Barely weeks after introducing its Japanese pancake line to Singapore shelves, Sunshine Bakeries is giving the traditional confection an unapologetically local spin. The homegrown brand has officially revealed its first limited-edition offering: a Mao Shan Wang Durian Dorayaki made with genuine durian pulp.
The snack pairs a light, fluffy pancake batter enriched with Hokkaido milk with a smooth, bittersweet filling crafted entirely from real Mao Shan Wang. Connoisseurs of the King of Fruits will note the characteristic pungent aroma straight out of the packet, followed by the custard-like, sweet-yet-savoury profile. The airy softness of the pancake shell works to cut through the heavy richness of the fruit, making for a balanced grab-and-go teatime bite rather than an overwhelming indulgence.
Putting the snack to the test, even those of us who typically shy away from durian desserts in favour of fresh fruit found little to fault. The filling avoids the cloying, artificial quality common in packaged confectioneries, delivering a remarkably authentic, fragrant richness that feels remarkably close to eating straight from the husk.
The drop builds quickly upon Sunshine’s initial dorayaki rollout, which landed in August with four foundational flavours: Azuki Red Bean, Uji Matcha, Cheese, and Taro. Rather than resting on those staples, the heritage bakery is tapping into Singapore’s enduring obsession with premium durian to anchor its inaugural seasonal release.
“Mao Shan Wang Durian was a natural choice for our first Sunshine Dorayaki limited edition, as it is a flavour Singaporeans instantly recognise and love,” explained Michelle Ang, Chief Marketing Officer at Sunshine Bakeries. “Its distinctive richness creates a satisfying contrast with our soft and fluffy Hokkaido milk pancake. Following our August launch, we wanted to give consumers another reason to keep discovering what Sunshine Dorayaki can be.”
Dating back to 1930, when it started out as a modest shophouse operation in Geylang, Sunshine has long been a fixture of Singapore breakfast tables. While best known for everyday sandwich loaves, this latest foray underscores the 90-year-old baker’s appetite for modern convenience snacks that marry Japanese-style baking with Southeast Asian tastes.
The Sunshine Dorayaki Mao Shan Wang Durian Limited Edition is available for a limited run across major supermarkets, hypermarkets, and convenience stores islandwide, priced at $3.00 each.