Five kuehs that are also worthy of becoming Singapore’s national cake
We’ve all read that article by CNN Travel entitled “Cakes of the world” where the pandan cake was picked as Singapore’s national cake.
While we don’t disagree that Bengawan Solo and The Pine Garden do serve up some of the fluffiest pandan chiffon cakes in Singapore, we also felt that there are other cakes in the country that are also worthy of national icon status.
We sussed out some of the best and much-loved traditional cakes in Singapore that are not only delicious, but give us those fuzzy nostalgic feels and beckon us to belt out lyrics from Dick Lee’s song “Home”. Here are our five picks.
1. Lapis Sagu
Many people know this steamed cake as the sticky and colourful lapis. Well, it’s actually called Lapis Sagu and is made using pandan leaves, coconut milk, tapioca starch and sago powder (the ingredient that causes the stickiness).
The vibrant cake, which usually comes in layers of red, yellow and green, is also fun to eat. Many like to peel off each layer and eat it strip by strip, savouring each piece till the end.
One place in Singapore we’d love to go for Lapis Sagu is Bengawan Solo.
2. Ang Ku Kueh
Ang Ku Kueh or red tortoise cakes are typically shaped like tortoise’s shells withthe Chinese character “shou”, which means longevity, on them.
A popular gift distributed by parents after a newborn baby’s first month, this old school confectionery is made from glutinous rice flour with fillings such as sweet mung bean, peanut, yam or coconut.
Ji Xiang Confectionery at Everton Park is a popular place for this treat.
3. Kueh Tutu
These fluffy steamed cakes are made with flour and coconut or peanut fillings. A piece of pandan leaf is usually placed on the bottom before pressing it with a square muslin cloth. They’re often a familiar sight at pasar malams.
The Malay version of the cake is known as Putu Piring, which comes with gula melaka fillings.
Tan’s Tu Tu Coconut Cake and Queensway Lau Tan Tutu Kueh are some of the places in Singapore where you can buy the Kueh Tutu, while Haig Road has some of the best Putu Piring in Singapore.
4. Ondeh Ondeh
These petite glutinous rice balls filled with molten gula melaka and sprinkled with grated coconut will literally burst in your mouth on the first bite.
This old school cake is also made with glutinous rice flour and pandan, and you can easily find it at several confectioneries in Singapore. One popular place is the Galicier Pastry in Tiong Bahru.
5. Kueh Salat
Pandan-loving Singaporeans also love the Kueh Salat, sometimes known as the Kueh Seri Muka, which is a two-layered cake consisting of creamy pandan custard on top and glutinous rice at the bottom.
While it’s available at some of the Malay stalls at Geylang Serai Market and Food Centre, those who want to try the Peranakan version can purchase them at Lek Lim Nonya Cake Confectionery.
Those with a more refined taste can try the atas version by Chalk Farm at Paragon Shopping Centre.
Related stories:
Tastemakers Guide To Jalan Besar Hawkers
We’re seeing Red – It’s Ang Ku Kueh!
11 Best Nonya Kueh Places in Singapore That Will Make You Inkuehdibly Hungry
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