8 Dishes That Prove You Need To Get On The Ondeh-Ondeh Trend

The classic Malay kueh, ondeh-ondeh, has been getting a number of makeovers. By deconstructing and innovating the core flavours found in our favourite glutinous sweet potato rice ball, the result is a variety of dessert options that echo the same coconut and palm sugar fragrance that we have all grew to love. If you’re a ondeh-ondeh fan like us, you’ll be happy to know that we’ve hunted down these ondeh-ondeh inspired items that’ll have you falling in love with your favourite kueh all over again.

1. Collective Brewers

Sweet dreams are certainly made of food like these. The ‘Ondeh Ondeh’ Pancake ($14) comprise of alternating layers of pandan infused buttermilk pancakes and shredded coconut with melted palm sugar coating, and comes with a side of vanilla ice cream for an icy deconstructed ondeh-ondeh sweet treat. Each bite comes punctuated with coconut shreds and intense sweetness from the palm sugar, while the warm pancake and vanilla ice cream come together to approximate the oozing center of an ondeh-ondeh. The result is a dish that has done a pretty good job translating our favourite traditional dessert into our favourite breakfast food.

2. Churros Factory

Hopping on the ondeh-ondeh bandwagon is the Ondeh Ondeh Churros ($9 with a scoop of vanilla ice cream) that comes with a generous sprinkle of desiccated coconut. The churros were deep fried with a crispy exterior with a soft center, and the batter felt light. But the lack of pandan and coconut flavour left something to be desired – we would have liked the neon green churros to come packed with more pandan fragrance.

3. Three Cups Coffee Co.

Packed with people working in the CBD area, the slice of Ondeh Ondeh Cake ($9) that we had was an exciting perk-me-up to combat the humdrum routine at work. They might come in distinct layers of pandan cake spiced with palm sugar and coconut buttercream, but the layers worked together really well to achieve that distinctive flavour profile in ondeh-ondehs. We also liked how there were small shards of palm sugar crystals embedded within the cake, lending the cake some unexpected crumbly surprise when biting into it.

4. Hyde & Co.

Hyde & Co.’s attempt at modernising ondeh-ondeh through their Ondeh Ondeh French Toast ($12) was certainly a successful one. The thick slices of brioche french toast made for the perfect canvas for the grated pandan coconut and scoop of vanilla bean ice cream, but the glue that tied the whole dish together was the gula melaka drizzle that helped elevate the dish to another level.

5. And All Things Delicious

There’s a lot of pressure and expectations to uphold when you call your cafe ‘And All Things Delicious’, and the Gula Melaka Scone ($3.50) that we had was certainly delicious. This quintessential English tea time snack is given a Asian makeover with the gula melaka glaze drizzled over their freshly baked scone. The sweetness from the palm sugar pairs well with the flaky and buttery pastry, but we would have preferred ours to come with a little more glaze.

6. ButterScotch

The core components of an ondeh-ondeh makes a guest appearance in everyone’s favourite dessert combination of ice cream and waffles with ButterScotch’s rendition of Ondeh Ondeh Waffles ($12). The neon green pandan waffle was served with a scoop of ice cream and topped with coconut flakes and gula melaka sauce, and the results makes for a compelling case for replicating the flavours in an ondeh-ondeh. It gets a green light from us, but share this immensely sweet dessert with a friend or two.

7. Fluff Bakery

Lady luck was shining at us as we managed to get a slice of Ondeh Ondeh cake ($6.50) from Fluff Bakery. Soft, fluffy & familiar pandan chiffon cake is sandwiched between layers of buttercream and coconut shreds. Every bite oozes the scrumptious Gula Melaka fillings. Oooomph… Do remember to check their social media pages for daily flavour offerings to avoid disappointment. Sometimes, they bake ondeh ondeh cupcakes as well.

8. Dessert Project

Thick toast are certainly everywhere right now, and the ondeh-ondeh flavour trend has caught up with this new food trend. By replicating the flavours found in an ondeh-ondeh, the Gula Melaka Coconut thick toast ($14.90) comes with a buttered base, topped with coconut ice cream, desiccated coconut and a drizzle of gula melaka syrup for good measure. Certainly a dish meant for sharing, we liked how the salted butter served as a nice contrast to the otherwise sweet dessert.

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