10 Most Insanely Good Filipino Merienda

Sweets produce “happiness hormones.” In fact having that sweet dessert after a hearty feast is the most satisfying part of the meal.

Filipinos typically prepare delicious treats that the whole family will enjoy using tropical ingredients like coconuts and fruits. Rice, particularly sticky rice and even glutinous rice, is a common ingredient used in merienda recipes like the famous sapin-sapin and palitaw.

The sweet treats you hear about such as a special Halo-halo are just a tiny portion of the fantastic merienda that Filipinos enjoy! Anyone can have a taste of these authentic Filipino recipes at the Manila Food Mart ,Lake Forest, Orange County.

Let’s see how much you know about some yummy Filipino merienda favorites! Read on!

#1 Buko Pandan

Talking about a crowd pleaser during gatherings, Buko Pandan is one of them. There are three main ingredients in this sweet and cooling Filipino treat: Sweetened cream, gelatin laced with pandan, and coconut.

Is it difficult to prepare? All you need to do is combine all the ingredients with the right proportion, then refrigerate it. A bowl of joy is in your hands after a few hours! Buko Pandan is aromatic and coconutty. This dessert is truly tropical and no wonder, a winner at every birthday party or during simple warm midday.

#2 Cassava Cake

Gluten-free diet? Good news for you!

The name Cassava Cake refers to a classic Filipino cake made with grated cassava and coconut milk coated with molten custard at the top. Its texture is interestingly firm but also soft and just a little chewy. The ingredients used are absolutely gluten-free!

The extra ingredients from making the cake itself also work perfectly as toppings! The most well-liked ones include Macapuno, a sweet type of Filipino coconut, and light cheddar cheese shreds to balance everything. Yum!

#3 Turon

Thought you could never be satisfied with Lumpiang Shanghai? Wait until you try Turon!

Falling in the category of widely consumed lumpia dishes, Turon is one of its sweet varieties. Made with Saba banana and jackfruit wrapped in a thin wheat wrapper, you can never miss this famous Filipino treat hitting the street when it’s Merienda time! Fried to a golden crisp, turon can be drizzled with caramel or dusted with roasted sesame seeds.

#4 Biko

Feel the love of a family member preparing that famous Biko. This tasty merienda favorite demands time and patience to perfect! It involves stirring the sticky rice consistently to prevent it from sticking to the pot and preparing another recipe for the top layer known as Latik. It somehow resembles cassava cake in appearance given that Biko is also a type of rice cake.

This delicious dessert commonly prepared on birthdays, holidays, and special occasions, is sticky, fragrant, and nutty sweet! Why not welcome Biko in your next gathering?

#5 Puto

Despite its neutral flavor, Puto is a favorite rice cake especially when it is served with a tasty dinuguan.

A wide variety of Puto with variations in consistency, form, size, color, and flavor is a product of the playful Pinoy taste bud. Some Puto are cooked with a delicious pork filling while some have variations in flavor like the Ube Puto. Others would rather stick to the usual strip of cheese and salted egg at the top.

Puto is equally as versatile as the Filipinos themselves!

#6 Kutsinta

This orange variant of the traditional Filipino steamed rice cake is just as well-liked and delectable!

Kutsinta has the same fundamental ingredients as most rice cakes, but the presence of food-grade lye produces a thick and chewy texture. Also, brown sugar and annatto seeds are what give it a hint of orange color. It is commonly sold together with Puto, and Filipinos love to eat them together too! Why not give this nostalgic combination a try!

#7 Leche Flan

Leche Flan has that sweet, creamy flavor that nearly no one could possibly resist!

Leche flan may look familiar because it is similar to Creme Caramel. It is a pudding that the Filipinos steam cook with milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla flavoring. It is so delicious that it smoothly and slowly melts in your mouth!

A perfectly cooked Leche flan has achieved a silky soft texture and is typically oval-shaped for using tin molds called ‘llaneras‘ to prepare.

Serve this simple yet luscious dessert chilled and drizzled with caramel syrup for the perfect indulgence!

#8 Halo-halo

Halo-halo means “mix-mix” or “assorted,” and it perfectly describes the dish’s technique and style! Discover why it’s worthwhile to try this festive Filipino dish that you’ve probably heard about on social media a lot!

Bananas, sweet potatoes, jackfruit, and red mongo beans are among the most commonly used ingredients in this fruit and bean combination summer snack. But do you still remember Leche Flan? It is also one of the more appealing ingredients to add along with various colorful cubes of fruit jellies. It is then finished off with finely crushed ice, milk, and a scoop of Ube ice cream at the top!

Let this combination of various sweet delights and superb eye-pleasing cold dessert comfort you! Visit Manila Food Mart and be ready for a great serving of an authentic Halo-halo.

But wait, a photo of this fresh Halo-halo will surely be great for your next Instagram post!

#9 Taho

Tahooooo?! Anyone?

For many Filipinos, this traditional dessert Taho evokes flashbacks of their youth in the Philippines.

Identical desserts may be found in many Asian countries, especially the silkiest tofu variety. Similar practices apply to Pinoy Taho, but Filipinos prefer a sweet arnibal syrup with tiny sago pearls in their hot Taho.

Early in the morning, street vendors routinely sell this very affordable, tasty, high-protein breakfast item. A cup of Taho is every kid’s favorite treat! How about reliving the nostalgia?

#10 Ube Halaya

There are a lot of tasty desserts and merienda to try in the Philippines. Pinoys love to play around with different sweet treats to find the right balance of taste. Ube Halaya is one of these deliciously well-balanced desserts. It has a soft, creamy consistency and a mildly sweet taste.

Ube Halaya is one of these deliciously well-balanced desserts. Patiently cook a perfect purple yam or Ube with some milk and sugar. Mix to get that sticky, smooth texture and you will have that heavenly Halaya.

Dig in! Enjoy a truly sweet treat that you can never resist!

The Sweet Conclusion

Merienda can mean either sweet or savory food in the Philippines. It is a habit that is hard to break, a time to eat your favorite turon, halo halo or rice cakes!

And whether you have a sweet tooth or none at all, a handful of these Filipino sweet treats for your merienda satisfies those cravings.

Great that Manila Food Mart in Orange County has prepared those authentic and affordable merienda treats for you and your family.

Delight those taste buds! Bring back nostalgia! Visit Us!