When it comes to the king of fruits, it’s either you love it or you hate it. And to the ones who love it, there are several dessert options that take the pungent, creamy fruit to the next level.
As a soft serve, piped into a pastry, infused into local desserts or even into a cake, and so much more, durian’s application is basically boundless. If you’re as mad about durian desserts as we are, you’ll be thrilled to know that there is much more than just your average durian puff. Here is our guide on 16 durian desserts in Singapore.
Photo Credit: Ah Chew Desserts
AH CHEW DESSERTS – DURIAN YAM SAGO
A busy day in Bugis might have you craving a cold dessert. For that, the ever popular Ah Chew Desserts sells over 50 choices of traditional and modern Chinese style desserts. For some durian deliciousness, Durian Yam Sago (S$4.90) has a rich creamy puree topped with fresh durian flesh, sago, and bits of yam. This dessert is an almighty version of a bubur cha cha.
#01, 1 Liang Seah St
10/11 Liang Seah Place
Singapore 189032
Tel: +65 6339 8198
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 1.30pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis
Photo Credit: chochochinos
DB BISTRO & OYSTER BAR – DURIAN “ROYALE” SOUFFLÉ
It sounds almost contradictory for “durian” and “light” to be in the same sentence, but DB Bistro & Oyster Bar manages to bring the two together with their Durian “Royale” Soufflé (S$18++). This Mao Shan Wang soufflé has a distinct taste of durian without being too cloying. It also comes with a scoop of refreshing mangosteen sorbet on the side to balance out the flavours and textures.
2 Bayfront Avenue, B1-48
Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
Singapore 018956
Tel: +65 6688 8525
Mon: 12am – 10pm
Tue to Fri: 12pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 11pm
Sun: 11pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Bayfront
Photo Credit: Durian History
DURIAN HISTORY – DURIAN TAPIOCA CAKE
Spotted: fried durian cake. This chewy Durian Tapioca Cake (S$0.80) is the cheapest on our list and sold daily at Durian History. It’s usually hot and melts in your mouth so we understand if it’s a struggle to stop at one. Besides, this corner stall in Chinatown also sells it at three for S$2. If you’ve got tourist friends, point them to this popular spot for a taste of the King of Fruits because they’ve got all sorts of durian desserts and tidbits.
1 Park Road, #01-28
Chinatown People’s Park Complex
Singapore 059108
Mon to Fri: 12.30am – 12am
Sat & Sun: 1.30pm –1am
Nearest Station: Chinatown
Photo Credit: hateedumpty
JI DE CHI – DURIAN STICKY RICE ROLL
Ji De Chi makes durian feasting convenient with their many outlets. But for a different treat, try their Durian Sticky Rice Roll (S$6.90). Semi-frozen durian flesh is stuffed into a chewy glutinous rice flour roll that’s covered in desiccated coconut, making it rich and creamy sweet. Their Durian Pomelo Sago (S$7.90) is popular with durian paste that’s thick like durian pengat mixed with sago and pomelo then topped with a scoop of durian purée. There’s still Durian Serradura (S$5.90) and Durian Snowy Ice (S$7.90) to complete your trip.
8 Liang Seah Street, #01-03
Liang Seah Court
Singapore 189029
Tel: +65 6339 9928
Mon to Thu & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11.50pm
Nearest Station: Bugis
Photo Credit: thomasteo_sg
JI XIANG CONFECTIONERY – DURIAN ANG KU KUEH (SEASONAL)
Hand-crafted ang ku kuehs are a rare find but Ji Xiang Confectionery still soldiers on since 1988. They maintain thin skins and generous mung bean fillings which give you a taste of yesteryear. Durian Ang Ku Kueh (S$1.70) is a seasonal treat and its price largely depends on the market. They have other updated flavours too like corn (S$0.90) and coconut (S$0.90) but if, for you, old is gold there are sweet bean (S$0.90), salted bean (S$0.90), peanut (S$0.90), and yam (S$1) flavours to add to the colourful collection.
1 Everton Park, #01-33
Singapore 081001
Tel: +65 6223 1631
Mon to Fri: 8.30am – 5pm
Sat: 8am – 5pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Outram Park
Photo Credit: yvonneleecious
LE CAFE CONFECTIONERY & PASTRY – DURIAN BEAN CURD TART
A number of places offer decent durian egg tarts but only at Le Cafe Confectionery & Pastry can you get Durian Bean Curd Tarts (S$12 for eight pieces). Do the sums and it’s S$1.50 for a piece. Silky smooth soya bean curd is nestled in a buttery pastry with D24 Mao Shan Wang puree on top. Our advice is to have them chilled and if you’re buying, order online or call a day in advance to be extra safe because bean curd tarts are available only after 1pm.
31/33 Mackenzie Road #01-01
Singapore 228686
Tel: +65 6337 2417
Mon to Sat: 10.30am – 7pm
Sun: 10.30am – 4pm
Nearest Station: Rochor
Photo Credit: Sinpopo Brand
SINPOPO BRAND – DURIAN PULUT HITAM CAKE
Discover Durian Pulut Hitam Cake (S$68 for a whole cake) at Sinpopo Brand by the people behind Awfully Chocolate. Creamy durian is served between light gluten-free cake layers that are made purely from black glutinous rice flour. It is flavourful yet moist so you get the essence of the dessert it’s inspired by without it getting cloying too fast.
458 Joo Chiat Rd
Singapore 427671
Tel: +65 6345 5034
Mon to Thu & Sun: 12pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 12pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Dakota
Photo Credit: The Quarters
THE QUARTERS – DURIAN CRÉME BRÛLÉE
The Quarters has a localised crème brûlée that is a rich, creamy-smooth custard made with Mao Shan Wang Durian and topped with a layer of brittle caramelised sugar. As your spoon dredges up their Duriancanboleh custard, its thin layer of the burnt caramel shatters easily. It’s fragrantly saccharine, thick, and sweet with a slight bitterness. This one might even be better than the usual vanilla version.
16 Enggor St, #01-09 Icon Village
Singapore 079717
Tel: +65 6834 4174
Mon to Sun: 10am – 10pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
CHALK FARM – DURIAN SALAT
Chalk Farm’s rendition of the traditional dessert kueh salat comes with a special ingredient: durian. Here, the usual coconut pandan custard is swapped out for a creamy layer of durian custard that is made from Mao Shan Wang durian flesh. Paired with the glutinous rice, the two come together to create an interesting mixture of textures and flavours that go surprisingly well together.
290 Orchard Road
Singapore 238859
Tel: +65 6235 2872
Daily: 10am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
DESSERT FIRST – DURIAN SNOW ICE
If you feel like having your durian cold, you can always try Dessert First’s Durian Snow Ice. The shaved ice dessert is topped with a generous serving of D24 durian flesh as well as a scoop of mouthwatering durian ice cream, making it the perfect dessert to have to combat Singapore’s sweltering heat!
8 Liang Seah Street, #01-04
Singapore 189029
Tel: +65 6333 0428
Mon to Thu: 1pm – 1am
Fri: 1pm – 2am
Sat: 12pm – 2am
Sun: 12pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Bugis
DING DONG – DURIAN ALASKA
Not only does Ding Dong’s Durian Alaska have durian in it, but it also looks like one too! The thorny dessert is essentially a classic Baked Alaska that is given a local twist by using ingredients such as durian kaya, pandan chiffon cake and durian ice cream. The spikes of the dessert are then made with torched pandan meringue. It certainly is one of the more eye-catching desserts on this list!
115 Amoy Street, 01-02
Singapore 069935
Tel: +65 6557 0189
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Telok Ayer
KEONG SAIK BAKERY – MAO SHAN WANG LAVA CROISSANT
If you love pastries as much as we do, you’d be glad to know that Keong Saik Bakery sells these beautiful golden brown Mao Shan Wang Lava Croissants. Each croissant is filled with a generous amount of luscious Mao Shan Wang cream which oozes out when you tear away at the croissants flaky exterior.
41 Keong Saik Road
Singapore 089146
Tel: +65 6909 3199
Daily: 8am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Outram Park
Lokkee’s Fried Durian is a sweet, crispy treat that provides the diner with a symphony of sensations on a whole new level. Here, a deep-fried durian fritter is accompanied by strawberry caviar, popping candy, flecks of flower petals and coconut flakes. The fried durian itself is sweet, velvety and warm like custard and after biting into this piece of heaven, you’d not want to eat durian any other way.
68 Orchard Road #03-01
Plaza, Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 6884 4566
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Dhoby Ghaut
Photo Credit: sawadeethaicuisine
SAWADEE THAI CUISINE – MAO SHAN WANG DURIAN STICKY RICE
We’ve all heard of mango sticky rice, but have you heard of durian sticky rice? If that sounds amazing to you then you’d be glad to know that Sawadee Thai Cuisine has just that. Instead of mango, their Mao Shan Wang Durian Sticky Rice is accompanied by a massive, fleshy chunk of durian.
9 Tan Quee Lan Street
Singapore 188098
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Tel: +65 6238 6833
Nearest Station: Bugis
SPICE BRASSERIE – DURIAN PENGAT WITH STICKY RICE
Durian pengat is one of those durian desserts that will always remain a classic. There are a number of places in Singapore that sell amazing durian pengat but one of our absolute favourites with no doubt has to be the one at Spice Brasserie. Sweet, the way it should be, the velvety smooth dessert boasts a buttery flavour which is a reflection of the high-quality durians that they use, and on top of that, it’s accompanied by sticky rice and salted coconut cream.
181 Kitchener Road
PARKROYAL on Kitchener Road
Singapore 208533
Tel: +65 6428 3160
Daily: 6am – 10.30am, 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Farrer Park
Durian puffs are pretty common and readily available in most places islandwide. However, one of the stalls that set the bar pretty high is Taste Better. The durian puffs here each come with an incredibly generous amount of creamy, pungent filling that tastes (and feels) as buttery sweet as eating the actual fruit itself.
1 Harbourfront Walk
Vivocity, B2-K12
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 8500 4766
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Harbourfront
Words by Melissa Teo & Gin Chua
Edited by Alvin Tan