Chinese desserts offer a unique sweet treat experience, distinct from Western standards. While they may not be as sugary, these traditional treats often incorporate natural fruits and are commonly enjoyed with tea or after meals. The national dessert of China, mooncake, is just one example of the many creative concoctions that have gained popularity over time. Some popular Chinese desserts feature glutinous rice, like Tang Yuan, while others rely on eggless cookies, such as Xiao Dian Xin.
Given the importance placed on food in Chinese culture, it’s no surprise that cooking plays a significant role in daily life. For those looking to try something new, I’ve compiled a list of 27 popular Chinese desserts. Please note that many of these recipes require time and ingredients that may necessitate a trip to an Asian market. That being said, let’s dive into the list!
Tau Foo Fah (Soy Bean Pudding)
When it comes to Chinese desserts, a common thread is their delicate nature, exemplified by the silky tofu soybean pudding. This versatile treat can be enjoyed at its best when served either warm or chilled, allowing for a personal touch in terms of serving temperature.
Homemade Fortune Cookies
While traditional fortune cookies might be a staple at Chinese restaurants, making your own homemade versions can be a fun and creative way to craft personalized messages. Yes, it does require some extra effort upfront, but the end result is well worth the time investment – you’ll have uniquely customized treats that reflect your personality or special occasion!
Easy Homemade Almond Jello
In a culinary tradition that dates back centuries, almond jelly stands out for its simplicity – requiring only four ingredients. This classic Chinese dessert has earned its place in many a cultural heritage. With just a couple of hours’ chill time, it’s ready to be served alongside an assortment of fruits such as lychees, mangoes, or mandarin oranges.
Red Bean Mooncakes
Mooncakes are a beloved traditional Chinese dessert, renowned for their delectable fillings which can range from sweet and nutty to savory and complex. The red bean filling featured in this recipe is a unique variation that can be prepared ahead of time, paired with the two dough components. The accompanying images provide invaluable visual guidance throughout the process.
Soy Milk Pudding
Tofu pudding, a staple in Chinese cuisine, earns its place among the top-notch desserts. While it may require multiple steps, the accompanying video provides clear guidance, making it easy to replicate at home.
Tofu Pudding Dessert Or Douhua
While many Chinese desserts require a significant amount of preparation time, this particular recipe stands out for its speediness. In fact, it’s surprisingly easy to prepare. The resulting tofu soybean curd dessert is a delightfully smooth and sweet treat that’s sure to please.
Ma Lai Gao Recipe
Moist and airy, with a subtle sweetness and a depth of caramel flavour, the Ma Lai Gao Chinese dessert cake is an absolute delight. At its core lies fresh brown sugar, which not only imbues the cake with its characteristic lightness but also lends it a rich, velvety texture. What’s more, the recipe guide that accompanies this delightful treat is remarkably thorough, making it easy for even novice bakers to achieve success.
Chinese New Year Cupcakes – Nian Gao
While cupcakes might not be a typical representation of traditional Chinese desserts, the combination of this sweet treat with the rich flavors of red bean paste creates a fascinating fusion.
Chinese Steamed Sponge Cake Recipe (Ji Dan Gao)
While cakes are a staple at many celebrations, there’s something special about indulging in traditional Chinese desserts. One such treat is a unique cake that doesn’t require baking – instead, it’s lovingly steamed to perfection, resulting in a light and airy texture that’s simply divine.
Chinese Steamed Custard Buns (Nai Wong Bao)
Steamed custard buns, also known as Nai Wong Bao, have gained immense popularity as trendy Chinese desserts. But before you can indulge in these sweet treats, you’ll need to devote some TLC – or rather, babysitting – throughout the day to ensure they’re perfectly prepared for a delightful dessert experience that evening.
Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Cake) 年糕
As you prepare for your next Chinese New Year celebration, don’t forget to incorporate traditional dessert recipes like Nian Gao into your festivities. This sweet and sticky rice cake is more than just a tasty treat – it’s a symbolic representation of prosperity and good fortune in the coming year. And with an Instant Pot at your disposal, whipping up a batch has never been easier!
Dahn Sahn – Sugared Butterflies Or Fried Bow Ties
In the realm of Chinese desserts, one treat stands out for its unique charm and irresistible taste: Dahn Sahn, affectionately known as Bow Ties or Butterflies. This scrumptious delight consists of delicate, flaky pastry sheets deep-fried to a golden crisp, smothered in a sweet and sticky syrup that’s simply addictive.
Sesame Balls
Sesame balls are a classic Chinese dessert that has gained popularity worldwide. The preparation process is quite intriguing – a mixture of rice flour and water forms the dough, which is then filled with a sweet surprise. The sesame seeds add a delightful crunch to the outside, while the inside remains chewy and tender. To take it up a notch, the entire treat is deep-fried until crispy, resulting in an irresistible combination of textures and flavors.
Hong Kong Style Pineapple Bun Recipe
The allure of Chinese desserts lies not only in their unique flavors but also in their distinctive appearances, exemplified by the iconic pineapple buns. These sweet treats boast a crumbly exterior with an intricate design that mimics the texture and pattern of real pineapple skin, making them instantly recognizable. Moreover, the accompanying photographs provide exceptional guidance for those seeking to recreate these delectable pastries at home.
Chinese Almond Cookies
In the world of Chinese desserts, cookies play a significant role. One notable example is the almond cookie, which holds special meaning as it represents coins and good fortune during the new year celebrations. The combination of textures and flavors in these shortbread-style treats is particularly noteworthy, with a strong emphasis on the nutty taste of almonds.
Peanut & Sesame Brittle
Indulge in a delightful journey of Chinese desserts with this delectable peanut and sesame brittle recipe! With its crunchy texture and nutty flavor, it’s sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. And the best part? It only requires three simple steps: toasting the nuts to perfection, melting the sugar to create a rich and velvety consistency, and combining them in harmony.
Egg Tart (Dan Tat) – Traditional Recipe From Hong Kong
The quintessential Chinese dessert, the egg tart, is a delightful concoction comprising a pastry crust shell and a creamy egg mixture reminiscent of a flan. What’s remarkable about this treat is that it can be crafted using ordinary ingredients, albeit with some special instructions to achieve its signature flavor and texture.
Tang Yuan Recipe (Glutinous Rice Balls) With Sweet Ginger Syrup
Tang Yuan is a beloved traditional Chinese dessert often enjoyed during the Winter Solstice celebration and the Lantern Festival on the final day of the Chinese New Year festivities. The process of crafting these glutinous rice balls requires some elbow grease, as you’ll need to knead the dough, add food coloring for that pop of color, and roll them into bite-sized orbs.
While they can be quite delightful just as they are, a drizzle of sweet ginger syrup takes them to the next level, elevating their flavor profile with a hint of warmth and spice.
Chinese Banana Fritters
A sweet treat that’s both crispy and indulgent, coating bananas in a thin batter and then frying them to perfection is a beloved Chinese dessert. The result is a delightful bite-sized snack that can be enjoyed on its own or paired with a drizzle of honey or powdered sugar for added sweetness.
Delicious Red Bean Soup With Black Glutinous Rice Dessert
In the realm of Chinese desserts, a plethora of options exists, but one intriguing recipe stands out: a rice-based dessert soup that requires patience and dedication. This delectable treat necessitates a full day’s preparation, as it demands six hours of slow cooking to develop its unique flavor profile.
The star of this show is undoubtedly the tapioca pearls, which impart an addictive texture that adds depth and complexity to each spoonful.
Green Tea Coconut Milk Ice Cream
There’s a sweet treat that has me absolutely enthralled – Chinese-style ice cream that I just can’t stop raving about. This unique dessert is surprisingly simple to make, requiring only three key ingredients: coconut milk, matcha green tea powder, and maple syrup. With such an uncomplicated ingredient list, it’s no wonder this recipe has the potential to create pure magic in your ice cream maker.
Xiaodianxin | Eggless Chinese Butter Cookies
A staple in many cuisines, including traditional Chinese desserts, a classic butter cookie is a must-have addition to any recipe collection. Its addictive crunch and subtle sweetness make it a treat that’s hard to resist, regardless of the shape you choose to give it.
Traditional Eight Treasure Rice Pudding
Are you eager to usher in the Lunar New Year with a sweet treat? Then look no further than the coveted eight treasure rice pudding, a culinary delight that’s sure to impress. If you’re feeling adventurous and want to try your hand at making this delectable dessert, be sure to check out a reliable recipe complete with step-by-step instructions and visuals to guide you along the way.
Mung Bean Cake
In China, mung bean cake is a beloved dessert often served at afternoon tea gatherings. What’s unique about this sweet treat is that it requires some preparation ahead of time – eight hours to be exact, spent pre-soaking the beans before starting the recipe. This traditional dessert offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures, which are expertly conveyed through its simple yet comprehensive recipe.
The instructions are accompanied by crystal-clear images, making it easy for anyone to follow along.
Chinese Sweet Dumplings
Indulge in the delightful fusion of textures and flavors with these delectable sweet dumplings from our Chinese dessert recipes collection. Traditionally devoured during the vibrant lantern festival celebrations, these bite-sized morsels boast an exterior coating of glutinous rice flour, giving way to a rich and nutty peanut filling within.
At their peak of freshness and flavor, these succulent treats are best savored immediately after preparation, allowing you to fully appreciate their harmonious balance of textures and tastes.
Fried Dough Sticks (Quẩy/Youtiao)
In the world of traditional Chinese sweets, a distinctive characteristic is the subtle sweetness level. A prime example of this is the humble fried dough stick, which, surprisingly, contains no added sugar whatsoever – yet it’s commonly regarded as an appetizer, snack, or even dessert option.
The unique charm of these treats lies in their dough preparation process.
Rather than being freshly made, the dough is typically set aside 12 to 24 hours prior to frying, allowing it to chill and develop a distinct texture that’s then deep-fried to crispy perfection.
Hup Toh Soh (Old-fashioned Chinese Walnut Biscuits)
The tantalizing aroma of traditional Chinese desserts is hard to resist, especially when they’re crunchy on the outside, nutty, sweet, and salty. These bite-sized biscuits are reminiscent of small cookies in terms of size and shape. What’s more fascinating is that there are two distinct versions to indulge in – one with a satisfying crunch exterior giving way to a soft, fluffy interior, and another that melts effortlessly in your mouth.
The bottom line
Discover a world of sweet indulgence with our curated selection of Chinese desserts, tailored to suit every palate and time constraint. Whether you’re in the mood for something light and refreshing or rich and decadent, we’ve got you covered! From traditional treats to modern twists, explore our collection of mouth-watering recipes that are sure to satisfy your cravings.
