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Top Singapore Local Desserts To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
The rich tapestry of Singapore’s culinary heritage, complemented by Michelin-starred establishments offering gourmet experiences at hawker centre prices, transforms this compact island into a haven for food enthusiasts.
With all there is to eat in Singapore, we are confident that you’ll still find space in your stomach for dessert.
This curated list spans traditional Peranakan cakes to delectable Eurasian treats, presenting a delectable array of Singapore local desserts for you to explore!
1. Pandan Cake
– From purepandan_sg_official
If you’ve ever come across Singaporean bakeries, you might’ve seen people eating a green chiffon cake that smells heavenly. Ask any local, and they will likely recommend that you try a piece of pandan cake for yourself!
Pandan cake is a classified Singapore local dessert, often also enjoyed on its own as a snack. It’s a fluffy chiffon cake that’s not overly sweet and is baked with pure pandan leaves, coconut milk, and sugar.
It’s the pandan leaves that give the cake its distinct green colour, and many bakeries in Singapore typically leave out any food colouring. It’s all-natural goodness in every, fluffy bite!
| Where to Try: Pure Pandan, 264 South Bridge Rd, Singapore 058813 Bengawan Solo, 1 Maritime Square, #01-101 HarbourFront Centre, Singapore 099253 Uncle Lee Confectionery, 4 Jln Pisang, Singapore 199071 Price: $2 to $5.50 |
2. Ice Cream Sandwich
– From dopadopa.sg
Ice cream sandwiches aren’t exclusively Singaporean, and they are a universally loved dessert. However, what we have here is not the kind of ice cream sandwich you typically see in parlours.
They’re literally scoops of ice cream sandwiched between loaves of bread. Singaporean ice cream sandwiches are usually pandan or durian flavoured and use pandan bread, croissants, or waffles.
The twist of using mainly pandan, coconut, and durian flavours makes local ice cream sandwiches unique to Singapore. That said, don’t be surprised when we take “ice cream sandwich” quite literally here!
| Where to Try:Y ellow Ice Cream Uncle, No. 435, Orchard Road, #04-09, Wisma Atria, 238877, Singapore 238877 Old’s Uncle Ice Cream Stand by Walls, 291 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238860 Dopa Dopa, 29 South Bridge Rd, #01-01, Singapore 058665 Price: $3 to $9.50 |
3. Cendol
– From fourseasonscendol
Pronounced as chen-dol, this icy Singaporean dessert is a popular indulgence to combat the year-round heat in the city. Despite its roots in Malaysia, cendol has become so beloved in Singapore that it is now regarded as a local delicacy.
Cendol is made with four main ingredients: coconut milk, sweet red bean paste, palm sugar syrup, and bright green short noodles made of rice flour.
Locals mix the icy dessert until all elements are combined, leaving them with spoonfuls of just the right amount of coconutty, jelly, and chilly goodness.
| Where to Try: Old Amoy Chendol, 335 Smith St, #02-008, Singapore 050335 Four Seasons Cendol, 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, #01-07, Singapore 310210 Nyonya Chendol, 51 Old Airport Rd, #01-115 Food Centre, Singapore 390051 Price: $2.50 to $4.50 |
4. Tau Huay or Soya Beancurd
– From laobansoyabeancurd
Craving for a sweet treat that’s smooth and light to the taste? A cup of warm or chilled tau huay or soya beancurd might just be what you need to start your day or as an afternoon pick-me-up!
Tau huay is a type of pudding made from soya milk. By itself, the pudding or beancurd is smooth and very lightly flavoured, but most locals like to pair it with tapioca pearls and palm sugar syrup.
Other hawker stalls like to serve savoury tau huay that’s topped with minced meat and soy sauce. There are many ways you can enjoy this light treat, but we highly recommend pairing it with fried dough fritters for breakfast!
| Where to Try: Rochor Original Beancurd, 2 Short St, Singapore 188211 B For Beancurd, 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, #01-61 Hawker Centre, Singapore 310210 Lao Ban Soya Beancurd, 1 Kadayanallur St, #01-91, Singapore 069184 Price: $2 to $2.50 |
5. Ice Kachang
– From pinweidessert
Ice kachang is very similar to cendol, except the main toppings used are red bean, lychee, sweet corn, and lots of coloured sugar syrup.
The dessert is enjoyed by mostly children, specifically because of the burst of colour in a single serving. You can actually call it a Singaporean snow cone but with so much more to offer!
You’ll often find ice kachang at hawker centres, and if you prefer to stay on the go while beating the heat, you can order ice kachang in a cup for easy carrying!
| Where to Try: Soon Heng Hot and Cold Desserts, Blk 38A Margaret Dr, #02-24, Singapore 142038 Jin Jin Dessert, 6 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-21 ABC Brickworks Market Food Centre, Singapore 150006 Pin Wei Dessert, 208B New Upper Changi Rd, #01-43, Singapore 462208 Price: $3 to $5.50 |
6. Ang Ku Kueh
– From theakkhut
Ang ku kueh, or “red tortoise cake,” is a popular treat for special occasions like birthdays. Made with glutinous rice flour, it has a sweet red bean paste filling and is shaped like a small tortoise shell.
Although the origins of this kueh can be traced back to China, the versions in Singapore are influenced by Nyonya culture, adding a unique taste and presentation to this delicacy.
There’s also a range of flavours to explore, such as peanut, sweet bean, salted bean, coconut, and yam. The cakes are coloured differently based on the flavour, but the red one is the most recognisable.
| Where to Try: Ji Xiang Confectionery, 1 Everton Park, #01-33, Singapore 081001 Ph cheu Soon Kueh and Ang Ku Kueh, 127 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-222, Singapore 150127 The Ang Ku Kueh Hut, 36 Kim Keat Rd, Singapore 328812 Price: $6 to $9.50 per five pieces |
7. Nyonya Kueh
– From harrianns
Nyonya kueh, originating from Singapore’s Peranakan community, seamlessly fuses Chinese and Malay culinary styles. These vibrant, bite-sized rice cakes, available in diverse shapes, are a cherished delight during special occasions like weddings.
Nyonya kueh’s main ingredients are coconut milk and rice flour. The sweet treats are chewy, lightly sweet, and often topped with different types of nuts, coconut flakes, and fruit syrups.
There’s also no single shape or design for the Nyonya kueh, as the bite-sized desserts are often assorted when served. Some come in the form of a rainbow-layered cake while others are shaped like blocks or rolls.
| Where to Try: HarriAnns Nyonya Table, 3 Temasek Blvd, #01-416A, Suntec City West Wing, Singapore 038983 Molly’s Nyonya Kuehs, 104 Hougang Ave 1, #01-1121, Singapore 530104 Lek Lim Nyonya Cake Confectionery, 84 Bedok North Street 4, #01-21, Singapore 460084 Price: $1 to $1.50 per piece |
8. Tissue Prata
– From mr.prata_singapore
Tissue prata may be Singapore’s very own crepe—crispy, thin, and shaped like a cone. Prata is a type of flatbread and a common staple in India and some countries in Southeast Asia.
Traditionally, Indian prata is served with savoury dishes like curries, but in Singapore, tissue prata is typically served as a dessert. The flatbread is served tall like a cone and draped in flavoured syrup like chocolate, strawberry, or caramel.
Some locals like to enjoy tissue prata with scoops of vanilla ice cream and powdered sugar. Most shops even allow you to customise it!
| Where to Try: Springleaf Prata Place, 57B Jalan Tua Kong, Singapore 457253 Mr. Prata, 742 Bedok Reservoir Rd, #01-3105, Singapore 470742 Jalan Kayu The Prata Cafe, 18 Tai Seng St, #01-29, Singapore 539775 Price: $2 to $4.50 per piece |
9. Tang Yuan
– From yatkayan
As you may already tell, Singaporeans have a penchant for rice cakes but unlike most items on our list, tang yuan may be the only few desserts that are best enjoyed during the Lion City’s rainiest months.
Tang yuan is a Chinese-style dessert consisting of rice balls stuffed with sesame paste or sweet bean paste, then served in a hot sweet broth. The broth is usually thin sugar syrup, but other variants include ginger and other spices.
The dessert is also enjoyed during Chinese New Year or the Mid-Autumn Festival. Although it’s a warm dessert, locals still like to eat tang yuan on hot days too!
| Where to Try: Ah Chew Desserts, 1 Liang Seah St, #01-10/11 Liang Seah Place, Singapore 189032 Yat Ka Yan Dessert, 190 Middle Rd, #02-08 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979 Gong He Guan, 28 Upper Cross St, Singapore 058337 Price: $3.50 to $7.50 |
10. Jalebi
– From balaji.bhawan
Familiar to Little India regulars, jalebi is a sweet and sticky pretzel-like dessert that originated in India and the Middle East. Its popularity in Singapore is fueled by the growing Indian and Arab communities, making it a common treat in local shops.
Jalebi is made of wheat flour that is deep-fried and shaped into swirls or pretzels. It’s then drenched in sweet sugar syrup, resulting in a sticky but crispy texture when eaten.
The best part is that due to it being deep-fried, a single bite into a jalebi results in an outburst of sugar syrup in your mouth. Your dentist may not appreciate that, but your tummy and tastebuds will!
| Where to Try: Moghul Sweet Shop, 48 Serangoon Rd, #01-16, Singapore 217959 Balaji Bhawan, 103 Syed Alwi Rd, Opp. Mustafa Gate No. 2, Singapore 207679 Ganesan Villas Sweets and Savouries, #01-08 Arcade, 48 Serangoon Rd, Singapore 217959 Price: $1 to $1.50 |
11. Ladoo
– From moghulsweets
Another dessert to look out for in Little India is ladoo, a treat made of fried chickpea flour rolled into balls and then soaked in sugar syrup. It’s similar to jalebi in that it’s drenched in syrup, but the flavour is different.
There are many kinds of ladoo typically served in India like saffron, cashew and raisin, but the most popular kind you’ll find in Singapore is the plain chickpea flavour.
In case you want variety, consider trying mango and coconut ladoo for a change. You don’t have to be invited to an Indian wedding to get your hands on this treat; they’re sold almost everywhere in Little India!
| Where to Try: Moghul Sweet Shop, 48 Serangoon Rd, #01-16, Singapore 217959 Komala Vilas Sweets and Savouries, 4 Upper Dickson Rd, Singapore 207464 Shivam Restaurant, 87 Syed Alwi Rd, Singapore 207666 Price: $2 to $3.50 per five pieces |
12. Tutu Kueh
– From chinatown_tanstutu
Can’t get enough of rice cakes? Satisfy your cravings with a bunch of tutu kueh, a type of steamed rice cake that’s filled with coconutty and peanutty goodness.
Locals usually get this sweet treat at Maxwell Food Centre, in the heart of Chinatown.
Like all rice cakes in this list, tutu kueh has a distinct shape, usually round or oval, and is moulded like a flower. The cake is usually white, with grated coconut or ground peanut paste in its centre.
In Chinatown, you’ll find vendors inside Maxwell Food Centre selling tutu kueh in pandan leaves. You can order per piece or in packs of 3 or 6 if you can’t get enough of them!
| Where to Try: Chinatown’s Tan’s TuTu Coconut Cake, 435 Orchard Rd, Level 4, Singapore 238877 Mr. Ho Tutu Kueh, 27 Bendemeer Rd, Stall 7 Bendemeer Shopping Mall, Singapore 330027 Jian Bo Shui Kueh, 30 Seng Poh Rd, #02-05, Singapore 168898 Price: $2 per three pieces |
13. Cheng Tng
– From yatkayan
We like to think that cheng tng is tang yuan’s fruity sister because they’re both soup desserts, except the former has fruit and seeds instead of rice cake balls. Cheng tng translates to “clear soup” and is often served in Chinese restaurants or hawker centres.
Unlike tang yuan, it can be enjoyed either hot or cold, making it a popular choice for both rainy and sunny days in Singapore. Many locals like it because it’s a more refreshing and light dessert.
Popular pairings with cheng tng’s cane sugar soup are lotus seeds, longans, dates, white fungus, and tapioca pearls. You can customise what to put in the clear soup, but the original longan and date mix doesn’t disappoint!
| Where to Try: Mohamed Sultan Road Hot and Cold Cheng Tng, 70 Zion Rd, #01-32, Singapore 247792 Four Seasons Ching Teng, 210 Lor 8 Toa Payoh, #01-34 Hawker Centre, Singapore 310210 Yat Ka Yan Dessert, 190 Middle Rd, #02-08 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979 Price: $3 to $4.50 |
14. Gulab Jamun
– From sggabbar
Another sickenly sweet and deep fried treat you must try in Singapore is gulab jamun. It’s commonly eaten during festivals like Diwali and Eid ul-Fitr and is very popular in Little India and Arab Street.
There are many variants of gulab jamun found in India, Bangladesh, Turkey, and Nepal, but the locals in Singapore enjoy the classic milk fat dough balls drenched in rosewater-infused sugar syrup.
Popular toppings to gulab jamun are almonds, cashews, saffron, and ice cream. Some locals enjoy it chilled, but the hot version gives it a distinct melt-in-you-mouth sensation.
| Where to Try: Royal Indian Restaurant, 227 Jalan Besar, #01-01, Singapore 208904 Gabbar Bistro, 3E River Valley Road, Clarke Quay, #01-05/06, Singapore 179024 Sakunthala’s Restaurant, 88 Syed Alwi Rd, Singapore 207667 Price: $3.50 to $5.50 |
15. Pulut Hitam
– From porestaurant
While pulut hitam originated in Indonesia, in Singapore, it gets a unique twist with the addition of pandan leaves and coconut milk during the cooking process. Essentially, it’s a glutinous rice porridge that resembles chocolate porridge when served.
The black rice is cooked with lots of water, pandan leaves, and coconut milk until a smooth and creamy consistency is achieved. It’s then sweetened using sugar and more coconut milk, which are often added on the side before serving.
Most traditional dessert stalls in Singapore serve this hearty dish, either in its porridge form or as a cake. You’ll find many locals enjoy it for breakfast or as a snack to keep your energy levels up throughout the day.
| Where to Try: PeraMakan, 119 Owen Road, Singapore 218924 The Clifford Pier, 80 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049326 Po, 320 Havelock Rd, Singapore 169628 Price: $3.50 to $6 per bowl |
16. Durian Pengat
– From durianlab.cafe
What could be more quintessentially Singaporean than durian? Many people stay away from this stinky fruit, but if you can eat your way past the smell (and can’t wait for durian season to come around), then durian pengat is the dessert for you.
Durian pengat is a Peranakan-style fruit mousse cooked in coconut milk and sugar. The star ingredient, durian, is blended well into a thick consistency, creating a smooth and creamy dessert that won’t mess up your fingers (say goodbye to stinky hands!).
While durian pengat can be bought in hawker stalls, fine dining restaurants have created gourmet versions of the mousse (at a higher price point, of course). Even better, you won’t have to wait for durian season to get a taste of this rich and velvety dessert!
| Where to Try: Ms. Durian Speciality Bakery and Cafe, 11 Kelantan Road, Jln Besar, Singapore 208604 Durian Lab Cafe, 119 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-22, Singapore 151119 Fluff Bakery, 795 North Bridge Rd, Singapore 198763 Price: $3.50 to $5 |
17. Grass Jelly
– From zhaoangrannygrassjelly
We’re back to some shaved ice desserts with Singapore’s beloved grass jelly pudding. It’s often associated with herbal teas and medicine, but as a dessert, it becomes a palate cleanser.
The grass jelly is made of Chinese mesona, a type of herbal plant, and is known for its bitter aftertaste. Hence, when turned into a jelly and paired with syrup, the sweetness offsets the bitterness.
The jelly is cut into cubes and often served in small bowls with shaved ice and syrup. It can be eaten as is too, but the ice and sweetness just make the herbal taste a little more bearable.
| Where to Try: Zhao An Granny Grass Jelly, 505 Beach Rd, #01-58 Golden Mile Food Center, Singapore 199583 Green Grass Garden, 120 Bukit Merah Lane 1, Singapore 150120 Tong Shui Desserts, 101 Upper Cross Street #02-58, People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357 Price: $2 to $3.50 |
18. Apom Berkuah
– From thecoconutclubsg
Apom berkuah is a Peranakan pancake made of fermented rice flour and coconut milk. It’s a traditional Peranakan dessert that, sadly, has been fading in popularity, but some places on the East Coast still serve these delectable sweet treats all day.
Apom berkuah is distinct for its blue swirl in the middle of the white pancake base. The blue swirl is actually just food colouring in modern renditions, but Peranakans back in the day would use batter mixed with Blue Pea flowers.
They’re usually bite-sized and served with a side of banana sauce or caramel.
You can eat them as is or dip them into the sauce. After all, apom berkuah translates to “pancakes with a side of sauce”.
| Where to Try: The Coconut Club, 269 Beach Rd, Singapore 199546 Appam Aunty, 10 Marsiling Industrial Estate Rd 1, Singapore 739276 Tong Shui Desserts, 101 Upper Cross Street #02-58, People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357 Price: $2 to $3.50 per three pieces |
19. Orh Nee
– From ah_orh_seafood
With the Teowchews as the second largest ethnic group in Singapore, it’s not surprising to find so many stalls serving Teochew-inspired cuisine. One of the most loved dishes is orh nee, a warm dessert made of sweet yam paste and coconut milk.
Orh nee can be eaten on its own––simple and plain, with flavour coming from the sugar and coconut milk. However, it also tastes wonderful with other toppings like fruit, jam, and pumpkin.
As a dessert, orh nee’s starchy composition makes it very filling. It’s not the most light option on this list, but it makes for a great snack to keep you going midday.
| Where to Try: Ah Orh Seafood Restaurant, 115 Jalan Bukit Merah, #01-1627, Singapore 160115 Chao Shan Cuisine, 17 Phillip Street #01-01/02 Grand Building, Singapore 048695 Keong Saik Bakery, 70 Bendemeer Rd, #01-03, Singapore 339940 Price: $2 to $3.50 |
20. Sugee Cake
– From patsugeecake
If you’ve had enough of rice cakes, leave some room in your tummy for sugee cake. It’s a Eurasian cake made from semolina flour, butter, and almonds, giving it a slightly crunchy and grainy texture in every bite.
On its own, sugee cake is lightly flavoured and not too sweet, making it a perfect pairing for coffee and tea. Some people like to add brandy to the mixture for an extra boozy kick!
If you want a sweeter sugee cake, many stores sell them whole with fondant or icing. Flavours can range from plain butter to orange!
| Where to Try: Auntie Pat’s Kitchen, #11-550 Bedok Reservoir Rd, Block 603, Singapore 470603 Temptations Cakes, 199 Sims Ave, Singapore 387503 Violet Oon Singapore, 2 Orchard Turn, #03-22 ION Orchard, Singapore 238801 Price: $10 to $13.50 |
