Sweet Spring Bites: 5 AAPI Desserts to Savor the Sunshine

As cold winter days pass and warm weather arises, who cannot say no to a sweet treat? Whether you’re going to the beach, hosting an event, or wanting to satisfy your sweet tooth, here are some delicious AAPI desserts that are perfect for the spring season!

1. Chè Ba Màu

Chè Ba Màu, also known as Three Color dessert, is a multilayered Vietnamese dessert that includes red beans, mung beans, pandan jelly, and a creamy coconut sauce. The vibrant colors from each ingredient are what give it its name, with red coming from the red beans, yellow coming from the mung beans, and green coming from pandan! Sugar is also used to sweeten each element that makes this dish so wonderful. It is usually served cold in a cup with shaved or crushed ice, creating a textually unique mix of a drink and pudding.

2. Egg Tarts

Egg tarts are a classic Chinese dessert found in Asian bakeries, grocery stores, and dim sum restaurants. The small pastry consists of a light crispy tart shell filled with a creamy egg custard. These tarts are not overly sweet and have a delicate taste and smooth texture that will certainly melt in your mouth! This dessert is perfect for on-the-go situations where someone can grab a quick and easy treat! It’s especially perfect for kids to learn about through byYQ’s egg tart felt toys, so the next generation can learn about their heritage! 

3. Mango Sago 

Mango Sago is a Cantonese dessert perfect for warm or hot weather. It is a chilled dessert that consists of small bouncy tapioca pearls, sweet mango chunks, coconut milk, and condensed milk. The texture depends on how much liquid is put into the dessert, so it can be as thick and creamy as a pudding or as light and refreshing as a drink. The sweetness can be determined by the ripeness of the mangos or the amount of condensed milk added. There are many variations of this dessert but the most common topping to add alongside mango is pomelo!

4. Biko

Biko is a Filipino sticky rice cake. This cake is made by mixing glutinous sticky rice with coconut milk and brown sugar for sweetness and topped with latik, toasted coconut milk solids or caramelized coconut cream. It is traditionally served in a bamboo tray lined with banana leaves, also known as bilao. The crunch of the latik alongside the chewy sticky rice creates an addicting delicious texture. It has a light and sweet coconut flavor and, if wrapped, hints of the fragrant banana leaves.

5. Bingsu

Bingsu is an extremely popular shaved ice dessert. The icy base of bingsu is usually made by mixing milk, water, and condensed milk and freezing it until solid, this base is then shaved and then placed into a bowl with toppings. The flavors of bingsu can vary based on what toppings and add-ons are included. However, the most common toppings are condensed milk, freshly chopped fruits, red beans, rice cakes, ice cream, and powders such as injeolmi, made from roasted soybeans. The sweetness of bingsu also varies based on what style one can get, for example, patbingsu, or red bean bingsu, has a more savory and delicate sweetness to chocolate bingsu. Bingsu is perfect for all ages and tastes!