21 Famous Filipino Desserts. This is an updated list based on an earlier collection of 10 Filipino desserts for Noche Buena. These sweets are enjoyed year-round: ice cream for hot days, Window Cathedral for breakfast, and Biko for New Year celebrations. Many of these treats are perfect for children’s snacks or family gatherings. Below are 21 beloved Filipino desserts with short descriptions and links to recipes.
21 Famous Filipino Desserts
Ube Cake Recipe
A soft, moist Ube cake inspired by a popular bakery. Layers of purple yam cake are paired with a tangy cream cheese frosting for a richly flavored dessert you can make at home.
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Ube Cookie Crinkles
These ube-flavored crinkle cookies use powdered ube for color and crunch, delivering a noticeable purple yam flavor without the need for ube halaya. Great for gift giving.
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Mango Cake Recipe
A moist mango cake with a light, fluffy frosting. This recipe delivers bright mango flavor without heavy butter, making it a refreshing choice for celebrations.
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Mango Ice Cream
A simple no-churn mango ice cream made with only a few ingredients. Creamy and smooth, it’s a perfect homemade treat for warm days.
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Ube Ice Cream
A vivid purple ube ice cream that captures the sweet, nutty flavor of purple yam. Learn its background and how to make it at home.
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Puto Cheese with Egg Whites
A light, steamed rice cake topped with cheese. This version uses whipped egg whites for extra lift, resulting in tender, fluffy puto.
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Soft and Fluffy Ensaymada
A classic Filipino brioche-like pastry topped with butter, sugar, and cheese. This recipe yields soft, cheesy ensaymadas with step-by-step guidance for reliable results.
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Suman Muron (Moron)
Wrapped in banana leaves and steamed, moron is a sticky rice and coconut dessert similar to suman. It’s flavorful, portable, and a traditional favorite.
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Perfect Window Cathedral
Also called Cathedral Window, this creamy gelatin dessert combines soft, jiggly layers and colorful jellies for a nostalgic treat often served during the holidays.
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Twisted Doughnut (Shakoy)
Crispy on the outside and soft inside, shakoy are twisted doughnuts dusted with sugar. This fail-proof recipe yields golden, addictive treats.
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Filipino Mango Float Cake (Ice Box Cake)
A no-bake, chilled dessert layered with cream, graham crackers, and fresh mango. It’s a popular potluck favorite and easy to adapt with other fruits.
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Halo-Halo (Filipino Shaved Ice Sundae)
A refreshing summer treat made with shaved ice, evaporated milk, sweetened beans, jellies, fruits, and a scoop of ice cream—customizable and cooling.
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Easy Biko
A sticky rice cake made with glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar, topped with latik. Simple steps and a comforting, caramel-like flavor make it a holiday favorite.
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Puto Flan (Leche Puto)
A hybrid dessert combining steamed rice cakes and leche flan. It’s a crowd-pleasing combination of soft puto topped with silky caramel custard.
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Leche Flan with Cream Cheese
A creamy leche flan enriched with cream cheese for extra silkiness. The caramelized sugar top gives it a glossy finish and rich flavor.
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Easy Maja Blanca
A coconut-based pudding made with coconut milk and cornstarch, often studded with sweet corn. Smooth, creamy, and commonly served at celebrations.
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Special Bibingka
A traditional rice cake baked in banana leaves, often topped with salted egg and cheese. Bibingka is especially popular during the Christmas season.
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Buko Pandan Salad
A light, creamy salad made with young coconut (buko), pandan-flavored jelly, and sweetened cream. Refreshing and common at gatherings and fiestas.
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Bilo-Bilo with Langka (Jackfruit)
A warm, comforting dessert of glutinous rice balls in sweet coconut milk, often served with slices of jackfruit. It’s hearty and naturally sweet.
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Purple Sweet Potato Pie (Kamote Pie)
An easy alternative to ube pie using purple sweet potato (kamote). It mimics the color and flavor of ube pie for when ube isn’t available.
Brazo de Mercedes
A classic rolled meringue cake filled with a silky custard. This no-fail recipe is forgiving for first timers and makes an elegant dessert for celebrations.
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Palitaw
Flat, sweet rice cakes that “float” when cooked, palitaw are coated in grated coconut, sugar, and toasted sesame seeds—simple and beloved street snack.
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