Ah, mooncakes. Does anyone really love ‘em? They’re certainly not what we’d reach for when we’re hankering for something sweet – but they’re an annual tradition, and F&B folks need to keep that centuries-old cash cow healthy with all these new twists and turns on the classic dessert.
And so, here’s to another year of Mid-Autumn festivities and snacks. If you’ve had enough of boring baked mooncakes and standard snow skin ones, we’ve got a couple of unusual suggestions for you to try. Mooncakes for the non-traditionalists – from local brands, restaurants, and hotels around town. Check them out below.
Awfully Chocolate
The much-loved local chocolate brand infuses its namesake ingredient into its collection, natch. On the traditional side, you can get the regular series of dark chocolate mooncakes ($88/box of four) in flavors like chocolate lotus paste with hazelnuts, white lotus paste with salted egg yolk or macadamia nuts, and chocolate brownie with melon seeds.
But those in favor of chocolate mooncake truffles ($88/box of eight) can try the premium range of white choc lemon with orange marmalade yolk, caramel brittle with butterscotch yolk, hazelnut choc with Nutella yolk, and dark choc with espresso yolk. We don’t know ‘bout you, but these sure sound a heckuva lot better than the usual unimaginative mooncakes to our sweet tooth.
In case you need something else to graze on while you snack, try the fruit and nut chocolate full moons ($38/box of five) studded with extras like pistachio and sea salt, toasted almonds and cranberries, or apricot and strawberries.
Available for order from Aug 22 at Awfully Chocolate outlets and online.
Bakerzin
The homegrown bakery brand goes all out for mooncake season, spanning the range from classic to contemporary, with a couple health-conscious options thrown in as well. On the creative side, the limited edition Royal Collection ($66/box of four; only 1000 boxes available) is an update of Bakerzin’s traditional egg yolk blend, in flavors like beetroot gula melaka, osmanthus, charcoal tangerine red bean, and pandan.
However, if you loved last year’s fruit series, the Brilliance Collection ($58/box of eight) adds chia seeds to its cempedak, honeydew, orange, and strawberry snow skin creations. Then there’s the Prestige Collection ($60/box of eight), another snow skin option, but made boozy with the likes of apple vodka, butterscotch Baileys, coconut liqueur, and latte Kahlua.
Available for order from now till Sept 24 at Bakerzin outlets and online.
Grand Hyatt Singapore
New this year for the hotel’s snow skin collection ($78/box of eight) are two atas-sounding alcoholic options: acai berry truffle infused with crème de cassis, and a blend of green apple, basil, and Trigona honey truffle. Those looking for something a little more on the rich and creamy side can try the black sesame and walnut truffle, or sink your teeth into the teh tarik and chocolate truffle.
Available for order at mezza9 from Aug 16-Sept 24, the Lobby Shop from Aug 17-Sept 24, or online from now till Sept 24.
Old Seng Choong
On the line-up for this modern heritage brand are new baked mooncake options ($66.80/box of four) such as white lotus paste with durian paste (sort of like a pungent spin on the original) and longan with wugu, which is a mix of pumpkin seed, sunflower seed, wolfberry, and goji berry.
But if you’re more of the snow skin type, the alcoholic range ($68.80/box of four) gives a bit of a kick to otherwise commonplace flavors, with creations like brandy cherry, yuzu martini, Bailey whiskey with white chocolate pearl, and rum and raisin with dark chocolate pearl.
Available for order from now till Sept 23 online, or from Aug 22-Sept 24 at the Clarke Quay Central store and Takashimaya B2 booth.
Raffles Singapore
The perennial favorite when it comes to mooncake season, Raffles’ snow skin mooncakes that encase decadent champagne truffles are always in high demand – and this year’s no different (even though the hotel is still undergoing an overhaul).
Besides popular items like Earl Grey chocolate ganache with cereal pearls and cognac with dark chocolate ganache, the new creation for 2018 is a superfood-style acai berry with Greek yogurt and organic chia seeds, obviously targeted at the #eatclean bunch.
Available for order from now till Sept 24 at Raffles Hotel Singapore, North Bridge Road Atrium, or Aug 20-Sept 24 at Chevron House, or online till Sept 16.
Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel
With the hotel’s Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant behind its mooncakes, the traditional ones get a twist with cempedak and pumpkin seeds ($78/box of four) and chicken bak kwa with nuts ($70/box of four). If you’re going all out to impress your relatives, perhaps consider the gold-dusted, charcoal skin enveloping white lotus seed paste that’s flecked with mixed grains, serrano ham, and salted egg yolk. To justify its hefty price tag ($238/box of four), the limited edition gift set comes with a bottle of Villa Girardi Amarone Della Valpolicella.
As for the new snow skin offerings ($68/box of four), you can try something a tad different with the likes of mango yogurt and lime margarita truffle or mocha and milk chocolate royaltine.
Available for order from Aug 20-Sept 24 at the hotel’s Forecourt Stall or online.
SweetSpot
In a bid to go healthy this year, SweetSpot is crafting pu erh tea and multigrain traditional mooncakes ($78/box of four). The former is apparently antioxidant-rich, while the latter is a mix of lotus and melon seeds, pepita and sunflower kernels, rolled oats, black sesame, and walnuts, with a sugar content that’s about one-third lower than the typical mooncake.
If you prefer to take a bite of snow skin ones ($78/box of eight), try the new strawberry yogurt champagne flavor, with sugar-free green bean paste, a champagne truffle, and fizz candy. Otherwise, you’ve also got options like passion mango yogurt and Japanese sweet potato with red beans to try.
Available for order from now till Sept 24 at SweetSpot, Marina Bay Sands Hotel Lobby, Tower 3.
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
Those of us who practically grew up on Milo Dinosaur can nibble on nostalgia with the Fullerton’s new snow skin mooncake flavor, with milk lotus paste and a crunch of Milo bits ($61-$73/box of four). Or if you’re on the path to healthy living, try the yuzu one with chia seeds ($61-$73/box of four) for a tangy treat.
Apart from these newcomers, crowd favorites like pandan with gula melaka snow skin ($61-$73/box of four) and golden custard mini mooncakes with salted egg yolk ($71/box of eight) make a comeback as well.
Available for order from now till Sept 24 at The Fullerton Cake Boutique.
Yan Ting
In the snow skin realm, two newbies make their debut this year. Wrapped in a black sesame skin with a dash of gold, the same ingredient features in the paste, with a salted peanut truffle core ($78/box of eight). Then there’s the Jasmine tea mooncake ($76/box of eight) with salted egg yolk and the crunch of melon seeds. Alternatively, go for the red date and wolfberry paste with almond flakes ($76/box of eight) – on the plus side, these ingredients are known to have health benefits.
Available for order from now till Sept 24 at Yan Ting and La Patisserie at The St. Regis Singapore.
BONUS:
Crystal Jade
In another tie-up with Disney, Crystal Jade one ups its sleek red-and-black House of Mouse box from last year with a copper-colored carousel that actually goes on a merry-go-round with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, and Goofy – to the tune of Mickey Mouse March – when plugged in. The pandan lotus with gula melaka and chocolate Manuka honey flavors aren’t new or unique, but damn if we’re not impressed by the rose gold extravagance of it all.
Available for order from Aug 19-Sept 24 at Crystal Jade outlets, or online from now till Sept 18.
Goodwood Park Hotel
Goodwood Park may be revered for its durian desserts – its Mao Shan Wang mooncake ($88/box of four) is no exception – but we’re here to focus on what’s new. And this year, the hotel has crafted a new pale red-and-white look for its almond beancurd with longan flavor, as well as a soursop with calamansi snow skin mooncake for a refreshing burst in this tropical heat.
If looks matter more to you, the blue pea flower snow skin one ($64/box of four) is a pretty little thing, with splashes of indigo – infused naturally from the star ingredient – and white dotted with petals. It encases the standard combination of white lotus seed paste and melon seeds, but hey, sometimes old can be gold.
Available for order from Aug 18 till Sept 24 at the Deli or online.
Hungry for more? Check out these stories:
Where to get unusual ice cream flavors like butter beer, pineapple tart, and blue milk in Singapore
Durian drinks taste test: Durian coffee and tea, plus pandan, avocado, and red bean oddities
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