Asian Desserts: A Sweet Journey Across the Continent
Asian desserts are a vibrant and diverse reflection of the continent's rich culinary traditions and cultures. From the delicate pastries of Japan to the creamy delights of India, each country offers its unique take on sweet treats. These desserts often incorporate exotic flavors like matcha, coconut, mango, and pandan, creating both familiar and surprising flavors. Whether you're looking to satisfy a sweet tooth or explore new culinary territories, Asian desserts, just like Asian soups, provide a delicious adventure that showcases the region's creativity and flavor profiles.
18 Asian Dessert Ideas
From sweet rice cakes to creamy custards, these treats offer a delightful exploration of Asian culinary traditions.
Matcha Green Tea Ice Cream
A creamy and refreshing Japanese ice cream flavored with matcha powder, offering a balance of sweetness and earthy bitterness.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tbsp matcha powder
- 4 egg yolks
Instructions
- Whisk matcha powder with a little hot water to make a paste.
- Heat milk and sugar until dissolved, then add matcha paste.
- Whisk egg yolks, then slowly add the hot milk mixture.
- Cook on low until thickened, then chill and churn in an ice cream maker.
Filipino Halo-Halo
A layered dessert of mixed fruits, beans, jellies, and shaved ice topped with leche flan and purple yam ice cream reminds me of one of my favorite 5-cup dessert recipes.
Ingredients
- 1 cup shaved ice
- 1/2 cup mixed tropical fruits (jackfruit, bananas)
- 1/2 cup sweetened red beans
- 1/4 cup coconut jelly
- 1 scoop purple yam ice cream
- Leche flan for topping
Instructions
- Layer the fruits, beans, and jellies in a tall glass.
- Add shaved ice and pour a little milk over it.
- Top with a scoop of purple yam ice cream and a piece of leche flan.
Mochi Ice Cream
A chewy Japanese dessert, ice cream wrapped in sweet rice dough is available in various flavors, such as green tea, strawberry, and red bean.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet rice flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- Ice cream of your choice
Instructions
- Mix rice flour, sugar, and water, then steam for 20 minutes.
- Dust a surface with cornstarch, knead the dough, and flatten.
- Cut circles, wrap around small ice cream scoops, and freeze.
Vietnamese Che Ba Mau
A colorful three-layer dessert of sweetened beans, jelly, and coconut milk, served with crushed ice.
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet red beans
- 1 cup mung beans
- 1 cup pandan jelly
- 1 cup coconut milk
- Crushed ice
Instructions
- Cook red beans and mung beans with sugar until tender.
- Cut pandan jelly into cubes.
- Layer beans and jelly in a glass, add crushed ice, and top with coconut milk.
Japanese Dorayaki
A pancake sandwich filled with sweet red bean paste, these fluffy sandwiches are perfect for a sweet snack.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 tsp baking powder
- Sweet red bean paste
Instructions
- Whisk eggs and sugar until fluffy, then add flour and baking powder.
- Cook small pancakes on a grill.
- Sandwich sweet red bean paste between two pancakes.
Thai Mango Pudding
A creamy dessert made with fresh mango puree, coconut milk, and gelatin. It's smooth, silky, and packed with tropical flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 ripe mangoes
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp gelatin
Instructions
- Puree mangoes and heat with coconut milk and sugar.
- Dissolve gelatin in water, then mix it into a mango mixture.
- Pour into molds and refrigerate until set.
Indian Gulab Jamun
Deep-fried dough balls soaked in a sweet syrup flavored with cardamom and rose water are rich and decadent.
Ingredients
- 1 cup milk powder
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup ghee
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- Sugar syrup with cardamom and rose water
Instructions
- Mix milk powder, flour, ghee, and baking soda to form a dough.
- Roll into balls and fry until golden brown.
- Soak in warm sugar syrup for at least an hour.
Chinese Egg Tarts
A flaky pastry crust filled with a creamy egg custard. These are my favorite dim sum desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Make a dough with flour, butter, and water, then chill.
- Line tart molds with dough and fill with beaten eggs, milk, and sugar.
- Bake in KitchenDance aluminum foil pans until the custard is set and the crust is golden.
Indonesian Klepon
Sweet rice cakes filled with palm sugar and coated in coconut. These bite-sized treats are both chewy and sweet.
Ingredients
- 1 cup glutinous rice flour
- 1/2 cup water
- Palm sugar, chopped
- Grated coconut
Instructions
- Mix rice flour with water to make a dough.
- Wrap a small amount of dough around a piece of palm sugar.
- Boil until they float, then roll in grated coconut.
Korean Bingsu
A Korean shaved ice dessert topped with sweetened condensed milk, fruit, and red beans. It's refreshing and perfect for summer.
Ingredients
- Shaved ice
- Sweetened condensed milk
- Fresh fruit (e.g., strawberries, mango)
- Sweet red beans
Preparation Steps
- Layer shaved ice in a bowl.
- Top with sweetened condensed milk, fruit, and red beans.
- Serve immediately.
Malaysian Kuih Lapis
This is a layered steamed cake made with rice flour, coconut milk, and pandan. It's colorful and has a firm, chewy texture that reminds you of my Cuban desserts.
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice flour
- 1 cup tapioca flour
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup sugar
- Pandan paste and food coloring
Instructions
- Mix flour, coconut milk, and sugar.
- Divide into batches and color each batch differently.
- Steam each layer for 5 minutes, alternating colors.
Taiwanese Pineapple Cake
A buttery shortbread pastry filled with sweet and tangy pineapple jam. These are a popular gift item in Taiwan.
Ingredients
- 2 cups flour
- 1 cup butter
- 1 cup pineapple jam
- 1/4 cup sugar
Instructions
- Make a dough with flour, butter, and sugar, then chill.
- Roll the dough and fill it with pineapple jam.
- Shape into rectangles and bake until golden.
Japanese Anmitsu
It is a traditional dessert made with agar jelly, sweet red bean paste, fruit, and a drizzle of black syrup. It is light and refreshing for graduation party celebrations.
Ingredients
- 1 cup agar jelly cubes
- 1/2 cup sweet red bean paste
- Mixed fruits (kiwi, mandarin)
- Black sugar syrup
Instructions
- Make agar jelly and cut it into cubes.
- Arrange jelly, red bean paste, and fruit in a bowl.
- Drizzle with black sugar syrup before serving.
Filipino Leche Flan
A creamy and rich custard dessert topped with a caramel sauce. It's a Filipino twist on the traditional flan.
Ingredients
- 10 egg yolks
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 can of evaporated milk
- 1 cup sugar (for caramel)
Instructions
- Caramelize sugar in a mold.
- Beat egg yolks with condensed and evaporated milk.
- Pour into mold and steam until set.
Indian Kheer
A creamy Asian rice pudding flavored with cardamom, saffron, and nuts. It's rich, comforting, and aromatic.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup rice
- 4 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- Saffron and nuts for garnish
Instructions
- Cook rice in milk until tender and thickened.
- Add sugar, cardamom, and saffron.
- Garnish Indian kher with nuts and serve warm or chilled.
Thai Coconut Jelly
A refreshing jelly dessert made with coconut milk and agar, it's light and perfect for a hot day like Memorial Day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp agar powder
Instructions
- Dissolve agar in water, then add sugar and coconut milk.
- Bring to a boil, then pour into molds.
- Refrigerate until set.
Vietnamese Sesame Balls (Banh Cam)
Deep-fried sesame-coated balls filled with sweet mung bean paste. They're crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
Ingredients
- 1 cup glutinous rice flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Sweet mung bean paste
- Sesame seeds
Instructions
- Make a dough with rice flour and sugar.
- Wrap dough around mung bean paste and roll in sesame seeds.
- Deep-fry until golden brown.
Japanese Taiyaki
This Japanese fish-shaped pastry is filled with sweet red bean paste or custard. They're popular street food in Japan.
Ingredients
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- Sweet red bean paste
Instructions
- Make a batter with flour, sugar, and egg.
- Pour into a teriyaki mold, add the filling, and cook until golden.
Conclusion
Exploring Asian desserts opens up a world of unique flavors and textures deeply rooted in the continent's diverse cultures. So, next time you're in the mood for something sweet, try these fascinating and delicious worlds of Asian desserts.
