Thailand is known for its delicious cuisine and famous savory dishes such as Pad Thai, but also some traditional Thai desserts.
Contents show
People all over the world have fallen in love with Thai cuisine. We love the lemongrass and other spices, and we also love all of the delicious coconut milk they use in their recipes. Whether you love pad Thai, fried rice, or other Thai food favorites, you definitely need to make some Thai desserts.
When exploring Thai cuisine, you’ll quickly discover that it’s not just about the flavorful savory dishes, but also the enticing world of Thai desserts. In Thailand, these sweet treats play an essential role in the country’s cuisine and cultural celebrations. As you venture into the rich culinary landscape of Thai desserts, you’ll find an incredible array of flavors, textures, and ingredients that are distinctly Thai.
These popular desserts often feature key ingredients such as coconut milk, sticky rice, and tropical fruits like mango, jackfruit, and banana. Thai desserts are not only visually pleasing but also masterfully balanced in terms of taste. As you taste these creations, you’ll notice that they delicately combine sweet, salty, and even spicy flavors.
From street vendors to fine-dining establishments, Thai desserts can be found throughout the country, enticing both locals and visitors alike. Indulging in these scrumptious delights not only offers you the opportunity to savor unique flavors, but also allows you to explore an essential aspect of Thailand’s diverse and cherished food culture.
In this article, I will cover 21 traditional Thai desserts. So, next time you’re struggling to find a tropical dessert, you have plenty of choices!
Keep reading to find out more.
1. Mango Sticky Rice
Mango sticky rice is a traditional Thai dessert and it couldn’t be simpler to make.
Simply add the rice to a pan and soak it in a cup of water for 20-30 minutes. Next, add ½ cup more water and ½ can of coconut milk, 1 tablespoon of brown sugar, and salt.
Bring the rice to a boil and simmer for 20-30 minutes until the water has evaporated.
Place the remaining coconut milk into a saucepan and add 3 tablespoons brown sugar, stirring to dissolve.
Add the sweet sticky rice to a bowl, drizzle with the coconut sauce, and add chopped mango. Delicious!
2. Thai Coconut ice cream
This coconut ice cream recipe is the refreshing treat you need when trying to combat the heat in Thailand. It is mouthwateringly tasty any time of the year, but is particularly great for the summer.
To make this delicious treat, simply combine coconut milk, palm sugar, white sugar, and salt in a pot and cook over medium heat until all the sugar is dissolved.
Stir in the coconut water and a dash of vodka (optional) to prevent the ice cream from freezing too much.
Add the mixture to an ice cream machine and churn according to your specific ice cream machine’s instructions.
3. Banana In Sticky Rice
Banana in sticky rice, also known as Khao Tom Mud, is a rich, creamy dessert great for banana lovers.
Soak rice in water overnight. Heat up 1 cup of coconut milk in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Once thickening, add the rest of the coconut milk, sugar and salt.
Drain the rice and add it to the coconut milk and stir until all of the milk has been absorbed.
Layer 2 tbsp rice on the banana leaf, sandwich a piece of banana, then top it with another 2 tbsp of rice. Wrap the banana leaf from side to side then fold the top and bottom and secure with rubber bands.
Steam for 45 minutes and you have your dessert!
4. Thai Pancakes
Thai pancakes (roti) are an indulgent, filling street food that are the perfect dessert.
Combine the wet ingredients in a bowl with the sugar and salt. Sift the flour before combining with the bowl of wet ingredients.
Knead until you have a dough. Let it rest for 30 mins.
Form the dough into several balls. Knead and stretch the dough balls out with a rolling pin, before adding them one by one to a hot griddle or pan.
While frying, add chopped banana, strawberries or condensed milk for the filling.
Fold all ends of the dough in to cover the filling, and flip!
5. Sticky Rice Balls In Coconut Milk
Boa loy or sticky rice balls is a sweet and warming Thai dessert.
Pour 1/2 cup of hot water into sticky rice flour and knead until a dough is formed. Roll into balls.
Bring a pot of water to boil and cook the rice flour balls. Once the rice balls begin floating to the top, remove the balls and place them into a bowl.
Combine coconut milk, sugar, and salt in a saucepan. Heat on the stove and stir until all of the sugar has dissolved.
6. Thai Coconut Mango Jelly
Thai Jello is similar to jelly in western countries. In Thailand it is sliced up and usually covered with different toppings.
First bring agar agar powder, water, sugar and coconut milk slowly to boil in a saucepan, stirring constantly until the sugar has dissolved.
When the bottom layer has cooled halfway, stir in mango puree. Pour the mixture into a cake pan so that it is no more than 3/4 full. Chill until set.
Make the top layer by bringing the agar agar powder, sugar, water and pandan essence to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar is dissolved. Add the salt, and mix well. Stir in the mango puree.
7. Thai Mango Coconut Pudding
This Thai mango coconut pudding has a delicious tropical flavor you won’t be able to get enough of!
Scoop out flesh from the mangoes before adding to a food processor. Blend to make a smooth mango purée. Add coconut milk and stir to combine. Set aside.
Pour boiling water into a large bowl. Sprinkle gelatin powder over water. Stir to dissolve gelatin. Add sugar. Stir again to dissolve sugar. Add mango-coconut mixture. Stir to combine.
Pour into small glasses. Leave the pudding to set in the refrigerator. Decorate with chopped mangoes
8. Coconut Mango Tapioca Pudding
This coconut mango tapioca pudding recipe is super indulgent using the humble tapioca pearl (edible spheres made from tapioca). The ripe mangoes bring a refreshingly sweet flavor, while the coconut milk and maple syrup make the pudding rich and creamy.
Begin by soaking the tapioca pearls in 1 cup of coconut milk.
Transfer the soaked tapioca pearls mixture into a saucepan and add coconut milk, sweetener, vanilla, and salt.
Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat and allow the pudding to cool. Divide it between jars. Add chopped mango and voila!
9. Thai Fried Banana Fritters
Thai fried banana fritters are packed with flavor, but are also an easy dessert to make.
Peel the bananas and chop them along the length.
Combine all of the dry ingredients in a bowl and add the water gradually mixing in between to form a thick batter.
Heat the oil to 190 degrees in a pan. While the oil is heating up, coat each of the banana slices completely in the batter.
Follow by frying bananas until golden brown, turning them for an even color.
Serve them as they are with a generous helping of ice cream!
10. Homemade Thai Rolled Ice Cream
This dessert originated from Thailand, and is also known as stir-fried ice cream. Using only two ingredients, you can make an ice cream base that you can add whatever you like to. My favorite is Nutella!
To make your rolled ice cream base add the cream and condensed milk to a large metal baking tray and mix to combine.
Using an offset spatula mix the Nutella into the ice cream base until thoroughly combined and even in color. Freeze for 5 hours.
When ready to serve, run your spatula under the ice cream carefully rolling it into itself to form a spiral shape. Place your rolled ice cream in a cup and serve!
11. Thai Steamed Banana Cake
Thai steamed banana cake is absolutely delicious and naturally vegan!
Start by peeling 2 ripe bananas and place them in a mixing bowl, then mash them until they are smooth.
Add 1/2 cup of coconut cream, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1/8 cup of potato flour, 1/2 cup of rice flour, and 3/4 cup of grated coconut to the bowl.
Spoon the mixture into some moulds that are suitable for steaming, and then steam them for 30 minutes on a high heat.
Serve warm and enjoy!
12. Banana Spring Rolls
Banana spring rolls are crispy and decadent, decorated with a sprinkling of confectioner’s sugar.
Wrap half a saba banana and half a tablespoon of palm sugar in each spring roll wrappers, and be sure to seal with water.
Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Fry the banana spring rolls until golden brown and crispy, about 2 minutes per side.
Serve immediately while they are hot and pair them with a scoop of your favorite ice cream!
13. Thai Grilled Pineapple
Is there anything better than sticky, sweet grilled pineapple?
In a pan, melt better. Place the pineapple slices in the melted butter, sprinkle palm sugar and lemon juice on them.
Flip the pineapple slices immediately once so that the palm sugar and lemon juice gets evenly coated on both the sides.
Keep cooking the pineapple, stirring and flipping regularly until the palm sugar is dissolved. Keep frying once the sugar dissolves for another few m minutes, until the pineapple is nicely charred.
Enjoy immediately with a generous helping of yogurt!
14. Thai Sweet Rice Cakes
Thai sweet rice cakes are super sweet treats that couldn’t be easier to make.
Make Thai sticky rice. While the rice is cooking, prepare the square cake pan.
After the rice is cooked, add 1/2 cup sugar plus 3/4 cup coconut milk to the pan and combine.
Scoop 1/3 of the rice into your square cake pan. Split the remaining rice into two bowls and add 2 drops of pandan to the first to create a light green color. To the other bowl, add 5 more drops.
Layer light green over white, then dark green on top. You will have an ombre look from white to dark green!
15. Thai Coconut Pudding
Thai coconut pudding is a rich, indulgent, and super creamy Thai dessert recipe made with coconut meat.
Beat the eggs and sugar together. Add essence and coconut milk before mixing in shredded coconut.
Pour into a baking tray. Place the tray in a baking tray filled halfway with hot water.
Bake for 35 mins or till the top is brown and a tester comes out clean.
Chill and serve overturned on a plate.
Serve with fresh mango and Thai tea!
16. Thai Fruit Salad
It doesn’t get more refreshing than a delicious bowl of Thai fruit salad packed with exotic fruit.
Stir coconut milk, lime juice, and sugar together in a cup until the sugar dissolves.
Place all fresh fruit in a mixing bowl. Pour the sweet coconut mixture over the fruit and stir well to coat the fruit.
Pour or scoop the fruit salad into a serving bowl or into a carved-out pineapple.
Enjoy!
17. Thai Coconut Cake
If you’re looking for a dessert that isn’t overly sweet, this is the recipe for you.
Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl before adding the coconut cream and eggs. Mix until well combined.
Pour the mixture into a non-stick baking dish that is about 1-2 inches deep.
Place the cake in the oven and bake for 20 minutes at 428 degrees Fahrenheit.
Allow the cake to cool and enjoy!
18. Mung Bean Pudding
Mung bean pudding is a warming dessert and couldn’t be quicker to whip up.
Boil mung beans in 2 cups of water until tender.
Dissolve tapioca flour in a cup of water and add to the boiling mung beans. Add sugar, bring it back up to a boil and turn off the heat.
Mix coconut milk with salt, and pop it in the microwave until warm.
Add the coconut milk on top and tuck in!
19. Thai Mango Ice Cream
This take on mango ice cream is a super refreshing treat on a hot day.
Place yogurt and lime juice into a blender. Add frozen mango cubes and blend on high until it is a smooth consistency.
Either serve it soft-serve style, or place it in a cake pan and freeze for a minimum of an hour.
Serve and enjoy!
20. Thai Shaved Ice
Thai shaved ice is another delicious treat.
Soak dried basil seeds in ½ cup of warm water for 30 minutes.
Assemble the dessert in a bowl by layering soaked basil seeds, ice, and croutons.
Pour syrup over the ice and drizzle with condensed milk!
21. Mango Cake
Nothing beats an exotic mango cake. Start by beating eggs and 1 cup sugar until a ribbon forms.
Add coconut, then gradually add flour, baking powder, salt, melted and cooled coconut oil or butter, and 1 teaspoon coconut or vanilla extract.
Bake for 30-40 minutes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, and 1 tsp of vanilla extract. Fold whipping cream into cream cheese a little at a time.
Assemble and serve with fresh mango!
21 Traditional Thai Desserts (+Thai Grilled Pineapple)
These recipes are sure to please. So, gather your family and friends and enjoy. Let us know your thoughts!
5 from 6 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Total Time 34 minutes mins
Course Dessert
Cuisine Thai
Servings 4
Calories 289 kcal
Ingredients
- 6 thick pineapple slices
- 1 Tbsp. toasted grated coconut
- 3 Tbsp. melted salted butter
- 3 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1.5 tsp. palm sugar
- 6 tsp. Greek yogurt
Instructions
Coat the pineapple slices with melted butter and sprinkle them with lemon juice and sugar.
Grill the pineapple on both sides.
Serve with dollops of Greek yogurt.
Notes
Select your favorite recipe.
Organize all the required ingredients.
Enjoy the food.
Nutrition
Calories: 289kcal
Keyword thai desserts, thai grilled pineapple
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
- Author
- Recent Posts
Follow Us
Cassie Marshall
Cassie brings decades of experience to the Kitchen Community. She is a noted chef and avid gardener. Her new book "Healthy Eating Through the Garden" will be released shortly. When not writing or speaking about food and gardens Cassie can be found puttering around farmer's markets and greenhouses looking for the next great idea.
Follow Us
Latest posts by Cassie Marshall (see all)
- More Amazing Pumpkin Recipes - September 19, 2024
- More Tasty Halloween Dessert Recipes - September 19, 2024
- More Interesting Halloween Drink Recipes - September 19, 2024
Related Posts:
- Our Best Thai Recipes
- Central America's Rich Tapestry of Coconut Milk Recipes
- How to Use Oat Milk in Cooking
- Latte vs Cappuccino
- Arborio Rice and Seasonal Cooking
- Rice Milk Substitutes
- Coconut Milk in Filipino Cuisine
- Coconut Milk Substitutes
- Easy Pad See Ew Recipe (Thai Stir-Fried Rice Noodles)
- 25+ Easy Leftover Rice Recipes
- How to Use Evaporated Milk in Cooking
- Coconut Milk's Effect on Soup and Stew Consistency
- 30+ Easy Coconut Milk Recipes
- Coconut Milk in Tanzanian Cuisine
- Lemongrass Substitutes