Indonesian Desserts

Fried bananas or plantains are a common everyday snack eaten throughout Indonesia. They come in numerous versions in which the fruit is simply fried in shallow oil, but more often sliced banana pieces are coated in batter before they are fried unt... READ MORE

These traditional, small-sized Indonesian pancakes are usually prepared with rice flour and coconut milk. The pancakes are incredibly versatile, they come in sweet and savory versions, and can be adapted with wheat flour and various toppings such ... READ MORE

Wajik or wajid is a traditional sticky rice cake originating from Java. It's usually made with a combination of glutinous rice, palm sugar, coconut milk, pandan leaves, and salt. The glutinous rice is soaked, washed, steamed, and cooked in a skill... READ MORE

These Indonesian rice balls are prepared with glutinous rice flour shell that is wrapped around a palm sugar filling. The outer shell is usually colored green, traditionally with the help of pandan or dracaena leaves, while the whole cake is coate... READ MORE

Usually sold by street vendors, this steamed cake is prepared with glutinous rice flour that is flavored and colored with pandan leaves. The mixture is traditionally steamed in bamboo tubes, while the center of the cake is filled with palm sugar. ... READ MORE

Kue lapis is a layered steamed cake widely enjoyed in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Brunei, known for its vibrant colors, soft, chewy texture, and delicate coconut-infused flavor. The name comes from the Malay a... READ MORE

Es teler is a refreshing combination that usually consists of jackfruit, avocado, coconut, condensed milk, syrup, and shaved or crushed ice, but the variations may include other ingredients such as flavored jelly and different types of fruit. This... READ MORE

Dadar gulung is a traditional dessert consisting of a thin rice flour crêpe that is filled with grated coconut. Pancake batter is traditionally infused with pandan leaves which add flavor and impart a vibrant green color to the pancakes, but... READ MORE

Lapis legit, also known as Indonesian spekkoek, is a rich, multi-layered spice cake that is one of Indonesia’s most famous and luxurious desserts. Inspired by Dutch spekkoek during the colonial period, lapis leg... READ MORE

This versatile Indonesian dessert is made with boiled and mashed cassava. The cassava base is then sweetened and often enriched with coconut and natural or food colorings in order to create decorative sweets. The rustic version combines mashed cas... READ MORE

In its basic form, Indonesian kolak consists of a sweet base prepared with a combination of coconut milk and sugar that is often flavored with pandan leaves. The varieties typically differ in the main ingredient, and the most common versions usual... READ MORE

This traditional coconut cake is typically associated with Java, more precisely the region of Lamongan and the small city of Babat. Though the ingredients may vary, it is usually prepared with rice flour, grated coconut, and fresh coconut milk. It... READ MORE

Nagasari is a traditional cake. It's made with flour and coconut milk batter and slices of banana. The combination is wrapped in banana leaves, then steamed to perfection. The texture is soft, creamy, and slightly wobbly. The batter is usually mad... READ MORE

Kue ape, also known as serabi Jakarta, is regarded as an Indonesian take on Indian pancakes known as appam. Indonesian version, which is usually associated with Jakarta, is prepared with a batter consisting of wheat flour, palm sugar, coconut milk... READ MORE

Klappertaart is a traditional dessert with Dutch influence, hence the name. The dessert is usually made with a combination of grated coconut, eggs, flour, sugar, butter, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and raisins. The ingredients are mixed togethe... READ MORE

Kue cucur is a traditional snack that's also popular in Malaysia (kuih cucur) and Thailand (khanom fak bua). It's made with a combination of palm sugar, fried rice flour, and coconut milk that's fried until crispy. This sweet snack is usu... READ MORE

Bubur kacang hijau is a traditional sweet porridge originating from Indonesia. It’s usually made with a combination of mung beans, sugar, palm sugar, coconut milk, pandan leaves, ginger, and salt. In order to prepare it, the mung beans shoul... READ MORE

Bubur ketan hitam is a traditional sweet porridge originating from Indonesia. It’s usually made with a combination of coconut milk, palm or cane sugar, and black glutinous rice. Despite the name, once cooked, the rice turns dark purple, not ... READ MORE

Odading is a traditional snack originating from Indonesia. It's usually made with a combination of flour, yeast, eggs, salt, and sugar. Once prepared, the dough is left to rise until it's doubled in size, and pieces of the dough are then fried in ... READ MORE