Popular Tokyo ‘sandwich’ cookie shop Press Butter Sand opening outlet in Singapore

Minimalist chic Japanese cookie brand Press Butter Sand is arriving at Takashimaya’s Food Hall on Friday (Dec 8). Specialising in artfully crafted butter cookies sandwiched with buttercream and caramel, the brand was established at Tokyo Station in 2017 by Bake Inc, the same team behind Japanese cheese tart brand Bake Cheese Tart (the once-hyped dessert exited the Singapore market in 2019).

Press Butter Sand, so named for its special pressed cookie baking technique, now boasts over 30 outlets in Japan, Korea and Hong Kong.

The Takashimaya outlet marks PBS’s first shop in Singapore.

WHAT'S A PRESSED BUTTER SAND COOKIE ANYWAY? 

The ‘sand’ in Press Butter Sand aptly refers to ‘sandwich’. But Press Butter Sand goes one up from your garden-variety cookie stuffed with cream.

The boxy-shaped bakes have a decadent double-layered filling of fluffy Hokkaido buttercream and “melty” butter caramel. They’re made using an “iron, press, heat” process, where both sides of the cookie are baked simultaneously with two iron griddles that are pressed together, like a waffle iron, but cooler. 

This “Hasami-Yaki (Japanese pottery) technique”, says the brand’s PR rep, is supposed to bake each cookie evenly and give it a uniformly crispy texture. 

The two cookies then join together to form a sealed “box” in which the oozy cream and caramel filling is neatly held without risk of spillage. Meanwhile, artistically placed grooves on the cookie’s surface allow it to be broken off easily with each bite. A well-designed snack, indeed.

BETWEEN S$4 TO S$4.80 A PIECE, ALMOST DOUBLE THAT IN JAPAN

While there are about seven flavours available in Japan (including the more exciting pistachio, chestnut, lemon and choc hazelnut), the Singapore outlet will carry only three basic flavours for a start: The original (from S$22.50 for five pieces to S$60 for 15 pcs), uji matcha (from S$24 for five pieces to S$40.50 for nine pieces) and chocolate (from S$24 for five pieces to S$40.50 for nine pieces). 

It's not cheap at roughly S$4 to S$4.80 per cookie. Probably because you’re paying for freight: Each box is shipped frozen from Japan and has a relatively short shelf life of around two weeks after being defrosted as they don't contain preservatives.

But if you’re going to Tokyo over the holiday season (where the whole world seems to be right now thanks to the weak yen), it’ll be kinder on your wallet to just buy some there. A set of five costs from ¥1107 (S$10.08) for the original cookie to ¥1296 (S$11.80) for the flavoured ones on PBS’s online store.

8days.sg sampled some of these elegant PBS bakes ahead of the Singapore store opening and found them fresh tasting, not too sweet and more delicious than expected for a pre-packaged confection. Well, at least the strawberry one (pictured, on top), only available in Singapore from next February-March.

The crisp, just-buttery enough cookies have a good snap that won’t crack your teeth thanks to the “easy to bite” grooves. A satisfying counterpoint to its soft, lush buttercream filling that’s airy and thankfully not greasy. This berry-spiked one is reminiscent of a more sophisticated version of strawberry Pocky, with a refreshingly tangy, jammy pop. Addictive.

CHOCOLATE

The chocolate number is nearly as good, too. It features the same butter cookie, but this time much darker as it’s blended with cocoa powder, giving it a sultry bittersweet edge. Tucked within: chocolate-infused caramel and buttercream. It’s like a luxe, elevated Oreo for adults. Yum.

ORIGINAL

The original flavour (pictured, top) is the simplest of the lot, with just Hokkaido buttercream and butter caramel. Choose this if you prefer your teatime nibbles subtly sweetened. We like that the accompanying caramel isn’t cloying, akin to a lighter, creamier butterscotch. Very pleasant with a cup of tea. 

UJI MATCHA

While we had high hopes for the uji matcha option (pictured, on top), we found the green tea-flavoured buttercream a touch too bitter and tannic. We hope they introduce the other more interesting flavours to Singapore soon.

HOW TO SNAG NOT-FOR-SALE FLAVOURS FOR FREE

The first 500 customers to spend S$60 or more will bag a complimentary Christmas Gift Ornament Press Butter Sand Box containing three cookies: Strawberry and pistachio (both not available in Singapore yet), plus an original cookie. 

Press Butter Sand opens on Dec 8 at B2 Takashimaya Department Store, 391 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238873. Open daily 10am - 9.30pm. More info via their website and Instagram.

This story was originally published in 8Days.