In this blog we are going to discover the most pppular Filipino pudding recipes that you can make at home. This selection of dishes have a variety of flavours and textures. From the creamy leche flan to the chewy biko, these treats are perfect for celebrations or satisfying sweet cravings.
1. Leche Flan
Leche flan is one of the most loved desserts in the Philippines, known for its smooth, creamy texture and deep caramel flavour. This classic treat often served during special occasions, is typically made in an oval llanera mould with a glossy, golden-brown caramel top. The silky custard—richer than crème caramel—is made from egg yolks, condensed milk, evaporated milk, sugar, and a touch of vanilla. It's typically served chilled and keeps people coming back for more.
2. Bibingka
Bibingka is a comforting Filipino rice cake popular during the Christmas season, often sold outside churches in the early mornings. Baked in banana leaf-lined pans, it’s round, flat, and golden-topped, with a soft, spongy center and lightly crisp edges. Topped with salted egg, cheese, or grated coconut, it offers a unique blend of sweet flavour. Made from rice flour, coconut milk, sugar, and eggs, its moist, slightly chewy texture and has an earthy banana leaf aroma.
3. Suman
Suman is a traditional Filipino sticky rice cake wrapped in banana leaves, usually shaped like small logs or rectangles. It looks rustic with its leaf wrapping, and inside, you’ll find soft, sticky, glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk, giving it a subtly sweet, creamy flavour and chewy texture. Sometimes paired with sugar or latik (toasted coconut curds), suman offers a comforting, mildly sweet experience rooted in Filipino culture. Expect a naturally sweet, rich, satisfying bite that’s profoundly flavourful.
4. Taho
Taho is a warm, silky snack made of fresh soft/silken tofu served in a cup, topped with sweet caramelized brown sugar syrup (arnibal) and chewy tapioca pearls (sago). It looks like a smooth creamy white pudding with dark syrup pooling on top. It tastes lightly sweet and has a delicate, custard-like softness balanced by the chewy tapioca. Made from soybeans, brown sugar, and tapioca, taho is an everyday comfort food—warm, sweet, and soothing, perfect for breakfast or a quick treat.
5. Puto
Puto is a fluffy steamed rice cake, often small and round, with a soft, slightly spongy texture. It’s usually white but can come in pastel colours, sometimes topped with cheese or salted egg for a savoury contrast. Made from rice flour, sugar, and coconut milk or water, puto tastes mildly sweet but has a light texture.
6. Buko Pandan
Buko Pandan is a refreshing Filipino dessert made from young coconut strips (buko) mixed with pandan-flavored gelatin cubes in sweetened cream. It looks vibrant with green pandan jelly contrasting the white coconut strips and tastes creamy, sweet, and fragrant with a delicate pandan aroma—a floral, slightly nutty flavour. The main ingredients include young coconut, pandan leaves or essence, gelatin, sugar, and cream or condensed milk. Expect a calm, light, fragrant, soothing, and delightfully textured dessert.
7. Maja Blanca
Maja Blanca is a creamy coconut milk pudding made from cornstarch and sugar, often topped with toasted coconut or latik (caramelized coconut curds). It looks like a smooth, white, firm pudding cut into squares, with a mild sweetness and rich coconut flavour. The texture is silky yet firm enough to hold its shape, similar to a soft jelly or custard. It's a comforting, sweet treat with a tropical twist, made from coconut milk, cornstarch, sugar, and sometimes corn kernels.
8. Cassava Cake
Cassava Cake is a baked dessert made from grated cassava (a starchy root), coconut milk, and condensed milk, often topped with a creamy custard layer and sometimes grated cheese. It looks golden on top with a slightly chewy, moist interior. The flavour is sweet, rich, and coconutty, with a unique texture that’s dense but tender.
9. Guinataan
Guinataan refers to Filipino desserts or dishes cooked in coconut milk, often with sticky rice, bananas, sweet potatoes, and tapioca pearls. It looks like a creamy, soupy concoction with chunks of colourful fruits or root vegetables, tasting rich, sweet, and slightly savoury from the coconut milk. The main ingredients include coconut milk, sugar, root crops or fruits, and sometimes tapioca. Expect a warm creamy filling treat that’s deeply comforting and perfect for cool days.
10. Polvoron
Polvoron is a crumbly, sweet Filipino shortbread made from toasted flour, powdered milk, sugar, and butter. It’s usually shaped into small, compact discs or squares wrapped in colourful paper. The taste is buttery and sweet with a melt-in-your-mouth texture that crumbles easily, making it a popular snack or gift.
