A durian in any other form would taste just as good. Don’t believe us? Eat your way through our shortlist of the best durian desserts and be won over — modern twists on traditional cakes, buttery cruffins and even flavoured beers!
When it comes to the King of fruits, we know that nothing can beat the real deal. That said, durian season is ephemeral. Thus, it pays to adapt, improvise, and overcome — i.e. durian desserts.
Thankfully, as the F&B industry follows the driving forces of demand and supply, we’re starting to see a rise in durian desserts of all sorts (cue collective sigh of Singaporeans islandwide). So, if you’re on the lookout for something that (i) is easy to eat, (ii) can be savoured all year-round, and (iii) will not make you a social pariah amongst non-durian fans, this list is for you!
Best Durian Desserts In Singapore:
- Ms. Durian
- Durian Lab Cafe
- Chalk Farm
- Keong Saik Bakery
- Four Seasons Durians
- Goodwood Park
- Ah Chew Dessert
- Fruce
- 1925 Brewing Co.
Best Durian Dessert For: Decadent Cakes
1. Ms. Durian
Image credits: Ms. Durian
It takes guts to start a business that specialises in only one product: introducing the aptly named Ms. Durian. Yet don’t let its bold moniker alarm you. This cafe caters to fans of various durian-enthusiasm levels — from light and barely-there durian pudding cups, to their signature, Mao Shan Wang (MSW) durian cheesecakes topped with 24k gold flakes.
Intense and rich, these cakes feature chilled layers of durian filed between fluffy vanilla sponge and Chantilly cream. While it’s not strong enough to leave you feeling overwhelmed, it carries a unique bittersweet twang that durian veterans might enjoy.
Price: From S$12
Visit their website here.
2. Durian Lab Cafe
Image credits: Eatbook
Established by the team over at Ah Seng Durian, one would expect this cafe to carry an equally impressive range of durian desserts on their menu. And they didn’t disappoint!
Go straight for their MSW burnt cheesecake featuring pure Mao Shan Wang puree, cream cheese, and a special four-cheese mixture. If this cheesecake looks and sounds familiar to you, it’s because you’ve probably seen it before at the famed Keong Saik Bakery — who have since taken this item off their online menu. So, if you’ve been hankering for a slice of this goodness, you know where to go!
Price: From S$11
Visit their website here.
3. Chalk Farm
Image credits: Chalk Farm
Even when Instagram-worthy cakes weren’t as sought after, Chalk Farm stood out for their picture-perfect desserts. However, good looks aren’t all they have — Chalk Farm bakes are also known for their quality.
While they nail Eurasian classics like the sugee or chiffon cake, their durian salat is what we’re here for. Retaining the best bits of the local kueh salat, they all but kick it up a notch with a dollop of Mao Shan Wang puree that is blended into the coconut milk custard. This results in a subtle treat that can still pack a punch.
Price: From S$165 for the whole cake
Visit their website here.
Best For: Pastries and Puffs
4. Keong Saik Bakery
Image credits: Keong Saik Bakery
Sitting in one of Singapore’s most spirited creative enclaves, Keong Saik Bakery is well-known for recreating traditional treats using modern techniques. The result is a wide variety of cakes and viennoiserie — plus of course, they were one of the first in Singapore to hop on the burnt cheesecake phenomenon.
This brings us to their MSW Burnt Cheese Cruffin. Picture warm and oozy cheese swirling around with creamy durian in a buttery, flaky encasement that’s pretty much the lovechild of a croissant and muffin.
They sometimes switch up their menu with new exciting flavours, so keep your eye out for updates. Do note that delivery and pick-up slots run out fast, so be sure to order in advance — especially if you’re doing so during the upcoming Hari Raya Haji break!
Price: From S$6.80
Visit their website here.
5. Four Seasons Durians
This joint is not affiliated to the luxury hotel chain, but it isn’t new to the scene either. Four Seasons Durians started way back in the ’70s as a fresh fruit stall but have since honed in on the king of fruits.
Image credits: Four Seasons Durians
You may know them for their light and airy durian cream puffs, or even their freshly prepared durian pancakes — but have you tried their durian crepes? Here, they layer their fluffy sponge cake with a generous dollop of durian puree before wrapping it all up in a buttery layer of crepe. As you can probably imagine, each mouthful would be a divine 80-20 blend of durian and pastry. Yum!
Price: From S$4.50
Visit their website here.
6. Goodwood Park
Image credits: Goodwood Park
What type of dessert feature would this be without a shoutout to good ol’ Goodwood Park? Possibly the OG of all durian desserts, this hotel chain churns out D24 Snowskin Mooncakes and cream puffs like no other.
But of course, instead of spotlighting the icons, we thought it’d be a fine time to explore the newer items from their Durian Fiesta lineup. For instance, the mont blanc-inspired D24 & Sweet Potato-in-Chestnut Tartlets that see swirls of royal purple sweet potato puree peaking above almond tarts filled with non-other than their iconic D24 durian pulp.
Price: From S$44.86 for 6 pieces
Visit their website here.
Best For: Soup Desserts and Drinks (A.K.A. Liquid Gold!)
7. Ah Chew Dessert
Image credits: Ah Chew Desserts
There’s something comforting about a hot bowl of sweet Chinese soup, especially on those cool and rainy nights. However, because those kinda nights are few and far between, we see a lot more of the icy variety — and that’s where Ah Chew Dessert comes in. For the uninitiated, Ah Chew specialises in Chinese desserts like milk pudding, ginkgo barley soup, and everything else in between.
Looking for a refreshing and unadulterated durian dessert? Go straight for their Durian Sago that sees creamy durian puree served with sago and a healthy amount of actual durian chunks.
Price: From S$6.50
Visit their website here.
8. Fruce
If you’re an ardent fan of boba, then Fruce has likely been on your roster. This bubble tea store specialises in incorporating seasonal fruits into their drinks — like this best-of-both-worlds combination: the D24 Durian Avocado drink.
Image credits: Fruce
The epitome of creamy decadence, this drink isn’t for durian purists but it may become your new everyday must-have if a hint of pungency is what you’re looking for. A great way to introduce the king of fruits to friends who might be intimidated by the fruit on its own.
Price: From S$5.50
Visit their website here.
9. 1925 Brewing Co.
We couldn’t write another durian piece without addressing the folklore in the room. You may have heard of this no-no food pairing myth growing up — eating durians and drinking alcohol at the same time can prove fatal. Or at least carry unwanted side effects.
However, the folks behind 1925 Brewing Co. took the myth by its (t)horns and turned it into an opportunity to celebrate the unlikely pairing with durian beer.
Image credits: 1925 Brewing Co.
Best known for their delicious Teochew grub and housemade craft beer, the local gastropub has teamed up with Durian Edition to create a uniquely local drink — the Musang King Ale. With an ABV of 5% and a strong durian aroma, it’s bound to satisfy both craft beer enthusiasts and durian fans alike.
But how does it taste? Well, we don’t want to spoil the surprise — find out for yourself! It is however, quite the crowd favourite, so be sure to get your paws on a bottle before they sell out.
Pro-tip: These bottles might come in handle the next time you order in. For an exotic pairing, check out our Thai snack guide!
Price: S$14.90
Visit their website here.
No Pricks, Just Sweets
While durian desserts may not offer the same multi-sensorial pleasure that comes with cracking open a spikey green husk, they’re still a great way to get your durian fix all year round. We hope this list comes in handy for when those cravings strike!
Whether you choose to dine-in or order a takeaway, don’t forget to check out with your YouTrip card!
Wait — you’ve not gotten your free YouTrip card yet? Here’s our special promo code <DURIAN5> for a free S$5 in your account, on us.
For more great guides like this, join our Telegram Channel (@YouTripSG) and subscribe to our free weekly newsletter here or down below!
Related Articles:
Durian Delivery Services Singapore: Which is the Cheapest?
10 Best Coffee Spots In CBD Singapore To Get Your Caffeine Fix
12 Types of Durians and How to Pick the Best Durian
