The prettiest and most creative mooncake boxes for gifting

The Mid-autumn Festival lands on Sept 10 this year, and if you’re looking for mooncakes for gifting, here’s a roundup of beautiful and novel mooncake boxes to have on your radar.

In case you’re concerned about the boxes going to waste once you’ve devoured the luscious creations within, many of them double as vanity cases, elegant storage containers, and even a tote bag, too.

Oriental floral boxes, Conrad Centennial Singapore

From a latticed facade to a gold handle and little drawers, Conrad Centennial Singapore’s Oriental-style mooncake boxes are ones we’d save for storing knick-knacks (or snacks for the upcoming Lunar New Year).

The exterior of the box’s also covered in satin fabric to resemble the reflection of a glimmering full moon, with intricate motifs of fabled birds and flowers to symbolise optimism, serenity, and health.

For fans of snow skin mooncakes, the hotel has launched two new flavours, Ondeh Ondeh and Cranberry Cheese, alongside its crowd favourite Royal Chocolate Hazelnut Crunch and Green Tea snow skin mooncakes. And if you prefer baked confections, then there are classics like premium white lotus paste with single and double salted egg yolk to sink your teeth into.

Prices start from $88 for a box of four Traditional White Lotus with Melon Seeds mooncakes. Order here.

Vanity box mooncake gift sets, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

Designed to function as travel-sized vanity cases, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s mooncake boxes come in white embossed leather with floral motifs, or in burgundy with a crocodile print, depending on the flavours you choose.

Each features five pockets for stashing makeup brushes as well as two compartments with zips to house your favourite cosmetics. Adorned with a personalised luggage tag, the vanity case can be carried by the short handle, or by attaching your own shoulder sling to the box.

Apart from the hotel’s signature Lycheetini mini snow skin mooncakes that combine real lychee bits with the same fruit liqueur, and creamy ‘Mao Shan Wang’ durian snow skin mooncakes, a new flavour to look forward to this year is the Black Sesame with White Lotus Seed Paste and Roasted Walnuts baked mooncake.

Prices start from $82 for eight mini snow skin mooncakes. Order here.

Glowing Lights Mooncake Gift Set, Lady M

Lady M’s mooncake box design this year stars a glowing rotating lantern with a golden rabbit charm perched at the top that’s sure to set the mood for the occasion.

Inside, you’ll find a series of mini snow skin mooncakes crafted in partnership with Kee Wah Bakery. There are two of each flavour: Coffee Caramel, Earl Grey, and Purple Yam Custard. There’s also a gift bag, custom greeting card, and envelope.

Lady M Glowing Lights Mooncake Gift Set is at $78. Order here.

Tugether Again Mooncake Basket, Sunday Folks

Dessert and ice cream cafe Sunday Folks’ adorable bunny-shaped mooncakes have made a return this year, packed with shiro-an (white-bean) filling and yuzu zest. And they come in chic bamboo baskets with vegan leather straps that we’d happily tote to the market, bring out on a picnic or as storage for essentials or fresh produce.

Each basket contains six individual mooncake boxes packed in a nylon dust bag, which can be used separately from the basket.

The Tugether Again Mooncake Basket is priced at $88. Order here.

Monopoly Mooncake Street Smart Edition set, Mdm Ling Bakery

Festive eats meet beloved board game with Mdm Ling Bakery’s Monopoly Mooncake Street Smart Edition mooncake box. Designed to transform into a Monopoly game set, it’s inspired by and features some of the world’s most beautiful streets.

Encased within are four separate tins and you can choose from a crowd-pleasing selection of four mooncake series, from the baked cookie-inspired Yummilicious series to the Lavalicious series with oozy centres.

The Monopoly Street Smart Mooncake Game Box is at $118 per box. Order here. 

Intricate boxes and tote bags, The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

Order any of  The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore’s mooncake sets this year, and you can choose between a red Kempinskin Red Tin Box or a Jade Treasure Box (jewellery box) emblazoned with motifs depicting the hotel’s heritage and history.

You can also add on a stylish tote bag (an additional $58) available in red or blue, and decked with the same motifs.

Its mooncakes this year run the gamut from Matcha Mochi to the Valrhona & Plantation 1840 Truffle, Champagne Truffle, Lychee Rose, Mao Shan Wang Durian, Pandan Paste and White Lotus with Egg Yolk.

From $74 for a box of eight mixed mini baked mooncakes. Order here.

Boxes that double as a tea stand and mooncake tray, JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

This Mid-autumn festival, JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach draws on the hotel’s iconic microclimatic canopy facade for the contemporary motifs you see on its mooncake packaging.

That’s not all — the boxes (available in Ocean Blush and Coral Blue) can be transformed into a designer tea stand and a functional mooncake tray, too. Each premium gift box comes with a canister of Tie Guan Yin tea, a perfect pairing with sweet treats.

Those with an adventurous palate can consider the Nyonya Gula Melaka with Pandan Paste mooncake, while traditionalists will like the Double Yolk White Lotus Paste baked mooncake.

From $88 for a box of four baked mooncakes. Order here.

Roku Gin x Janice Wong Snow Skin Mooncake Collection

For boozy mooncakes, look no further than this two-tiered gift set in a vivid red hue that’s a tie-up between dessert maven Janice Wong and Roku Gin.

On the top tier, you’ll find a reusable metal tin with a rabbit-themed design, which houses eight snow skin creations infused with Roku Gin. Inside: Sakura Strawberry Gin, Bergamot Yuzu Gin, and Matcha Lemon Thyme Gin mooncakes.

The bottom tier can be swivelled out to reveal a 200ml bottle of Roku Gin along with two ceramic cups.

At $138 per box. Order here.

The Gilded Collection, The St. Regis Singapore

The St. Regis Singapore’s Cantonese restaurant Yan Ting is sending out its mooncakes elegantly housed in glass boxes, with a choice of the glittery Gilded Gold design or the Resplendent Silver-Violet box decorated with vibrant blooms.

New mooncakes to sample this year: a flavourful and fragrant Pandan Paste with Melon Seeds Traditional Baked Mooncake as well as the Royal Milk Tea Paste with Irish Coffee Truffle snow skin mooncake.

From $80+ for a box of baked mooncakes. Order here.

Meowsketeer Trio set, Cat & The Fiddle

Cat & The Fiddle has reimagined some of our favourite local drinks as mooncakes — think Bandung, Kopi Gao and Teh Peng.

The box itself is an ode to Singapore’s ubiquitous HDB flats as well as kopitiams, splashed with with quirky illustrations of these local icons. Each mooncake series also comes with a PVC ‘Kopi Da Bao’ bag. While stocks last.

$68.90 for a box of six mooncakes. Order here.

Floral mooncake boxes, Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

Crowne Plaza’s mooncake boxes come dressed in vivid hues with floral filigree, which represent hope and success, that’ll bring cheer to any Mid-Autumn celebration. Or turn it into a lantern with an LED (for safety reasons) candle.

Dig into unique snow skin mooncake flavours such Lotus Biscoff Hokkaido Milk, Oreo Cheese, Tiramisu, and Yuzu Mango Hokkaido Milk, or go down the trad route with baked confections like White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk or the Low-Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts mooncake.

From $74 for a box of four white lotus single yolk baked mooncakes. Order here.

This article was first published in The Singapore Women's Weekly.