Using a recipe for traditional kuih bakar given by his mother, Shahrilnizam Mohamed and his wife, Mahanum Abdul Rahman, reimagined the kuih with unconventional flavours.

“We wanted to change the perception that kuih bakar is only meant to be sweet. For example, since my wife and I both enjoy sardine dishes, we came up with the idea of creating sardine-flavoured kuih bakar,” he said at his outlet in Larkin Sentral here recently.

The couple in their 50s, who began their business in December, now offers five flavour variations, ranging from classic pandan (RM8) to premium durian (RM15).

Shahrilnizam said their kuih bakar is a hit with Singaporean customers, many of whom are willing to wait to bring home their favourite flavours, particularly durian and sardine. Each kuih bakar takes between 45 minutes and an hour to bake.

During the holiday season, sales can reach up to 450 pieces a day, compared with an average of 200 on regular days.

Singaporean customer Siti Kamalaila Zulkeplie described the kuih bakar as a “must-buy” treat whenever she and her family travel to Malaysia on weekends.

“Whenever we come here, we have to get it for our family. These unique variations are truly different and taste really good,” she said.