Indonesia, an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, is known for its rich cultural diversity and delightful of desserts that add a sweet touch to every meal. Indonesian desserts reflect the country’s diverse culinary heritage, combining rich flavours, textures, and ingredients. From the famous traditional Lupis to refreshing drinks, these desserts offer a tantalizing conclusion to any dining experience. Social Expat has listed the Traditional Indonesian Desserts that are worth the taste.
Lupis: Best Indonesian Dessert Rice Cake Wraps
One of the popular Indonesian desserts in Yogyakarta is Lupis mbah Satinem. Netflix once filmed her delicious Indonesian dessert, and it is now getting more popular. Lupis consists of diamond-shaped parcels made from glutinous rice flour, which are then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed. These parcels are served with a sweet sauce from palm sugar, coconut milk, and pandan leaves.
Klepon and Kue Putu: Indonesian Sweet Rice Cake Bombs
One of the most beloved Indonesian street food desserts is Klepon, which often comes with kue putu. These bite-sized green rice cake balls are filled with melted palm sugar and coated in grated coconut. The rice cake’s chewy texture, the sweet liquid from the palm sugar, and the nutty coating make Klepon a delightful explosion of flavours and textures in every bite. This is a sweet, delightful Indonesian snack that everyone can enjoy.
Es Teler: Popular Indonesian Tropical Fruit with Avocado and Coconut
Es Teler is a refreshing Indonesian dessert that is essentially a tropical fruit cocktail. It typically includes a mix of jackfruit, avocado, coconut, and other fruits, all bathed in a sweet coconut milk soup. The creamy avocado and coconut add a luxurious and indulgent touch to this delightful concoction, making it a popular choice to beat the tropical heat.
Cendol: Icy Delight with Sweetened Coconut Milk
Cendol is a popular Indonesian sweet that combines green jelly noodles made from rice flour with shaved ice, coconut milk, and palm sugar. The jelly noodles give the dessert a unique chewy texture, while the combination of ice, coconut milk, and palm sugar provides a perfect balance of sweetness and freshness. Cendol is a go-to dessert to cool down on a hot day.
Kue Lapis Legit: Layer Cake
Kue Lapis, a popular Indonesian layered cake, is a culinary masterpiece that has become synonymous with celebrations and festive occasions. Translating to “layered cake,” Kue Lapis is made by meticulously layering different-coloured and flavoured batter to create a visually stunning striped pattern. The base typically consists of coconut milk, rice flour, and sugar, while each layer may be infused with pandan, chocolate, or other delightful essences.
Bubur Sumsum: Rice Porridge with Coconut Milk
Bubur Sumsum is a smooth and sweet rice porridge made with coconut sugar and milk. It is often flavoured with pandan leaves and served with a drizzle of palm sugar syrup, creating a comforting and indulgent dessert.
Angsle: Warm Coconut Soup with Toppings
Angsle is a warm dessert street food which consists of soup featuring coconut milk, mung beans, glutinous rice, and various toppings like slices of bread, fried peanuts, and fried shallots. It’s often seasoned with pandan leaves and a touch of salt.
Jajanan Pasar: Assorted Market Snacks
Jajanan Pasar refers to a variety of traditional market snacks, including Klepon (rice cake balls filled with palm sugar), Getuk (cassava-based sweet bites), and Nagasari (steamed banana and rice flour cakes). These snacks are colourful and flavorful and reflect the diversity of Javanese sweets.
Serabi: Traditional Indonesian Desserts Coconut Pancakes
Serabi are small, thick pancakes made from a batter of rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. They are usually cooked on a small earthenware griddle, giving them a unique texture. It tastes like coconut pudding but in a different texture. Serabi can be served with sweet toppings like chocolate, grated coconut, or palm sugar.
Dawet: Cendol in Coconut Milk
Dawet is a popular Javanese dessert made with rice flour jelly noodles (cendol) served in a sweet coconut milk soup. It often includes shaved ice, making it a refreshing and satisfying treat, especially in warm weather.
Bakpia: Mung Bean-filled Pastries
While Bakpia is not exclusive to Java, it is widely enjoyed in the region. These pastries are filled with sweet mung bean paste and can have various flavours, including chocolate and green tea. Bakpia is often enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee. The famous bakery of Bakpia you can find is in Yogyakarta City in Indonesia.
Dadar Gulung: Pandan Pancake Rolls
Dadar Gulung is a traditional Indonesian green dessert made from pandan-flavoured pancakes rolled around a sweet coconut and palm sugar filling. The pandan leaves give the pancakes their distinctive colour and impart a unique fragrance to the dish. Combining the soft, green pancakes and the sweet, aromatic filling creates a harmonious blend of tastes and textures.
Embark on a journey for your sweet bites by trying Indonesian desserts!
Indonesian desserts offer a delightful conclusion to every meal, combining a symphony of flavours, textures, and colours. From traditional classics like Klepon and Dadar Gulung to refreshing treats like Es Teler and Cendol, these desserts showcase the creativity and diversity of Indonesia’s culinary heritage. Whether you have a sweet tooth or are simply looking to explore the rich tapestry of Indonesian cuisine, these desserts will surely provide a sweet ending to any dining experience.
