Top 10 Chinese Desserts & Sweets
Chinese desserts and sweets offer a unique culinary experience with their sweet, creamy, fluffy, crunchy, and chewy elements. From the luscious mango pudding (Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen) to the classic Chinese Egg Tart, these traditional recipes have been tantalizing taste buds for centuries!
Whether you’re looking for something cool on a hot summer’s day or a special treat for Chinese New Year — these delicious desserts are sure to hit the spot and make any occasion that much sweeter. Let’s take a look at my top 10 Chinese delicacies!
1. Sweet Red Bean Soup
Give your taste buds a soothing break, and add some classic Chinese sweetness to the end of any meal with Sweet Red Bean Soup! Made from azuki beans, lotus seeds, and tangerine or orange peel (for their natural zestiness), this dessert-style delicacy offers just enough sweetness without being overpowering. Delightfully balanced — it’s an unforgettable way to complete your dinner.
Treat yourself to a bowl of nutritious and delicious Sweet Red Bean Soup no matter what the season! With added dates, sago, longan, or coconut milk — it’s an immunity-boosting delight that will satisfy your cravings for something both filling and healthy.
2. Mooncake
Mooncakes are the perfect sweet treat for any occasion! With fillings ranging from fruity honeydew, litchi, or pineapple to unusual variations like green tea or ice cream, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Beyond their absolutely delicious taste — their round shape signifies completion, oneness, and unity in Chinese culture.
Mooncakes have been enjoyed for centuries and are the perfect way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with friends or family — just cut them into small pieces and share them with everyone served up with some soothing hot Chinese tea. A truly classic culinary experience!
3. Nuomici
If you are looking for the perfect sweet snack to satisfy your cravings, look no further than Nuomici! This delectable ball-shaped pastry is made from soft glutinous rice flour that has been rolled in desiccated coconut. It can be filled with a variety of scrumptious fillings like sugar and peanuts to more exotic options such as azuki bean paste or black sesame seed paste.
This delicacy hails proudly from China (particularly Guangdong province) and Hong Kong — in fact, it’s one of their most popular desserts found in every bakery there! For those familiar with mochi, Nuomici has an even softer texture since its dough is steamed instead of boiled. So why wait? Enjoy some delicious Nuomici today and give yourself something to smile about!
4. Tong Sui
Tong Sui is very popular throughout the country. This sweet soup is made with either water or coconut milk as a base and can be found in shops dedicated to Tong Sui and at street stalls where vendors prepare it fresh and serve it hot.
Tong Sui has something for everyone! From strawberries to peanut paste, these Chinese soup desserts offer a rainbow of flavors. Top ’em off with some ice cream, fresh fruits, bittersweet herbal grass jelly, or those chewy glutinous rice dough balls called tong yuan — perfect whether it’s hot outside or you’re looking forward to cozying up in front of the fire.
5. Doushabao
Attention all foodies! Have you heard of Doushabao, the sweet and fluffy Chinese steamed buns filled with bean paste? If not, you’re in for a mouth-watering treat. These buns are a popular snack throughout China and have a growing following abroad.
The beauty of Doushabao lies in its simplicity. The soft and chewy exterior pairs perfectly with the sweet and creamy filling made from mung beans or red beans. Eating one transports you to the bustling streets of China, where vendors sell these little delicacies piping hot.
But don’t let the simplicity fool you. Each bite packs a flavorful punch, and you’ll find yourself reaching for more. It’s the perfect snack to munch on any time of the day or night. So go ahead, give your taste buds a treat, and indulge in the goodness of Doushabao. Trust me, you won’t regret it!
6. Manjū
Enjoy the delicacy of decadent Manjū, a beloved treat in Chinese culture! Available in myriad flavors like citrus, fruit, chocolate, or vanilla with an outer shell usually made from wheat flour — but you can use rice flour instead. They come decorated with vibrant colors to make them even more visually attractive.
The red and white Manjū is a popular treat — it’s appreciated by locals as an everyday dessert, given at weddings to say “thank you,” and taken to funerals. If tourists spot these delectable petite sweets, they often snap them up for souvenirs… After all, who could resist their enticing look?
7. Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen
Imagine a bowl full of sunshine — that’s Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen! This traditional Chinese dessert is the perfect mix of happiness in every bite, with its combination of sweet mango purée and creamy coconut milk. Served as part of dim sum or on its own, this delightful pudding will bring some positive vibes to your day!
Are you craving something cool on a hot summer night? Look no further than Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen! This luscious treat, made by pouring a delightful mixture into ramekins and chilling for several hours before serving, is sure to keep the heat away. For an extra touch of flavor (and Instagram-worthy looks!), try garnishing this classic favorite with mint leaves or mango pieces to create the picture-perfect dessert!
8. Nai Huang Bao
Do you have a sweet tooth? If so, you need to try Nai Huang Bao, a Chinese steamed bun filled with sweet custard. This little heavenly bun is a crowd favorite that can be found in almost every bakery in China.
Nai Huang Bao is made with a soft and fluffy exterior that encloses a rich and creamy custard filling. The combination of textures and flavors is just perfect. The bun is sweet, but not overly sweet, and the custard filling is smooth and velvety. You’ll find yourself craving these little delights anytime you want a quick sugar fix.
Whether you’re a dessert lover or just looking to try something new, Nai Huang Bao won’t disappoint. With its flavorful custard filling and soft exterior, you’ll fall in love with this Chinese classic. So go ahead, take a bite, and let this little bun take your taste buds on a journey you won’t forget!
9. Chinese Egg Tart
Egg Tarts are more than just a classic Chinese dessert — they’re an enigma! While the origins of this delicious flaky pastry with creamy egg custard center remain shrouded in mystery, it’s believed to be a combination of Eastern and Western culinary cultures. Whatever its roots may be, one thing remains certain: Egg Tarts have been tantalizing taste buds for centuries.
Talk about a sweet treat traveling around the world! Egg Tarts have been delighting taste buds since their initial appearance in Guangdong, China. Then they took an epic journey to Hong Kong and Singapore, where their thick cream and intense egg flavor earned them devoted fans everywhere. Time for dessert? Try this classic Chinese recipe today!
10. Red Bean Cake
Red Bean Cake is much more than your average dessert — this traditional Chinese treat truly stands out from the rest with its unique combination of glutinous rice flour, sweet rice flour, eggs, and lightly sweetened red bean paste. It’s a delicate harmony between texture and flavor that creates an unforgettable taste experience!
Red Bean Cake is an exquisite treat, much-loved for its deliciously soft and custardy texture. Not only that — it’s perfect to mark special occasions too! These desserts make quite the statement when served on Chinese New Year. Now here’s something you can really celebrate over!
Wrapping It Up
Chinese desserts and sweets are a delicious way to satisfy your sweet tooth. From the refreshing Heuhng Mong Dung Boh Deen to the classic Egg Tart and Red Bean Cake, these unique treats offer a variety of flavors that will delight even the most discerning palettes.
Whether you indulge in them as part of a dim sum experience or enjoy them as part of a special occasion, these Chinese desserts and sweets promise to transport your taste buds on an unforgettable journey.
So don’t wait any longer — indulge in the deliciousness of Chinese desserts and sweets today!
食飯! (Sihk faahn!)
