Mooncake Trends 2022: The most creative mooncake packaging and boxes

The Mid-autumn Festival lands on Sep 10 this year. If you’re looking for mooncakes for gifting, we’ve got a roundup of beautiful and novel mooncake boxes to have on your radar.

After devouring the luscious creations within these mooncake boxes, you might be concerned about the beautiful boxes going to waste. Fret not, as many of them are multi-functional. These boxes can double as vanity cases, elegant storage containers, and even a tote bag, too.

Related: Mooncake Trends 2022: 10 unique mooncake flavours to try this Mid-Autumn Festival

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.

Find out more: Conrad Centennial 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.

Find out more: The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore

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.

Find out more: Lady M

(Read more: 6 new snowskin mooncakes to try in Singapore)

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.

Find out more: Sunday Folks

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.

Find out more: Mdm Ling Bakery

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.

Find out more: The Capitol Kempinski Hotel Singapore

(Read more: Two new takes on white lotus paste for die-hard fans of traditional mooncakes)

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.

Find out more: JW Marriott Hotel Singapore South Beach

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.

Find out more: Janice Wong

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 traditional route with baked confections like White Lotus Paste with Double Yolk or the Low-Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts mooncake.

Find out more: Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

Related: Wine and mooncake pairings for a boozy Mid-autumn Festival

Text: Michelle Lee/ Singapore Women's Weekly.