The Butter Baked Rice Cake from Swee Heng 1989 Classic had me visiting several Swee Heng bakeries before I finally spotted it at Woodleigh Mall. This little treasure isn’t available everywhere, and they never mention which outlets actually stock it.
Finding the Elusive Butter Baked Rice Cake
After going to several Swee Heng bakeries with no luck, I finally found the Butter Baked Rice Cake at Swee Heng at Woodleigh Mall. Here’s the thing – it’s only available at selected outlets, but they never tell you which ones have it. I wasn’t actively hunting for it, just stumbled upon it during a regular bakery visit.
A quick chat with the staff cleared things up. Swee Heng 1989 Classic and Swee Heng Bakery are actually two different retail concepts under the same parent company. The former operates mainly in shopping centres, whilst the latter focuses on residential neighbourhoods. According to the staff, the Butter Baked Rice Cake is available at most Swee Heng 1989 Classic outlets.
So if you pass by a Swee Heng in a mall, pop in and check if they have this treat.
What You’ll Find
Display and Pricing
You’ll find the Butter Baked Rice Cake placed on a basket tray by the counter. There’s an ongoing promotion: Buy 4 Get 1 Free at $1 each, which basically works out to 5 pieces for $4.
The rice cakes are shaped like chestnuts. They’re not massive – you can pop the whole thing into your mouth if it’s big enough. The outside has a darker colour, like a lovely caramelised crust.
Texture That Surprises
What impressed me most? The outside stays crispy despite sitting out for some time. Inside, it’s springy and chewy, just like mochi. The sweetness level isn’t overwhelming either – they’ve got the balance spot on.
Yes, they’re oily and buttery, but that’s exactly what makes them so fragrant. The butter aroma hits you before you even take a bite.
Why Swee Heng Beats the Competition
I must say Swee Heng’s version of this Butter Baked Rice Cake is way better than Bao’s Pastry’s ones. The reason? Swee Heng uses salted butter, which gives it more flavour depth.
Plus, they’re more generous with the butter quantity. This creates way more fragrance and makes the outside more crispy.
My Honest Take
This Butter Baked Rice Cake is really delicious and absolutely worth trying. The combination of crispy exterior and chewy interior, enhanced by that fragrant salted butter, creates something quite special.
Writing this review has me craving them again. I’ll definitely be heading back to grab another 10 pieces soon. At 5 for $4 during the current promotion, it’s almost silly not to stock up.
If you’re a fan of mochi-like textures with a buttery twist, the Butter Baked Rice Cake from Swee Heng 1989 Classic should be on your must-try list. Just remember to check the mall outlets first – that’s where you’re most likely to find these little gems.