A Warm Dongzhi Dessert: Sweet Potato Balls for Winter Solstice

Every year, as December rolls around, many Singapore families start thinking about Dongzhi. It is the Winter Solstice Festival, and in 2026 it falls on Monday, 21 December. Even though Singapore never gets a real winter, the day still carries a cosy, homely feeling. It is a quiet reason to call everyone home, sit down together and share something warm and sweet.

At Ah Ma QQ Bowl, our favourite way to mark the day is simple: a pot of soft, chewy sweet potato balls in warm green bean soup, ladled into bowls and passed around the table.

What Is Dongzhi?

Dongzhi is the day of the year with the shortest daylight and the longest night in the northern half of the world. In Chinese tradition, it has long been seen as a turning point, the moment when the days slowly begin to get longer again.

Customs differ from family to family, and from dialect group to dialect group, so we will not pretend there is only one right way to celebrate. What many families do share is the idea of coming together. Some families cook a special dinner. Some visit grandparents. Some keep it very small, with just the people living under one roof. But in a lot of homes, the evening ends the same way: with everyone gathered around a warm sweet bowl.

That is the part we love most. It is less about following rules and more about pausing a busy week to be together.

Why a Warm Sweet Bowl Feels Right for Dongzhi

A warm dessert has a way of slowing everyone down. You cannot gulp it while scrolling on your phone. You have to blow on the spoon, wait a moment, and chat while it cools a little.

For Dongzhi, that is exactly the mood you want. Here is why a warm sweet bowl works so well:

• Everyone can enjoy it. Young children, teenagers, parents and grandparents can all share the same pot.
• It is easy to serve. One pot, one ladle, a stack of bowls. No cutting, no plating, no fuss.
• It brings people to the table. A steaming pot in the middle of the table is hard to walk away from.
• It feels like home. For many of us, a warm sweet bowl brings back memories of an Ah Ma or Ah Gong stirring a pot in the kitchen.

Round, chewy bites shared from one pot also feel fitting for a family occasion. Many families like the idea of a round shape standing for togetherness, and a bowl full of little round balls is a cheerful way to show it.

Our Dongzhi Bowl: Sweet Potato Balls in Green Bean Soup

Our Dongzhi dessert is the one we make every day in our Hougang home kitchen: handmade sweet potato balls in warm green bean soup.

Each sweet potato ball is rolled by hand. The result is soft and chewy, with that bouncy QQ bite that makes kids grin and grown-ups go back for more. The colour is a lovely warm orange, and the flavour comes from the sweet potato itself, so it tastes gently sweet and homely.

The green bean soup brings it all together. It is smooth, fragrant and lightly sweet, and the sweet potato balls sit happily in it, soaking up the warmth. Served warm, it is the kind of bowl you hold with both hands.

If you would like to try it for your own Dongzhi table, you can find it here: Green Bean QQ Bowl.

How to Plan a Simple Dongzhi Evening at Home

You do not need a big feast to make Dongzhi feel special. A few small touches go a long way.

1. Pick a time that suits everyone.

Dongzhi falls on a Monday this year, so many families will gather after work and school. A simple dinner followed by dessert is plenty. Some families also choose to celebrate on the weekend before, which is perfectly fine.

2. Keep dinner easy.

Cook one or two family favourites, or let everyone bring a dish. The goal is time together, not hours in the kitchen.

3. Make dessert the centrepiece.

Bring the warm pot to the table and let everyone help themselves. Children enjoy ladling their own bowl and counting how many sweet potato balls they got.

4. Plan enough bowls.

Allow one bowl per person, plus a couple of extra for second helpings. Warm sweet bowls tend to disappear quickly.

5. Share a story.

Ask the grandparents what Dongzhi was like when they were young. You might hear about kampong kitchens, big family pots or a favourite aunty who always made dessert. These small stories are often the best part of the night.

Hosting a Bigger Gathering?

Some families gather three generations under one roof for Dongzhi. Others like to mark the day at the office, at a community group or with friends. If you are feeding a larger group, it helps to plan a little ahead, because December is a full month for everyone.

For bigger family gatherings, take a look at our bulk order page. If you are planning dessert for a company event, a school or a community celebration, our dessert catering page explains the options.

From Dongzhi to Reunion Dinner

Dongzhi also has a nice way of reminding us that the festive season is just beginning. After the Winter Solstice comes Christmas, then the New Year, and before long, families start planning for Chinese New Year reunion dinners.

If you enjoy the idea of a warm sweet bowl at Dongzhi, you might like our guide to desserts for family reunion dinners. It has simple ideas for planning a reunion dessert that the whole table will enjoy, from the littlest cousins to the oldest uncles.

A Little Note From Our Kitchen

At Ah Ma QQ Bowl, we make our sweet potato balls by hand in Hougang, in the same spirit as the desserts many of us grew up with. Nothing fancy, just warm, sweet and made with care.

Dongzhi is a lovely reminder that the simplest things often matter most. A warm bowl, a full table and the people you love sitting close together. Whatever your family's traditions are, we hope your Dongzhi evening is cosy, cheerful and full of second helpings.

From all of us at Ah Ma QQ Bowl, wishing you and your family a warm and happy Dongzhi.