Asian desserts offer a delightful blend of flavors, textures, and ingredients. From creamy and fruity to sticky and chewy, each treat tells a story and provides a unique experience for the palate. In this post, I have rounded up a list of the top 35 Asian dessert recipes you will love. Get ready to dive into the world of Asian sweets and prepare to be amazed!
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Typical ingredients of Asian desserts
Asian desserts use various flavors, textures, and ingredients, from sweet to savory. These desserts often balance flavors such as sweetness, bitterness, and even savory elements. They use unique ingredients that may not be as common in Western desserts. Here are some common simple ingredients of Asian desserts that will give you a brief idea of the concept of Asian desserts:
Rice, sweet rice flour, and rice flour: Many Asian desserts use glutinous rice or rice flour, which provides a distinctive chewy texture. Examples include mochi and different sticky rice cakes and pastries.
Beans: Sweetened bean pastes, particularly red bean (azuki) and mung bean, are widely used in desserts like Chinese mooncakes and red bean buns.
Coconut: Coconut milk, cream, and grated coconut are staples in Southeast Asian desserts, such as Thai mango sticky rice.
Fresh fruit: Asian desserts often use fresh fruits like mango, lychee, and strawberry.
Matcha: Matcha (green tea powder) is a popular ingredient in Japanese desserts. Its slightly bitter taste balances the sweetness.
Nuts and herbs: Ingredients like walnuts, peanuts, sesame seeds, pandan leaf, and ginger add unique flavors to various Asian desserts.
Chinese
Chinese grass jelly, also known as "liangfen" (凉粉) or "xiancao" (仙草), is a traditional dessert made from the leaves of the Mesona, chinensis plant, a member of the mint family. It is popular throughout East and Southeast Asia. It is a sweet soup that is for all ages!
Chinese black sesame candy, also known as "hei zhi ma tang" (黑芝麻糖), is a traditional delicious dessert made primarily from black sesame seeds and sugar or maltose syrup.
Chinese tanghulu, also known as "tang hu lu" (糖葫芦), is a traditional Chinese snack consisting of candied fruit skewers. Originating from northern China, especially Beijing, this sweet treat is particularly popular during winter and Chinese Lunar New Year.
This delicious cake tends to differ significantly from Western-style fruitcakes. This type of Asian cake is often lighter, less dense, and focuses on a delicate balance of sweetness and fruitiness.
Chinese hawthorn candy, also known as "haw flakes" or 果丹皮 (guodanpi), are old-time classic snacks made from the fruit of the Chinese hawthorn tree. It is sweet and tart with mild fruit flavors.
Chinese red bean paste buns, known as "dou sha bao" (豆沙包), are a popular and traditional treat enjoyed in many parts of China and other Asian countries. Red bean buns have a fluffy texture. The red bean paste filling, made from cooked adzuki beans and sugar, is typically smooth, creamy, and delicious!
Chinese pineapple cookies, also known as "pineapple cakes" or "feng li su" (鳳梨酥), are a popular pastry. The pineapple filling inside is usually thick, similar to a jam or fruit paste. Chinese pineapple cookies offer a delicious combination of a buttery, crumbly exterior and a sweet-tart pineapple filling
Chinese walnut cookies, known as "he tao su" (核桃酥), are a traditional Chinese pastry that is enjoyed for its rich, nutty flavor and delightful texture.
Chinese pumpkin cakes offer a lovely combination of textures and flavors, with a subtly sweet pumpkin filling in a crispy, golden-brown exterior.
Chinese sesame balls, also known as "Jian dui" (煎堆) or "ma tuan" (麻团), are a popular traditional Chinese pastry/dim sum. They offer a delightful eating experience with their crispy and chewy exterior, sweet, creamy filling, and nutty sesame seed coating. Sometimes, you can find them from local street vendors in some Asian countries.
Coconut peanut mochi, or lo mai chi, is a delicious Chinese dessert with a rich and nutty flavor and chewy texture. The moderate sweetness and their unique texture will make you want more!
Filipino
These Yema balls offer a rich, indulgent sweetness that satisfies the sweet tooth. They are primarily made from egg yolk, butter, condensed milk, etc. Once you start eating yema balls, it's hard to stop! Their soft texture and sweet, unique flavor make them highly addictive.
Cassava cake with creamy custard topping is a traditional Filipino dessert made primarily from grated cassava (also known as yuca), coconut milk, eggs, and sugar, topped with a rich custard layer. If you love Filipino food, you will surely enjoy this one!
Ube brownies are a unique twist on the classic brownie. They combine the flavor of ube, a purple yam commonly used in Filipino desserts.
Hong Kong
Instant Pot Hong Kong-style egg custard, also known as 鮮奶燉蛋, is a popular dessert with a silky-smooth texture and rich, creamy flavor.
Hong Kong style mango pudding is a popular dessert in Hong Kong and other parts of Asia, known for its smooth texture and refreshing mango flavor.
Hong Kong egg tarts, also known as "dan tat" (蛋挞), are a popular pastry in Hong Kong that originated from the influence of Portuguese pastel de nata and British custard tarts. They contain a buttery, flaky crust filled with a smooth, lightly sweetened egg custard. This yummy treat is one popular Asian dessert.
Indian
Rice kheer, also known as rice pudding or rice payasam, is a traditional Indian dessert. You make it with rice, milk, sugar, and nuts.
You can make this sweet and creamy dessert using aromatic spices, cardamom powder, and crunchy nuts. It is perfect for satisfying dessert cravings and celebrating special moments.
Kesar badam matka kulfi is a traditional Indian frozen dessert. You make it with milk, sugar, saffron, and almonds. People typically serve it in small earthenware pots. It's a beloved treat in Indian cuisine, enjoyed for its exotic taste and traditional charm.
Ukadiche modak is a traditional sweet dumpling from Maharashtra, India. This authentic recipe is straightforward to follow and easy to make if you want to try it.
Gulab jamun made with khoya has a soft, pillowy texture that practically melts in your mouth.
Japanese
Mochi donuts are a unique variation of traditional donuts. This mochi donut recipe uses glutinous rice flour (mochiko), giving it a chewy and slightly dense texture.
Matcha cake is a type of cake that features matcha, a finely ground powder made from green tea leaves, as a key ingredient.
Japanese strawberry shortcake is a classic Japanese dessert that features layers of sponge cake, whipped cream, and fresh strawberries.
Mochi is a traditional Japanese dessert. So, what is mochi ice cream? Mochi ice cream is a popular Japanese dessert. You can make it by wrapping bite-sized balls of ice cream in a layer of soft and chewy mochi dough. A perfect sweet dessert for a hot day!
Mooncakes
Coconut mango mooncakes are a delightful variation of the traditional Chinese mooncake, featuring a filling made from coconut and mango.
Chinese mung bean mooncakes, also known as "green bean mooncakes," are a traditional Chinese dessert. Chinese people typically enjoy it during the Mid-Autumn Festival. They feature a filling made from mung bean paste surrounded by a pastry crust.
Thai and Indonesia
Thai red rubies, also known as "tub tim krob," are a traditional Thai dessert. You make it from water chestnuts coated in tapioca flour and then soaked in a sweet coconut sauce.
This is a traditional Thai dessert featuring ripe mangoes served with sweet sticky rice topped with a creamy coconut sauce.
Pisang goreng is a popular Indonesian snack consisting of deep-fried bananas. The term "pisang goreng" translates to "fried bananas" in English. This is an easy recipe with big flavors!
Vietnamese
Chè Thái, a Vietnamese fruit cocktail, is a popular dessert in Vietnamese cuisine. It's a refreshing and colorful medley of various fruits, jelly, and sweetened coconut cream.
Bánh Bò Nướng, also known as Vietnamese Honeycomb Cake, is a popular traditional Vietnamese dessert popular for its unique honeycomb-like texture.
Bánh flan, also known as Vietnamese caramel flan or Vietnamese custard cake, is a popular dessert in Vietnamese cuisine. It is a variation of the classic crème caramel or flan but with a Vietnamese twist.
Chè chuối is a traditional Vietnamese dessert. You can make it with bananas, tapioca pearls, coconut milk, and other ingredients. It's a sweet and comforting dessert. With its sweet creamy flavor, chewy texture, and comforting warmth, it's a dessert that is loved by many!
Final thoughts
Whether you're craving something refreshing, creamy, or delightfully indulgent, these Asian dessert recipes will be a delicious and culturally rich addition to any meal. Also, don't forget that there are countless more Asian dessert recipes out there. Thank you for reading and exploring these 35 Asian dessert recipes with me. Until next time, happy cooking!
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