Try searching the best desserts in the Philippines and you will always see this dessert in one of the top five! This colourful layered dessert is called Halo-Halo which translates to “mix-mix.” It is the epitome of Philippine desserts and usually craved during summer, and nobody can resist it. From locals to tourists, everybody loves a tall glass of Halo-Halo. It showcases how totally different (and sometimes random) components can come together to make something yummy and delightful!

Halo-Halo desserts were originally sold by Japanese vendors along numerous street stalls. In fact, this Filipino speciality is said to have been inspired by a shaved-ice cooler called anmitsu, another Japanese summer drink.

There are limitless variants of Halo-Halo. Ideally, it is a mélange of assorted sweetened beans and seasoned fruits topped with finely shaved ice, evaporated milk and/or ice cream. The mix-ins range from nata de coco, red mung beans, chickpeas, sago pearls, jelly, sweetened saba banana (Asian plantains), sweet potato, coconut, ube (purple yam) jam, leche flan, jackfruit, fried pinipig (flattened immature rice grains), sweet corn crisps and ice cream. How’s that for complexity! As its name suggests, you have to mix all of the ingredients together to enjoy this refreshing dessert.

This dessert is a real deal of sweet refreshment! Once you combine all the ingredients, it’s an explosion of diverse flavors. It’s an exciting sweet adventure in a glass!

Rating

Prep Time10 minsTotal Time10 mins

Sweet red bean (munggo)

Sweet white beans

Coconut gel (nata de coco)

Macapuno (gelatinous coconut string)

Fresh or canned jackfruit, cut into chunks

Purple yam ice cream (this is the traditional choice, but any ice cream will do!)

23 cups Shaved ice

¼ cup Evaporated milk

Note: • It is essential to use shaved ice, not crushed or ice cubes. Shaved ice effortlessly mixes with the other ingredients particularly with the evaporated milk. There is no strict measure as to how much of each ingredient is needed but approx. 1 tbsp for each is recommendable.

In a serving glass preferably a tall one, layer the variety of mixed fruit and beans - sweet red bean, sweet white beans, coconut gel, macapuno, and jackfruit.

With a shaved ice machine, process the ice until refined.

Cap the mixture with shaved ice until it fills the entire glass.

Gently pour about ¼ cup of evaporated milk over shaved ice.

Finish off with a scoop of purple yam ice cream on top.

Equipment:

Tall Glass
Measuring cups and spoon
Scoop
Ice Shaver Machine

Ingredients