Explore The Vibrant Flavours Of Raya In Singapore With These Delicious Traditional & Modern Hari Raya Kuih
We’re pretty blessed to live in a country that celebrates all the local festivities, be it Hari Raya, the Lunar New Year, Diwali, and even Christmas! So it’s no surprise that each festive celebration comes with its share of scrumptious delicacies - yes, just like Hari Raya’s famed kuih raya.
Hari Raya, also known as Eid al-Fitr (Eid), marks the end of Ramadan, a month-long fasting period where Muslims worldwide offer additional prayers and reflect. As the vibrant festivities of Hari Raya draw near, anticipation fills the air alongside the aroma of spices and sweet scents wafting from the kitchens of homes, eateries, bakeries, and yes, your favourite Ramadan bazaars included!
While joyous reunions and community celebrations are naturally part of the festivities, one aspect that really brings everyone together and embodies the essence of Hari Raya, is most certainly the delectable kuih raya. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a home without jars and containers of yummy snacks like cookies and cakes made with fresh and premium ingredients (and love!) laying in wait for Hari Raya open house guests and family members alike.
Should you find yourself planning to bring a batch of delightful Hari Raya cookies to an upcoming open house, or perhaps to try some for yourself, look no further. We’ve compiled a list of the top modern and traditional kuih raya pastries for you to try this raya that your friends and loved ones will surely enjoy for the occasion!
Top 21 Modern & Traditional Hari Raya Cookies & Cakes You Must Try
1. Pineapple Tarts
Pineapple tarts may be a mainstay for Lunar New Year, but did you know that these buttery and sweet bite-sized cookies are also a popular and staple treat during Eid?
Rolled pineapple tarts. Photo by Wiki Farazi.
Pineapple tarts, also known as tart nenas in the Malay language, often come in the traditional shape of an open-faced tart, rolled-up morsels, or in the modern rendition of a completely enclosed round ball.
They are delightfully buttery and filled with pineapple jam to complete it with a dose of sweet tanginess.
2. Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate chip cookies are a classic that many enjoy. It’s one of the most popular kuih raya that kids and adults alike both love, making it a truly wonderful kuih raya that brings both young and old together.
These days you’ll find both the traditional chocolate chip cookies and the more modern sea salt dark chocolate chip cookies that sometimes come with nuts too. Some modern options also come with a burst of chocolate lava at its core because extra chocolate is never a bad thing. ;)
3. Almond Cookies
Almond cookies also take the spot as one of the top kuih raya to try. They are not only delightfully buttery with a nice crispy texture, but they are also crumbly and will melt in your mouth so one is never enough!
They are typically made with almond flour with ground almonds within. More luxurious options typically feature a whole almond embedded on top, or a few chopped almond flakes to complete the look. This is definitely a must-try for nut lovers.
4. Peanut Cookies
Think of peanut cookies as the peanut version of almond cookies where ground peanuts are used instead of ground almonds. They are also traditionally known as Mazola cookies or biskut Mazola because of how that particular corn oil is often used to bake peanut cookies during Raya.
Peanut cookies are often crumbly and tend to melt in your much like its almond cookie counterpart, but these days they come filled with peanut butter within for that extra hit of peanuts, or with a melty peanut butter core (similar to chocolate lava cookies). So those who aren’t a fan of the slightly drier nature of almond cookies may probably enjoy peanut cookies!
5. Dahlia Cookies
Dahlia cookies are also known as kuih semperit, and these are hugely favoured for its buttery and crumbly texture. Dahlia cookies are essentially Malay butter cookies that are piped into beautiful flowers with a slight swirl, which often topped with a red dot in the middle with either food colouring or a small bit of glazed red cherry. Some even replace the dot with chocolate chips!
Sometimes they are made with milk powder, which gives it an added milky flavour alongside the already fragrant butter taste. These are often called semperit susu, with susu meaning “milk” in Malay. Modern alternatives of Dahlia cookies include infusing it with coffee, which is fondly known by Singaporeans as kopi siu dai cookies.
6. Tapioca Cookies, a.k.a. Kuih Bangkit
Bengawan Solo fans will be screaming here - kuih bangkit is one of their most popular cookies especially during Hari Raya and with great reason. These traditional kuih raya are made from tapioca flour, sugar, coconut cream, and egg yolks, resulting in a creamy and rich coconut taste while giving it a crumbly and melt-in-your-mouth texture.
Kuih bangkit is usually a must-have during Hari Raya celebrations and is often favoured by the family’s elders as a timeless traditional kuih raya. Did you know that they also come in classic cute animal forms or common flower shapes depending on the baking mould used?
That said, these cookies can be on the drier side because of the tapioca flour so remember to have a cup of water or your favourite raya thirst quencher nearby while you indulge in it!
7. Kuih Makmur
While it isn’t as iconic as pineapple tarts and peanut cookies, kuih makmur is still one of the more popular hari raya cookies available. Kuih makmur is essentially a melt-in-your-mouth pastry that looks like little snowballs or little oval seashells dusted in icing sugar that are filled with sweet peanut filling.
A fun thing about these bite-sized treats lies not just in its flavour and texture, but also in its name because makmur means “successful” or “prosperous” in Malay and Indonesian!
8. Cornflake Cookies
Cornflake cookies are a staple in most Malay households when it comes to Hari Raya cookies (they’re also my personal favourite!). These cookies are delightful kuih raya treats that are made by coating cornflakes in a mixture of flour, butter, sugar, a hint of vanilla, and very rarely milk powder.
It is then baked into a golden crispy cookie that delivers a delightful sweet, buttery crunch with each bite thanks to the cornflakes - which is what makes cornflake cookies one of the most beloved Hari Raya treats in Singapore.
9. Nutella Tart Cookies
Nutella tarts are a sweet recent addition to the array of staple kuih raya modern variations. They are little tarts made with a mouthwatering combination of butter, flour, and sugar in just the right ratios that give it a buttery, crumbly texture.
It’s then filled with the smooth and fan-favourite indulgent Nutella filling that we all know and love. This is one cookie that will send sweet tooths into a frenzy with its yummy balance of chocolatey nuttiness!
10. Beehive Cookies, a.k.a. Loyang Cookies
I’m very sure everyone will recognise these crisps! Loyang cookies are also known as beehive cookies because of their distinctive beehive-like appearance. They are traditionally made from a liquid mixture of flour, sugar, eggs, and coconut milk, which is then coated on a special metal mould and deep fried in oil until golden brown.
11. Horseshoe Cakes, a.k.a. Tapak Kuda
Tapak kuda literally translates into “horse’s hoof” in Malay. This uniquely named kuih raya is a rolled cake that resembles a hoofprint. It consists of a thin layer of sponge cake or chiffon cake that is layered with chocolate, jam, or cream made from condensed milk, then rolled into a log shape before it is sliced into the tapak kuda slices we typically see sold outside.
12. Sugee Biscuits, a.k.a. Biskut Suji
This is one well-loved Hari Raya cookie in both Singapore and Malaysia. Sugee biscuits are traditional cookies made primarily from a mix of semolina flour (also known as sugee flour), butter, sugar, and eggs. These little bites feature a crumbly texture with a rich, buttery flavour that is often enhanced with extra finely chopped almonds or cashews for a nutty crunch.
13. Dodol
Think mochi, only more gooey and stickier. Dodol is a traditional confectionery that is popular in Southeast Asia, especially in Singapore and Malaysia for the festive season. It is made by boiling a combination of coconut milk, gula melaka or palm sugar, and glutinous rice flour over low heat for a couple of hours until you get a thick and sticky heap, similar to the consistency of honey.
Dodol is ultimately a dense, chewy treat with a caramel-like flavour and a hint of coconut, though you may also find some variations with added pandan or durian flavour and bits for that extra bit of richness and fragrance.
Fun Fact: Did you know that making dodol is now easier than ever with a non-stick casserole? Try it today with the Cosmo Casserole in a stunning colour of your choice!
14. Kuih Bahulu
I like to think of kuih bahulu as little flower cakes, sometimes little tortoise cakes because they’re often shaped like one or the other. Kuih bahulu are bite-sized cakes that are made from a simple batter of eggs, sugar, honey, and flour, which is then often flavoured with pandan or vanilla.
These little cakes are traditionally baked in specific moulds that give it its distinctive tortoise shaped or flower-shaped appearance. It’s popular during Hari Raya and you can typically find a generous serving of it packed in a transparent disposable container in your nearest supermarkets.
I’d recommend having these with coffee or Milo on the side as they can sometimes be a little dry depending on how it is prepared and stored. That said, these are classic kuih raya that are a must-have in any Raya open house.
15. London Almond
No list of kuih raya is complete without the ever popular London almond! These chocolatey treats consist of a whole almond encased in a buttery cookie dough that is baked until golden brown and crispy. Once baked and cooled, the cookies are coated in chocolate with a light drizzle of crushed almonds on its surface right at the centre.
This gets you an incredibly decadent treat with a crunch exterior and a rich, chocolatey and nutty flavour. London almonds are a guaranteed fan-favourite among the young and old as one of the most timeless and delicious traditional Hari Raya cookies (especially if they have a sweet tooth!).
16. Ant’s Nest Cookies, a.k.a. Biskut Sarang Semut
You’re probably thinking “what kind of a weird name is this?”. Biskut sarang semut is named aptly for its unique bite-sized and fun textured appearance that looks similar to an ant‘s nest.
It’s made by mixing flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, then refrigerating the dough before grating the chilled dough with a grater to form its nest-like appearance, with a sprinkle of rainbow or chocolate sprinkles on top of each cookie to complete it. Once baked, these cookies have a crispy texture and a soft, crumbly mouth-feel which makes it simply delightful.
17. Kuih Tiram
Kuih tiram looks like it could be a spring roll, but it isn't. These are deep fried crispy cookies that feature multiple layers within its mini swiss roll-like form which delivers an addictive crunch that leaves you craving for more.
It tastes similar to how a deep fried spring roll’s shell would taste, only with the addition of castor sugar coating its exterior.
18. Crispy Peanut Fritters, a.k.a. Rempeyek Kacang
Rempeyek kacang is a popular crispy cracker that is made from a batter consisting of rice flour, ikan bilis (anchovies), peanuts, and certain spices like coriander seeds or circumin for a spicy hint.
It’s known for its crunchy texture and savoury flavour with a hint of spice from the extra seasonings, and it is often served as a pre or post-dinner snack during festive gatherings.
19. Checkerboard Cookies, a.k.a. Biskut Dam
Checkerboard cookies are fun little treats that feature a contrast of two different colours, typically brown and beige, which creates a checkered pattern. The cookies are essentially butter cookies made with cocoa powder to create the contrasting appearance, but contrary to most butter cookies found here, these are a little firmer to the bite.
20. Love Letters, a.k.a. Kuih Kapit
Love letters are not to be confused with Julie’s ready-made rolled love letters. These love letters, also known as kuih kapit, are thin and crispy cookies that have an eggy flavour with a hint of coconut fragrance.
Kuih kapit cookies are made in a similar process to beehive biscuits, where its batter is poured onto special moulds. Only love letters are cooked over an open flame until they come out golden brown and a little soft, of which they are then rolled into cylindrical shapes or folded into little envelopes, which is where its name comes from.
21. Layer Cake, a.k.a. Kek Lapis or Kuih Lapis
Layer cake, also known as kek lapis in Malay, is a beloved delicacy and luxurious hallmark of most Hari Raya celebrations in Singapore. Layer cakes are characterised by the many intricate layers of vibrant colours and flavours that make up its form, each meticulously stacked to create a visually stunning and delicious cake.
It’s one of the toughest cakes to bake (even more tedious than mille crepes!) because each layer is baked individually before being assembled to form the final cake. You’ll often find it in flavours such as pandan, chocolate, or spiced with cinnamon and cardamom. Some even come with prunes on it, which is a classic Indonesian version of the famous layer cake!
