Bakes N Bites at Old Airport Road offers delicious moist muffins and pastries from just S$3

Muffins can easily turn out dry, especially after a quick heat-up in the microwave.

But husband-and-wife hawker duo, Christopher Lau, 72, and Christina Tan, 69, have crafted their own recipe to keep muffins especially moist and delicious — even if you’re having them cold and straight from the fridge.

Their stall, Bakes N Bites, sits quietly at Old Airport Road Food Centre, offering a spread of muffins, puffs, pies and cakes.

The couple has only recently started gaining media attention for their humble bakes.

But getting the word out on their hawker stall hasn’t been easy. Christopher admits that promoting the business online is a challenging, unfamiliar territory for the elderly couple. 

After a long struggle, recent online coverage has helped Bakes n Bites gain some traction.

We learnt that they start their days early, arriving at the stall around 8am or 9am to prepare for the day. They usually stay open till around 8pm.

Running a hawker stall at their age is no easy feat. We watched as Christopher juggled baking, serving customers, and managing delivery orders all at once.

He admits that the hawker life is tiring — long hours, physically demanding work, and the relentless heat. This, he says, will likely be their first and last stall.

Despite the grind, there is pride in what they serve — especially their fresh, signature muffins.

We say: If you like muffins, you’ll want to give these a try. Plus point: It’s affordable, especially with its generous size.

Moist muffins with different toppings

When asked what sets his muffins apart, Christopher offers a simple line: “You won’t feel the need to drink water between each bite.”

And he’s right. Each muffin reveals a soft, tender crumb — moist enough to stand on its own, without leaving your mouth dry. Everything — down to the fruit — is made with fresh, quality ingredients.

You could eat a whole muffin without needing a sip of water — and that’s not something you can say for most baked goods.

Triple chocolate (S$3.20) is one of its bestsellers, and it’s easy to see why. It’s indulgent without going overboard — sweet enough to satisfy your dessert cravings, but light enough not to overwhelm. 

Each bite delivers a rich, fudgy cocoa flavour, with chocolate chips adding just that bit of decadence.

Our second favourite has to be the walnut banana (S$3). It’s everything you’d want in a snack alongside a cup of kopi. The bananas lend a natural and mellow sweetness, while the crunchy walnut topping adds a satisfying contrast.

If you’re after something sweeter and fruitier, go for the banana chocochip topping (S$3). 

The fresh banana still shines through in its soft, moist crumb. This time, it is paired with chocolate chip toppings — a combination that’s easy to get hooked on.

We also tried the vanilla plain (S$3). While it’s not a standout, it’s still a dependable classic: Soft, lightly sweet, and a safe choice for those who prefer something simple and familiar.

Pies, puffs and cakes

But muffins are just half the story. Bakes n Bites also offers a range of freshly baked puffs, pies, and cakes — all of which deserve just as much attention for their taste.

We especially loved the chicken rendang pie (S$3), a filling you wouldn’t be able to find at any regular pastry stall.

The crust has that ideal flaky crunch, breaking apart to reveal the generous and tender chicken rendang filling. It is rich and deeply spiced, with a hint of sweetness  — just as any good rendang should have.

The more familiar choice is the chicken pie (S$3), and it is just as satisfying — baked to a golden brown with a hearty, comforting filling. 

Then there’s the curry chicken puff (S$3), which offers something even flakier, with a good amount of puff — a clear sign of skillful baking. Each bite crumbles into airy, crisp layers, giving way to its fragrant and well-spiced curry chicken filling.

We tried the mango cheesecake (S$5.70) and oreo cheesecake (S$5.40) — slightly pricier, but worth a go. Both cheesecakes were soft, yet held their shape, delivering a pleasant balance of tartness and sweetness with clean, distinct flavours.

If you happen to be in the area or find yourself free this weekend, drop by and show some love to the couple. You would be pleasantly surprised by how good these humble hawker bakes are — especially at wallet-friendly prices.

For the latest food news, read our stories on the 24-hour chicken rice spot at East Coast and the new Sushiro outlet at Mandai with a digital conveyor belt.

Bakes n Bites is on the Grabfood Delivery service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off) with GrabUnlimited.

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Old Airport Food Centre to try these tasty cold muffins.