their pastries are made with natural ingredients and less sugar.
Image credit: @olsenbakehouse_ via Instagram
You can also opt for their beautifully packaged CNY Signature Gift Set ($140) that’ll make for a good gift for relatives or friends when you’re visiting this year. Each set includes a jar of Laksa Cookies, Kopi C Cookies, Cereal No-Prawns Cookies, Seaweed Cookies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and a Pandan Chiffon Cake.
Order from Olsen Bakehouse website
(Closed) Qakes And Bakes
Image credit: Qakes and Bakes
Those who can’t go a day without something sweet and salty can curb their addiction with Qakes and Bakes’ savoury flavours such as Golden Sandy Yolk Coated Crabsticks and Curry Raisin Kacang Cornflakes.
Another best selling item is their Pineapple Goli Pops which are made smaller than regular pineapple tarts so they’re bite-sized and mess-free.
Stock up on unique homemade CNY Goodies
As we inch closer to the time of the year for angbaos and everyone’s #ootd updates to show off their new clothes, upgrade your snack situation ASAP with these unique homemade CNY goodies.
For more CNY-related things, check out:
- Get clothes from affordable local brands
- Auspicious hair colours for Chinese New Year
- CNY family group poses
- West Mall CNY 2024 – BT21-themed activities & promos
This article contains partial partnership content. However, all opinions are ours.
Original article published on 28th January 2021. Last updated by Haizreen Natasha on 18th January 2024.
Cover image adapted from: Janice Wong, @olsenbakehouse_ via Instagram, BoTart via Facebook
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