Time to find the top 5 desserts in Penang if your a dessert lover and love indulging after meals.
Penang boasts a rich culinary heritage and diverse dessert options from its multicultural inhabitants.
While coffee, pastries, and ice cream dominate George Town’s modern culinary scene, the older artisanal pastries and sweets remain timeless.
The island offers a delectable, sweet journey that encompasses icy soupy desserts, pancakes, fried dough bites, and durian-flavoured treats!
The best desserts in Penang are sure to delight and surprise as you explore this curated list by SmartDory.
Penang is truly a paradise for dessert lovers.
Top 5 Desserts in Penang
Most of us tend to associate desserts with sweets like chocolates, candy, cakes, and ice cream.
However, Malaysian desserts are a whole different beast in a country known as a melting pot of cultures.
It’s no surprise that the sweet treats, born from this fusion of cultures, are not only unique but also incredibly delicious.
You can even enjoy an entire meal dedicated to desserts!
Most Penang desserts use natural native ingredients such as the iconic Gula Melaka, pandan leaves (for flavoring), local fruit, santan (coconut milk), glutinous rice, and butterfly pea flowers (for color).
Penang’s top desserts are a delicious blend of local and international influences, shaped by the island’s rich multicultural heritage.
Here are 5 of the top desserts in Penang that highlight this diversity of flavors and textures, perfect for visitors.
On a hot and humid day in Penang, these two outstanding desserts take top place as sweet, creamy, and refreshing treats that double up as thirst quenchers.
Some may argue about the ranking between Cendol and Ais Kacang.
But if you love an extra creamy, coconut-infused dessert, the Cendol win hands down!
Contents
Cendol
A must-try for first-time visitors to Penang, this bowl of shaved ice with green pandan-flavored rice flour jelly is a local favorite.
The coconut milk concoction is topped with Gula Melaka (palm sugar) and cooked red beans.
There are two varieties: the Malay version includes pulut (cooked glutinous rice) and sometimes durian.
Both versions are equally delicious.
Ais Kacang (A-B-C)
If cendol is too creamy for you, then the sweet, fruity, and cooling ais kacang would be your preferred thirst-quencher dessert.
Served in a bowl, this colorful mix of shaved ice, red beans, sweet corn, grass jelly, attap seeds, and drizzled with two types of syrup is sure to refresh.
It can also be topped with a scoop of ice cream.
Some versions feature local fruits like mango or durian for a more luxurious touch.
However, if you have a peanut allergy, be cautious, as ais kacang is often topped with crushed groundnuts.
Durian Ice Cream
If you love the pungent durian, you will adore the uber cool Musang King ice cream.
This dessert is rich, creamy, and distinctly aromatic.
For durian lovers, Penang offers ice cream made from the ‘king of fruits.’
It has a strong flavor that can be an acquired taste—you either love it or hate it.
Some durian lovers would even eat frozen durian as a dessert in Penang!
Durian Ice Cream remains a favorite among locals.
Coconut Shake
Coconut shake is a creamy, refreshing drink perfect for hot days.
Blended from fresh coconut water, tender coconut flesh, and ice, coconut shake is the ultimate thirst-quencher.
Finished with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra creaminess, this tropical shake bursts with coconut flavor and offers a cool, smooth sip—perfect for a hot day!
Coconut Shake
Bingsu
Bingsu has a soft, snow-like texture that feels light and airy, melting instantly on the tongue.
It’s topped with juicy fruits like strawberries and mango, adding bursts of sweetness, while chewy mochi brings a bit of bite.
Nuts and a sprinkle of cereal or cookie crumbs add a satisfying crunch.
Every spoonful of Bingsu is a mix of textures—cool, soft, and crisp.
It’s a refreshing, fun treat to share, perfect for cooling off in Penang’s warm weather.
These top desserts in Penang capture the rich cultural mix of the island, offering visitors a delightful journey through its culinary heritage.
