A Taste of Southeast Asia: Pandan & Gula Melaka in a Cookie

At Crumbaroo, we’re all about big flavours and nostalgic bakes. Our latest creation is something close to our hearts — a Southeast Asian-inspired delight we call Pandan Gula Melaka Toasted Coconut. It’s bold, buttery, and packed with flavour that tells a story.

Pandan leaves & Gula Melaka – the iconic duo behind our newest cookie flavour.

What’s Pandan, Anyway?

Often described as “Asia’s vanilla,” pandan is a tropical plant with long, fragrant leaves. Its distinct aroma — nutty, floral, and slightly sweet — is the signature scent of many beloved desserts across Southeast Asia. Think pandan sponge cakes, kuih, and of course, the soft green jellies in chendol. In our cookies, it adds a warm, familiar note that instantly feels like home.

What Makes Gula Melaka So Special?

Gula Melaka, sometimes known as palm sugar or gula merah, is a deep, smoky sugar made from the sap of coconut or sugar palm trees. Sold in dark caramel-coloured blocks, it melts into a syrup that’s rich and complex — perfect for drizzling over sago pudding or folding into your favourite sweet bakes.

In this recipe, it’s the heart and soul — giving our gula melaka biscuits a deliciously rich flavour that balances perfectly with the pandan and toasted coconut.

A Southeast Asian Classic, Reimagined

The classic Chendol - sweet pandan jelly, rich Gula Melaka syrup, and velvety coconut milk.

Pandan and gula melaka are a match made in dessert heaven. They’re the stars of many traditional sweets — and we thought it was time they got the Crumbaroo cookie treatment.

So we took our signature dough, folded in the rich notes of toasted coconut, and stuffed it with a gooey centre infused with pandan and gula melaka butter cookie goodness. The result? Chewy, golden cookies with a fragrant kick and just the right amount of sweetness.

Do Cookies Have a Lot of Sugar?

It’s a fair question. While most cookies lean on sugar for flavour and texture, our pandan gula melaka cookies use gula melaka — a natural sweetener that brings more than just sweetness. It’s about richness, depth, and a subtle smokiness you won’t get from white sugar. So yes, there’s sugar — but with a little more soul.

Coming Soon: A Taste You Won’t Forget

Whether you’ve been searching high and low for gula melaka cookies near you, or you’re just curious about the magic behind a truly unique gula melaka cookies recipe, Crumbaroo’s got you covered. One bite and you’ll see why we’re so excited to share this one.

Launching soon at our market stalls and online at crumbaroo.com — trust us, you don’t want to miss it 💚