Traditionally an ode to the harvest moon, the mid-autumn festival signifies prosperity and reunion for the family. Mooncakes, on the other hand, celebrate completeness and unity. Ahead of September 29, we’ve gathered 10 exquisite creations to enjoy with your loved ones. From luxurious treats filed with nourishing bird’s nest to boozy renditions inspired by cocktails, these sweet pastries will have you over the moon.
1. Superior Bird’s Nest with Golden Custard Paste and Orangeat, WOK°15 Kitchen
Savour this decadent snow skin creation from WOK°15 Kitchen, which features the finest Asian-inspired ingredients. The mooncake is filled with Imperial Bird’s Nest, said to be good for the skin; candied orange peel for a hint of tang, and finally; silky-smooth golden custard paste.
2. Sakura & Raspberry Truffle Snow Skin Mooncake, Raffles Singapore
Raffles Singapore may be famous for its champagne truffle snow skin mooncake but here’s a worthy contender. Inspired by the Sakura Sling cocktail from the Long Bar, this snow skin mooncake incorporates the delicate flavours of fresh raspberries with the sweet floral notes of cherry blossoms.
3. Kuromitsu Sea Salt Mooncake, Janice Wong
Known for her imaginative desserts, award-winning pastry chef Janice Wong has launched a series of Japan-inspired mooncakes this year. Inspired by flavours from street festivals (matsuris), the kuromitsu sea salt mooncake balances black sugar with a touch of subtle saltiness.
4. Mixed Nuts with Satay Peanut Sauce Baked Mooncake, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore
This year, The Fullerton Hotel Singapore has launched The Clifford Pier Mooncake Tingkat (90th Anniversary Edition) as an ode to the bustling hawker scene that surrounded the pier in its older days. The highlight is the mixed nuts with satay peanut sauce baked mooncake, which offers a local twist to the classic Cantonese mixed nuts mooncake.
5. Baked Lychee White Lotus Mooncake, Yàn
Honouring timeless baked mooncakes, Cantonese restaurant Yàn has launched various creations presented in eco-friendly paper boxes, including the baked lychee white lotus mooncake. White lotus paste is infused with refreshing lychee, adding a nuanced and fruity undertone to the traditional treat.
6. Lemon Nasu Mooncake, Hashida
Showcasing both Singaporean and Japanese cultures, chef Kenjiro Hashida‘s debut mooncakes are a creative take on geppei, a Japanese pastry shaped like a moon. The Lemon Nasu mooncake is a must-try with its smooth white bean paste, honey, and lemon peel infused with Japanese eggplant.
7. Luxury Mooncake Box, Manhattan Bar x Roku Gin
A real treat for gin lovers, Manhattan Bar and Roku Gin have teamed up to launch a resplendent mooncake gift set limited to just 200. Inside, eight mini lotus paste snow skin mooncakes await, each featuring chocolate cores filled with Roku gin. These are accompanied by a Purple Moon bottled cocktail by Manhattan Bar, alongside two sake cups.
8. Grape Mousse Mooncake, Tablescape
From Tablescape‘s photo-worthy My Moonlit Garden collection comes the whimsical grape mousse mooncake. These snow skin mooncakes are filled with grape yoghurt mousse piped over a vanilla chiffon cake base. Sweet yet tangy, this modern take on the mooncake pairs well with coffee.
9. Matcha Black Sesame Mooncake, Hilton Singapore Orchard
Featuring finely ground matcha powder and roasted black sesame seeds, this sweet and nutty creation is a highlight from Hilton Singapore Orchard‘s baked mooncake collection. The mooncakes come in a two-tiered emerald green drawer wrapped in botanical-inspired furoshiki cloth. Scan the box with your phone to reveal an animated garden.
10. Lychee Martini Snow skin Mooncake, Fairmont Singapore
Cocktail aficionados will appreciate Fairmont Singapore‘s range of alcohol-infused snow skin mooncakes, which come in flavours like Baileys Irish cream, lychee martini, and grape soju. Inspired by the classic vodka cocktail, the lychee martini mooncake is a delight with its blend of luscious lychee and martini.
11. Pistachio Snow skin Mooncake, THE CAPITOL KEMPINSKI HOTEL SINGAPORE
Making a debut this year is the pistachio snow skin mooncake, a crisp and nutty treat encased in soft snow skin. Perfect for the health-conscious, the mooncakes from Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore are all low in sugar. Flavours can be handpicked across both baked and snow skin selections to create a bespoke gift box.
12. Chestnut with Exceptionally Singapore Tea and Almond baked mooncake, Mandarin Oriental Singapore
Elevating the traditional pairing of mooncakes with tea, Mandarin Oriental introduces a new fragrant creation featuring its exclusive “Exceptionally Singapore” tea blend. This mooncake, with its nutty flavour and sweet, fragrant hint of orchid, represents a refined twist on a classic favourite. Each baked mooncake is individually packed in tin boxes, elegantly presented in single or two-tiered boxes adorned with floral accents that echo the mural in the hotel’s recently refreshed lobby.
