Hello to all the sweet treat lovers out there!
You are going to fall head over heels for these 23 unique and tasty Asian desserts that are surprisingly simple to make at home. From cute little cookies to creamy puddings, this list has everything you need to shake up your dessert game.
1. Fried Bananas
Sweet, caramely, and totally addictive fried bananas are a home run every single time.
The light batter gives these babies such a nice crunch. Serve them with hot fudge or caramel for a real treat.
2. Black Sesame Cookies
I was hooked on black sesame seeds the first time I tried them on brioche. That pop of dark color and light nutty flavor is exactly what was missing.
Putting them in a cookie adds way more flavor than poppy seeds. Just keep half back to add at the end for more pronounced seeds.
3. Korean Steamed Pear Recipe
If you are a fan of baked apples, you are going to love this recipe. You take a whole pear, cut the top off, and hollow out the middle.
Fill that space with honey, spices, and pine nuts before letting the whole thing steam. It is a beautiful natural dessert served hot or cold.
4. Easy Kulfi Recipe with Condensed Milk
I am a huge ice cream fan so I just had to try this one. It is a frozen dessert that is pleasantly spiced with saffron and cardamom.
The pistachios are a total dream! You can add some whipped cream to the mix if you want it a little lighter.
5. Chinese Mango Pudding
Did I mention that I love mango? This recipe had me racing straight to the kitchen.
You only need fresh mango, gelatin, sugar, milk, and cream. Blend it smooth and let it set into the prettiest and creamiest dessert.
6. Castella Cake
This sponge cake features whipped egg white and honey. You want to get all the flour lumps out when mixing but do not overmix until you see air bubbles.
It is a lovely light cake that pairs perfectly with fresh fruit and a cup of tea.
7. Matcha Green Tea Cookies
Matcha adds a mild and earthy flavor that enhances baked goods so well. Plus the color is absolutely gorgeous.
Make sure you look for good quality 100% pure matcha powder when buying ingredients.
8. Simple Matcha Green Tea Mochi
Matcha and mochi together? Sign me up right now!
The texture of mochi is perfectly unique and pairs so well with earthy matcha. I really love the color too.
9. Korean Tea Cookies
You need a traditional dasik mold to get these adorable cookies into shape. Those are hard to find in the States so try silicone molds as an excellent alternative.
Just freeze the dough slightly to pop them out. It is a no bake recipe you can make in no time!
10. Egg Tart Recipe With Chinese Puff Pastry
I think there are versions of this sweet treat all over from the UK to Portugal. They are all delicious.
I like this specific recipe because it was the first time I saw this method for puff pastry. It is worth trying just for that!
11. Korean Sweet Rice Cake
This unusual little snack is a fun one to try when you have a free afternoon. You will need to read the instructions a few times as it takes some getting used to.
Sweet rice flour is a must along with soybean powder to prevent the mix from drying out.
12. Chinese Nougat
This recipe produces something much softer than you are probably used to. The nuts give it a great crunch though!
You could add dried fruit for sweetness or try pink marshmallows for a swirl of color.
13. Mango Sticky Rice
Confession time: I basically lived off this stuff when I was in Hong Kong. I ate it at least once a day and looked for it everywhere.
Soak the rice before cooking to remove the coating so it gets nice and sticky. Gently cook chopped mango slices with sugar until it thickens like jam for the topping.
14. Chinese Steamed Sponge Cake
You might think a steamed cake would be soggy and dense. But this is actually light and tender!
Brown sugar gives the batter a beautiful caramel flavor while evaporated milk ensures a rich creamy taste.
15. Chinese Almond Float Dessert
I love this simple dessert because the jelly texture is just right with chunks of fruit. Almond extract adds a nice mild undertone.
Be careful not to use too much extract or it can be overwhelming.
16. Pan-fried Rice Cake Dumplings with Sweet Red Beans
Seeing red beans in a dessert might seem off-putting at first. But these sweetened beans taste a lot like sweet potato!
The simple rice flour and water dough gives it a mochi-like texture that complements the filling perfectly.
17. Black Sesame Soup
You are either going to love the look of this or hate it. It is made from black sesame seeds and looks like a bowl of dark goop.
But I swear it tastes great with a nutty and slightly sweet flavor that is perfect after a big meal.
18. 5-Minute Vietnamese Iced Coffee
There are two critical components to this coffee: condensed milk and a cafetiere. Start by making hot coffee to allow the milk to melt into the liquid.
Top up your glass with ice and grab a straw.
19. Chinese Almond Cookies
This recipe is for you if you want something different from typically overly sweet sugar cookies. It is a slice and bake dough so you can roll it and bake just what you need.
Freeze the rest for later!
20. Modak Recipe
This is such a fun recipe to try at home if you do not mind getting your hands a little sticky!
You can substitute brown sugar or coconut sugar if you cannot find jaggery powder.
21. A Japanese Custard Pudding
This flan-like dessert is silky and smooth and covered with caramel. It works best made in individual ramekins cooked in a water bath.
Keep an eye on the caramel and work fast to get it into molds before it sets.
22. Japanese Butter Cookies
These Japanese beauties need just five ingredients and will melt in your mouth. You typically see them in the shape of a dove but any shape works.
They are tender and buttery and would be great with dark chocolate chips.
23. Chinese Five-Spice Peanuts
Having nuts in the house is a great way to curb salty cravings without a big bag of chips.
Why buy anything else when you can have flavorful toasted nuts in just 10 minutes?