If you’re wondering what the traditional dessert for Chinese New Year is, the modern answer in Singapore is simple. Families today celebrate with a wide range of festive goodies such as pineapple tarts, love letters, almond cookies, cashew cookies, green pea cookies and other handcrafted treats. These Chinese New Year desserts have become the centrepiece of every home, snack table and gifting tradition.
While Chinese New Year was once associated with classic heritage sweets, Singaporeans now look forward to beautifully baked goodies that are easy to share, presentable in tins and perfect for hosting guests. Pineapple tarts remain the most iconic and recognisable dessert of the season, and bakeries like Bread Garden have elevated them into premium festive essentials through their CNY Chinese New Year Goodies collection.
This guide explains what people today consider traditional CNY desserts — and why these handcrafted goodies have become must-have treats for every household.
What Are the Most Popular Chinese New Year Desserts Today?
Chinese New Year celebrations have evolved. Instead of older-style sweets, Singaporean households now enjoy a wide selection of modern festive goodies made fresh by specialty bakeries. These are the desserts that appear on almost every table during the CNY season.
1. Pineapple Tarts
Pineapple tarts are widely recognised as the number one Chinese New Year dessert in Singapore. The word pineapple sounds like ong lai in Hokkien, meaning “prosperity is coming,” which makes them a meaningful gift and a symbolic dessert for welcoming the new year.
Bread Garden’s signature Premium Pineapple Tart is especially well loved for its buttery pastry and fragrant handcrafted pineapple filling. Many families order multiple tins because they are always the first to disappear when guests arrive.
2. Love Letters (Kuih Kapit)
Love letters are another beloved Chinese New Year dessert. These thin, crisp wafers are rolled into delicate, crunchy pieces that melt instantly with every bite. Traditionally, their folded shape symbolised messages of goodwill being exchanged during the new year.
Today, they are enjoyed because they are nostalgic, addictive and beautifully presented. Bread Garden’s handcrafted Love Letters (included in many bundles and gift sets such as Fortune Bag A) are known for their light texture and balanced sweetness — a top choice for visiting guests.
3. Almond Cookies
Almond cookies are a Chinese New Year classic. Their crumbly bite and nutty fragrance make them one of the most requested festive cookies. Almonds symbolise smoothness and blessings, which is why these cookies appear in almost every home.
Bread Garden’s almond cookies are baked in small batches to ensure freshness and a rich aroma that stands out among CNY goodies.
4. Cashew Nut Cookies
Cashew cookies are another festive favourite. The golden cashew on top represents abundance and a smooth year ahead. Many families enjoy them because they offer a satisfying mix of buttery dough and roasted nuts.
In the Bread Garden range, the Cashew Nut Cookies are celebrated for their crisp bite and aromatic finish, perfect for pairing with tea or coffee during home visits.
5. Green Pea Cookies
Green pea cookies are a Southeast Asian staple during CNY. Soft, crumbly and slightly savoury with a distinct green pea aroma, they add variety to any snack table.
Bread Garden’s Green Pea Cookies are well known for their melt-in-the-mouth texture and balanced flavour.
6. Honeycomb Cookies
Honeycomb cookies are light, airy and shaped like blooming flowers — a symbol of prosperity during the festive season. Their crisp, hollow structure makes them refreshing among richer, buttery desserts.
Bread Garden’s Honeycomb Cookies are popular among those who enjoy a lighter crunch.
7. Crispy Shrimp Rolls
Although not a sweet dessert, crispy shrimp rolls are one of the most iconic savoury CNY snacks. Their spicy, savoury flavour complements the sweetness of tarts and cookies. They are a must-have for guests who prefer something with more heat and crunch.
Bread Garden’s Hot Chilli Shrimp Rolls are especially sought after for their bold flavour and satisfying crisp.
Why These Desserts Are Now Seen as “Traditional”
In today’s Singaporean celebrations, families focus on:
-
Freshly baked goodies
-
Desserts that are easy to share
-
Festive tins suitable for gifting
-
Flavours enjoyed by both adults and children
-
Items that symbolise wealth, luck and prosperity
Because these cookies, tarts and rolls appear in almost every household and across every generation, they have become the modern desserts people now recognise as traditional for Chinese New Year.
How to Choose the Best Chinese New Year Desserts
Here are useful tips for selecting high-quality CNY goodies:
-
Choose bakeries that bake in small batches
-
Look for a rich buttery aroma
-
Avoid pale or overly dry cookies
-
Pick airtight tins for longer shelf life
-
Order early before popular items sell out
Bread Garden is known for using premium ingredients and handcrafted baking techniques, which is why many customers return annually to shop from their CNY festive collection.
Final Takeaway
The traditional desserts of Chinese New Year have evolved. While older sweets still hold cultural value, modern celebrations in Singapore revolve around premium handcrafted goodies such as pineapple tarts, almond cookies, cashew cookies, love letters, green pea cookies and honeycomb cookies. These treats are meaningful, delicious and now recognised as the essential desserts of every CNY table.
For the freshest, handcrafted festive goodies, explore Bread Garden’s full range here: Bread Garden CNY Chinese New Year Goodies