Pineapple tarts, bak kwa, love letters, prawn crackers, kuih bangkit, shrimp rolls, cookies… the list of Chinese New Year snacks in Singapore goes on and on.
It’s the Lunar New Year and you’re expecting friends over. You’re donning your best cheongsam, stole some fun party games from Christmas and the dinner table is ready with a feast. Don’t forget the snacks! Fill your cabinet with pineapple tarts, bak kwa, love letters and lots more. Presenting our top spots to buy the best Chinese New Year snacks in Singapore.
Where to buy Chinese New Year snacks in Singapore
1. Pineapple Tarts Singapore
Snobs of the popular favourite, look no further than Pineapple Tarts Singapore to satisfy your cravings. 100% homemade and handmade, these little pops of joy are freshly baked with the finest ingredients, bringing out traditional local flavours. And they’re also pretty serious when it comes to the recipe which has undergone long periods of trial and error. Highlights include traditional fare such as Nyonya tarts and pineapple balls in fantastic fusion options including charcoal truffle, salted egg, cheese and even – wait for it – mala.
Pineapple Tarts Singapore, available online
2. Wang Lai Bakery
Want a one-stop shop for all your favourite Chinese New Year snacks? Get your fill at Wang Lai Bakery. It holds family recipes that have been passed on for four generations, constantly being tweaked and improved along the way. The result: handmade goodies baked and crafted to perfection. Looking for flaky pineapple tart balls or melt-in-your-mouth open-faced pineapple tarts for delivery? Or how about premium prawn rolls, Nutella tarts, peanut butter cookies, kuih bangkit or salted egg fish skin? Skip the snack run and enjoy the hassle-free experience of having ‘em delivered to you. Psst: there’s an early bird promo, too. Enjoy 30% off your orders from now until 31 December 2021.
Wang Lai Bakery, free delivery for orders over $100, available online
3. Bee Cheng Hiang
Come Chinese New Year, you’ll see snaking queues outside any bak kwa shop. Well, what’s not to like? The iconic pork jerky, marinated with sugar and spices, and barbecued to perfection (charred edges and all), makes us go weak in the knees. Bee Cheng Hiang is one of the purveyors for this popular CNY snack. Try the chilli pork, as well as sliced beef and chicken bak kwa. Stay tuned for our updated bak kwa roundup coming real soon!
Bee Cheng Hiang, multiple locations including Jem and Raffles City Shopping Centre; also available online
4. Kele
You may have an idea of the origins of love letters thanks to its obvious name. In the past, ladies would write sweet nothings to their lovers in wafer-thin biscuits. Eating them would mean the message was taken to heart. And that’s how the snack got its moniker. This light and crunchy treat made with eggs, flour and coconut milk is dangerously addictive. You’ll find them rolled or folded in quarters but we prefer the former. Kele’s premium love letters are charcoal-grilled to serve a crispy texture and fragrant aftertaste.
Kele, available online
5. Little Nonya’s Cookies
The melt-in-your mouth kuih bangkit is typically made of tapioca flour, icing sugar, flour, egg yolks, coconut milk and pandan. It comes in many forms including popular flower shapes. Little Nonya’s Cookies makes kueh bangkit using the traditional charcoal-baked method so you can enjoy authentic flavours right here.
Little Nonya’s Cookies, #01-07, Icon @ Changi, 228 Changi Road, Singapore 419741; also available online
6. Gin Thye
Go to any Chinese household during Lunar New Year and you’ll see tubs of prawn crackers waiting to be eaten. Once you open the seal, it’s a done deal. Between conversations and games of mahjong or poker, these babies will be gone in a heartbeat. Gin Thye’s golden prawn stick crackers are easy to find and never disappoint.
Gin Thye, available at multiple locations including NTUC outlets; also available online
7. Bread Garden
We just can’t get enough of these little pops of flavour. Shrimp rolls are basically crispy mini rolls packed with hae bee hiam, dried shrimp filling with a touch of spice. They’re fried to perfection so you get a crunch with every bite. The rolls are known to resemble gold bars which symbolise wealth. Try Bread Garden’s version and you’ll understand what the fuss is all about.
Bread Garden, multiple locations including Bukit Batok and Yishun; also available online
8. Mdm Ling’s Bakery
What’s a post-CNY meal snack without some cookies? And these aren’t your usual chocolate chip ones. From traditional butter, cashew nut and almond cookies to recent offerings like peanut, hazelnut, purple sweet potato, green pea, red velvet and even kopi siew dai, you can count on Mdm Ling’s Bakery for your fix.
Mdm Ling’s Bakery, available online
What’s your favourite Chinese New Year snack? We can’t pick just one for sure!
