Open-faced pineapple tarts recipe
Pineapple Tarts (Open Faced)
Singapore-style open-faced pineapple tarts — buttery shortcrust pastry baked with a sweet-tart, caramelised pineapple ja...
Chinese New Year Goodies: Pineapple Tarts and Love Letters Ranking
A Singapore guide ranking the best Chinese New Year goodies — pineapple tarts and love letters — with where to buy, how we ranked them, and tips for gifting around town.
A truly great pineapple tart is all about the jam-to-pastry ratio — too much jam and the pastry loses its buttery snap.
Love letters are the CNY equivalent of a handwritten note: fragile, crisp and full of nostalgia.
Why pineapple tarts and love letters matter in Singapore’s CNY spread
Pineapple tarts and love letters (kuih kapit) are staples of Chinese New Year in Singapore — they sit on every living-room coffee table alongside kueh lapis and bak kwa when friends and family drop by to ‘makan’ and catch up. The pineapple (旺, wang) symbolises prosperity, while the delicate love letter wafer is a nostalgic reminder of kopitiam afternoons and festive packing sessions.
Across heartlands from Tiong Bahru to Katong, and in baking hubs on Orchard Road and Bugis, you’ll find different takes: buttery enclosed pineapple tarts, buttery-sweet open-faced ones, and love letters that range from ultra-thin crackly rolls to softer, thicker crisps. This article unpacks what to look for — and where to buy them in Singapore.
- Pineapple symbolises prosperity — making the tart an essential CNY gifting item.
- Love letters (kuih kapit) are thin egg-wafer rolls often enjoyed with tea.
- Variations depend on pastry type, jam texture, and baking technique.
How we ranked: taste, texture, and CNY-ready packaging
Our ranking balanced four practical criteria: pastry (crumb vs. melt-in-mouth), pineapple jam (freshness and sweetness balance), presentation (gift-ready boxes and shelf life), and value for price — all judged at bakeries and hawker stalls across Singapore over two festive weeks.
We sampled both sealed ‘golf-ball’ pineapple tarts and open-faced pineapple tarts, plus love letters from artisan bakeries and long-standing household names. Notes were taken for aroma, buttery richness, jam-to-pastry ratio, and whether the treats kept well in Singapore’s humid climate.
- Taste: balance between bright pineapple acidity and caramelised sweetness.
- Texture: shortcrust should be crumbly not greasy; love letters crisp throughout.
- Packaging: resealable tins or vacuum packs extend freshness in humid weather.
- Value: Singapore prices vary widely — taste should justify the splurge.
Top picks around town and what makes them stand out
If you’re after classic, crowd-pleasing flavours for visiting relatives, established bakers in malls and heartland bakeries tend to get the basics right — consistent butteriness, clean jam, and festive boxes. For those who want artisanal twists (pandan pineapple jam, salted egg yolk glazes), boutique bakeries in Tiong Bahru and the CBD are experimenting delightfully.
Love letters are often a bakers’ craft: the best are paper-thin, uniformly golden, and still crackle when you bite. Some places fold in coconut or sesame for texture; others sandwich macaroon-like fillings for novelty CNY hampers.
- Classic favourites: consistent texture and balanced jam.
- Artisan twists: pandan, salted egg, and gula melaka variations.
- Great for gifting: airtight tins and neat dividers in boxes.
Where to buy in Singapore — bakeries, kopitiams and supermarket hacks
For heartland convenience and nostalgia, look to established bakery chains and neighbourhood bakeries near malls and MRT stations. Orchard and Bugis malls stock premium gift tins, while Tiong Bahru and Joo Chiat neighbourhood bakeries focus on small-batch freshness. Hawker centres and kopitiams sometimes sell homemade batches — perfect if you prefer rustic texture.
Supermarkets often carry mass-produced varieties that are budget-friendly and widely available; they’re fine for big gatherings but rarely match the fresh-bake aroma of a neighbourhood bakehouse. If you’re buying several boxes as gifts, ask sellers about shelf life and whether they offer festive gift wrapping.
- Look for small-batch dates on labels — fresher is better in humid Singapore.
- Ask if tins are resealable; humidity can soften biscuits quickly.
- Buy early-bird promos in January — many bakeries offer discounts for bulk orders.
- Check for pandan or salted-egg variants if you want a modern twist.
Simple at-home tips and gifting dos & don’ts
If you’re assembling a CNY hamper or baking at home, choose airtight containers and include a silica gel pack to protect crisps from Singapore’s humidity. For pineapple tarts, store in a cool, dry place and avoid refrigeration which can make shortcrust soggy; love letters keep best in dry tins away from steam.
When gifting, include a small card that lists ingredients (useful for guests with allergies) and wrap boxes in festive red or gold. For visitors from overseas, choose sealed tins that survive travel without losing crispness.
- Do: buy from bakeries that bake daily for best aroma and texture.
- Don't: refrigerate tarts — condensation ruins shortcrust pastry.
- Do: choose resealable tins for longer shelf life in Singapore.
- Don't: assume supermarket equals freshest — check production date.
