Filipino Halo-Halo is a delightful and refreshing dessert that combines a variety of ingredients and textures, creating a unique and colorful treat. This popular Filipino dessert typically consists of sweetened fruits, jellies, and beans, topped with crushed ice, evaporated milk, and a scoop of ice cream. It’s a perfect way to cool down on a hot day and enjoy a sweet, layered experience.

Appliances and Special Utensils

  • Blender or ice crusher
  • Mixing bowls
  • Tall glasses or dessert bowls
  • Ice cream scoop
  • Long spoons

Ingredients

  • 1 cup sweetened red beans (prepared or canned)
  • 1 cup sweetened white beans (prepared or canned)
  • 1 cup sweetened garbanzo beans (prepared or canned)
  • 1 cup macapuno (coconut sport) strips
  • 1 cup nata de coco (coconut gel)
  • 1 cup kaong (sugar palm fruit)
  • 1 cup jackfruit, sliced
  • 1 cup sweetened plantains or saba bananas, sliced
  • 1 cup sweetened ube (purple yam) jam
  • 1 cup leche flan (caramel custard), cubed
  • 2 cups crushed or shaved ice
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 4 scoops of ube ice cream or vanilla ice cream
  • Optional toppings: pinipig (pounded young rice), cornflakes, or fruit preserves

Instructions

  1. Prepare Ingredients: Gather all the sweetened fruits, beans, and jellies. If needed, slice the jackfruit and sweetened plantains into smaller pieces. Cut the leche flan into small cubes.

  2. Layer Ingredients: In tall glasses or dessert bowls, layer the sweetened red beans, white beans, garbanzo beans, macapuno, nata de coco, kaong, jackfruit, sweetened plantains, and ube jam. Make sure each layer is distinct to create a colorful presentation.

  3. Add Ice: Top the layered ingredients with a generous amount of crushed or shaved ice. Ensure the ice fills the glass or bowl to the brim.

  4. Pour Milk: Drizzle evaporated milk over the crushed ice, allowing it to seep through the layers of ingredients.

  5. Top with Ice Cream: Add a scoop of ube ice cream or vanilla ice cream on top of the crushed ice.

  6. Optional Toppings: Sprinkle pinipig, cornflakes, or fruit preserves over the ice cream for added texture and flavor.

  7. Serve: Serve immediately with long spoons. Mix thoroughly before eating to combine all the flavors and textures. Enjoy your delightful Filipino Halo-Halo!