KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 3 -- Chinese New Year is almost upon us and many of us are still shopping for festive treats. (In part, one suspects, buying CNY cookies a tad too early and being unable to resist finishing entire jars!)

As the Year of the Fire Horse approaches, this season's offerings demonstrate an interplay between traditional flavours and contemporary forms, making the search for just the right treat a most delicious one.

Here are six of our favourites this year:

Pandanese: CNY Party Set

Pandanese has built a devoted following for chiffon cakes that prioritise texture above all else: light, buoyant and clean-tasting, without preservatives, artificial flavourings or colouring.

For Chinese New Year, the bakery leans into whimsy w...