Popular Tokyo ‘Sandwich’ Cookie Shop Press Butter Sand Opening Outlet In S’pore

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 a “iron, press, heat” process, where both sides of the cookie are baked simultaneously with two iron griddles that are pressed together, kinda 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. 

Between $4 to $4.80 per 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 $22.50 for five pcs to $60 for 15 pcs), Uji Matcha (from $24 for five pcs to $40.50 for nine pcs) and Chocolate (from $24 for five pcs to $40.50 for nine pcs). 

It ain’t cheap at roughly $4 to $4.80 per cookie. Probably ’cos 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 ($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 Feb-Mar. 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.

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.

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. 

How to snag not-yet-for-sale flavours for free 

The first 500 customers to spend $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 8 Dec at B2 Takashimaya Department Store, 391 Orchard Rd, S238873. Open daily 10am - 9.30pm. More info via their website and Instagram.

Photos: Press Butter Sand, Florence Fong

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