Singapore is known to be a food haven with a plethora of delicious local dishes that are suited for every palate. While the spotlight is constantly shone on Singapore’s local fare, the desserts are also a remarkable treat. Here, we’re going to delve into 6 of the best local desserts in Singapore that are not only mouthwatering but sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Pandan Cake

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It’s easy to spot a pandan cake due to is striking green colour that comes from the juice of pandan leaves. At first glance, you might think that the pandan cake would have a somewhat dense texture due to how thick the slice is. However, as you bite into this sweet treat, you’ll notice that it’s light and airy. While the texture is light, the flavor packs a punch. You’re sure to be blown away by the perfect combination of fragrant pandan leaf with the creamy richness of coconut milk.

While there are many variations of the pandan cake such as a pandan chocolate cake or pandan custard cake that’s filled with kaya – a jam made from coconut milk, eggs, and sugar –, you should stick with the original pandan chiffon cake.

You can easily find a piece of this light chiffon cake at Bengawan Solo. With 38 outlets islandwide, you’ll have no trouble finding this delectable dessert.

Ice Cream Bread

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As we know, the heat and humidity in Singapore can be unbearable. When it gets overly hot and humid, the perfect way to cool down is to indulge in some ice cream. While we do have our ice cream favourites like Paddle Pop, Magnum and Softee, there’s nothing that hits the spot like ice cream from the friendly neighbourhood uncle. In fact, this ice cream sandwich is a staple dessert for Singaporeans as many would have eaten it during the course of their childhood.

You can choose to either have the ice cream sandwiched between crunchy wafers, a colourful rainbow pandan bread, or in a regular cup. While there are the usual flavours of chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry, you should try some of the local flavours instead. There’s durian, red bean, and even sweet corn. My personal favourite is the sweetness and crunch from the sweetcorn sandwiched between a slice of delicious pandan bread – a match made in heaven. Just remember to finish your ice cream quickly, you don’t want it melting everywhere!

These ice cream uncles can be found scattered along the entirety of Orchard Road during the warm afternoons, just keep a look out for the iconic Wall’s umbrellas.

Chendol

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If it’s your first time ordering Chendol, you might be intrigued by the bright green worm-like jellies that are scattered all over the dessert. These green jellies are an essential part of Chendol and are made with rice flour and pandan leaves. While Chendol is available in many parts of Southeast Asia, the ingredients vary from country to country.

In Singapore, we like our Chendol topped with red beans or kidney beans, palm sugar, coconut milk, and shaved ice. You can also choose to customize your own Chendol and add additional ingredients like durian, grass jelly, and even creamed corn. It’s the perfect dessert to share with a group of friends on a sweltering day.

While Chendol is widely available in Singapore, you can head to Dove Desserts at Toa Payoh for one of Singapore’s most popular Chendols.

Ice Kachang

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After Chendol, we’ve got another shaved ice dessert on the list – a much-needed treat for our hot and humid island. Ice Kachang is not only a treat for your tummy, but it’s also a feast for the eyes. As Ice Kachang is usually topped with multi-colored syrup, you’ll be intrigued by the different colors and trying to differentiate the taste of these unique colors.

Once you’ve gotten past the various colors, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the range of ingredients that are in a hearty Ice Kachang. While the toppings can vary depending on the stall and what you prefer, Ice Kachang typically comes with lots of attap chee – an immature fruit of the nipa palm, red beans, sweet corn, and colorful grass jelly. The best way to enjoy Ice Kachang is to grab a group of friends and dig patiently to the bottom of the ice mountain and uncover the delicious ingredients below.

The best place to enjoy Ice Kachang is at Jin Jin Hot/Cold Dessert at ABC Brickworks Food Centre at Jalan Bukit Merah. While you’re there, you can also check out some of the other local fare.

Kueh

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Singapore is home to many different types of Kueh, and it is indeed a favorite amongst Singaporeans. While there are many different types of Kueh, we’ll be focusing on a few of the more popular varieties in this post. Ondeh-Ondeh is a delicious Kueh that has a soft and chewy texture. Similar to the pandan cake, it also has a striking green color as it’s infused with pandan and coated with coconut flakes. As you bite into the Ondeh-Ondeh, you’ll get a burst of gula melaka that’s incredibly addictive – you won’t be able to stop with one piece!

Another popular favorite is called Ang Ku Kueh, also known as ‘Red Tortoise Cake.’ It has an oval shape and is made with soft, sticky glutinous rice that’s either filled with mung beans or peanuts and is served on a small piece of banana leaf. My personal favorite is the rainbow lapis that’s made by steaming a mixture of coconut milk and flour, along with food coloring to resemble a rice flour pudding. The result is a colorful, delicious dessert that’s irresistible. As a bonus, you can even peel off each layer to eat rather than biting it all in one go.

Similar to the pandan cake, you can also find these kuehs at Bengawan Solo. They’ve got a good variety of kuehs to tantalize your taste buds.

Cheng Tng

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While we’ve gone through quite a few desserts that are on the decadent side, Cheng Tng is a lighter dessert that means ‘clear soup.’ It’s a refreshing soup with cane sugar that’s usually made with red dates, longans, sago, barley, and white fungus. Some places might put gingko nuts and agar strips into the Cheng Tng as well.

One of the best things about Cheng Tng is that you can enjoy this dessert either hot or cold. The hot version is perfect for those that want a little something to soothe their throat, and the cold dessert is great for a hot day.

While it isn’t difficult to find this dessert, you can pop by Ye Lai Xiang Hot & Cold Cheng Tng in Bedok for the absolute best Cheng Tng. Alternatively, head down to a dedicated dessert stall called 88 Shan Ren Cold & Dessert at Newton Food Centre for a range of traditional local treats.

Skipping dessert in Singapore is an injustice to your taste buds. You need to thoroughly enjoy these sweet treats to understand the city-state’s cultural and ethnic diversity. Whether it’s a fluffy pandan cake, chewy and satisfying Kueh, or a crunchy ice cream sandwich, you’ll be amazed by the sweet delights that Singapore has to offer.