14 Asian Desserts So Cute and Delicious You Will Want to Try Them All

Asian desserts are a whole world of their own. Many are less sweet than Western cakes, and they play with textures you might not expect: chewy rice dough, silky custard, crispy sesame, soft fluffy sponge and snowy shaved ice. Some are street food, some are made for festivals like the Mid Autumn Festival and Lunar New Year. Here are the Asian desserts we think everyone should try at least once, with easy home recipes..

Hong Kong Egg Tarts, a Bakery Favorite Among Asian Desserts

Egg tarts are one of the most loved Asian desserts, sold warm in bakeries from Hong Kong to Macau. A flaky, buttery shell holds a smooth, wobbly egg custard that is just sweet enough. The Macau style gets caramelized spots on top, while the Hong Kong style stays glossy and yellow. Both are best eaten warm, a few minutes out of the oven. Have you ever had one straight from a bakery?

You will need: Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry or shortcrust, 3 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 3/4 cup hot water, 1/3 cup evaporated milk, 1/2 tsp vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Heat the oven to 400F. 2. Press the pastry into a muffin or tart pan. 3. Dissolve the sugar in the hot water and cool. 4. Whisk in eggs, milk and vanilla, then strain. 5. Fill the shells almost to the top. 6. Bake 10 minutes, then lower to 350F and bake 10 more until just set.

Portuguese Style Egg Tarts

The Macau version came from Portuguese pastel de nata. It uses cream in the custard and very hot oven heat to get those beautiful burnt spots on top. The pastry is extra crispy and layered. Quick poll: which egg tart wins? A) glossy Hong Kong style B) caramelized Macau style C) I need both D) never tried either.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry, 4 yolks, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup cream, 1/2 cup milk, 1 tbsp flour, vanilla.

How to make it: 1. Roll the pastry into a log and slice. 2. Press each slice into a muffin cup. 3. Warm the cream, milk, sugar and flour until smooth. 4. Whisk in yolks and vanilla. 5. Fill the shells. 6. Bake at 475F for 15 minutes until spotted.

Matcha and Vanilla Mochi, Chewy Asian Desserts

Mochi are soft, chewy rice cakes from Japan. You cook sweet rice flour with sugar and water in the microwave, then wrap it around red bean paste or ice cream. The texture is pillowy and stretchy, unlike anything else. It is one of the easiest Asian desserts to start with. Would you fill yours with red bean, ice cream or strawberry?

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup sweet rice flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 3/4 cup water, 1 tsp matcha (optional), cornstarch for dusting, 1 cup red bean paste.

How to make it: 1. Mix rice flour, sugar, water and matcha. 2. Microwave 1 minute, stir, then 1 minute more. 3. Microwave 30 seconds more until sticky. 4. Dust a board with cornstarch. 5. Cut the dough into pieces. 6. Wrap each around a ball of red bean paste.

Grilled Dango Skewers

Dango are chewy rice dumplings threaded on skewers and grilled or toasted. In Japan they are often brushed with a sweet soy glaze called mitarashi, which tastes like salty caramel. They are a popular festival snack in spring and fall. Kids love helping roll the little balls.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup rice flour, 1/2 cup silken tofu or warm water, wooden skewers. Glaze: 2 tbsp soy sauce, 3 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp cornstarch, 1/2 cup water.

How to make it: 1. Mix flour and tofu into a soft dough. 2. Roll into small balls. 3. Boil until they float, then 1 minute more. 4. Cool in ice water and thread on skewers. 5. Toast in a pan or under the broiler. 6. Simmer the glaze until thick and brush on.

Thai Mango Sticky Rice, Fruity Asian Desserts

Mango sticky rice is the dessert everyone orders in Thailand. Sweet sticky rice is soaked in warm coconut milk, then served next to ripe, juicy mango with a drizzle of salty coconut sauce. It is warm, cool, sweet and salty all at once. Is it the best fruit dessert in the world? Many people say yes.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup sticky rice, 1 cup coconut milk, 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 ripe mangoes, toasted sesame seeds.

How to make it: 1. Soak the rice 4 hours, then steam 25 minutes. 2. Warm 3/4 cup coconut milk with sugar and salt. 3. Pour it over the hot rice and rest 20 minutes. 4. Warm the rest of the coconut milk with a pinch of salt. 5. Slice the mango. 6. Serve rice and mango with sauce and sesame.

Matcha Roll Cake and Green Tea Desserts

Matcha, the bright green tea powder from Japan, has a gentle bitter taste that balances sweet cream perfectly. A matcha roll cake with red beans is a bakery classic, and a creamy matcha terrine is a fun make ahead treat. If you think green tea and dessert do not mix, these Asian desserts will change your mind.

You will need: Ingredients: 4 eggs, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cake flour, 1 tbsp matcha, 2 tbsp milk, 1 cup whipped cream, 1/2 cup sweet red beans.

How to make it: 1. Beat eggs and sugar until thick and pale. 2. Sift in flour and matcha and fold gently with the milk. 3. Spread in a lined sheet pan. 4. Bake at 350F for 12 minutes. 5. Cool, spread with cream and beans. 6. Roll up and chill.

Dorayaki Pancake Sandwiches

Dorayaki are two fluffy honey pancakes sandwiched with sweet red bean paste. They are famous as a cartoon character s favorite snack, and they are wonderful with tea. Add whipped cream or Nutella to the filling for a modern twist. What filling would you choose?

You will need: Ingredients: 2 eggs, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 tbsp honey, 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/3 cup water, 1 cup red bean paste.

How to make it: 1. Whisk eggs, sugar and honey. 2. Add flour, baking powder and water and rest 15 minutes. 3. Cook small pancakes on a lightly oiled pan. 4. Flip when bubbles appear. 5. Cool under a towel. 6. Sandwich with red bean paste.

Fish Shaped Taiyaki

Taiyaki are crispy fish shaped cakes from Japan, filled with red bean paste, custard or chocolate. You need a special taiyaki pan, but a waffle iron gives you a fun version too. They are best eaten hot from the pan, while the edges are crisp. Head first or tail first: which end would you eat first?

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1 tsp baking powder, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 egg, 3/4 cup milk, red bean paste or custard.

How to make it: 1. Whisk the batter until smooth. 2. Heat and oil the taiyaki pan. 3. Pour batter halfway into each mold. 4. Add a spoon of filling. 5. Cover with more batter and close the pan. 6. Cook 3 minutes per side until golden.

Strawberry Bingsu, Asian Desserts on Shaved Ice

Bingsu is a Korean dessert made of fluffy, snow like shaved milk ice piled high with toppings. Strawberry bingsu with condensed milk and cream is a cafe favorite. You can make a home version by freezing milk and grating it with a fork. Quick poll: your dream bingsu topping is A) strawberry B) mango C) red bean D) cookies and cream.

You will need: Ingredients: 2 cups milk, 1/3 cup condensed milk, 1 cup sliced strawberries, whipped cream, extra condensed milk for drizzling.

How to make it: 1. Mix the milk and condensed milk. 2. Freeze in a flat container for 5 hours. 3. Scrape into fluffy shavings with a fork. 4. Pile into a chilled bowl. 5. Top with strawberries and cream. 6. Drizzle with condensed milk.

Tangyuan Sweet Rice Balls

Tangyuan are soft glutinous rice balls served in a warm, gingery syrup. They are eaten in China at the Winter Solstice and the Lantern Festival, and the round shape stands for family togetherness. Many are filled with black sesame paste that flows out when you bite. It is a cozy dessert for cold nights.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup glutinous rice flour, 1/2 cup warm water, 1/2 cup black sesame paste. Syrup: 3 cups water, 1/3 cup brown sugar, 3 slices ginger.

How to make it: 1. Mix flour and water into a soft dough. 2. Wrap small pieces around a dot of sesame paste. 3. Roll smooth. 4. Simmer water, sugar and ginger for 10 minutes. 5. Boil the balls until they float. 6. Serve in the ginger syrup.

Jiggly Japanese Cheesecake

Japanese cheesecake is light as a cloud and famous for its jiggle. Whipped egg whites are folded into a cream cheese batter, then it bakes slowly in a water bath. It tastes like a cross between a cheesecake and a sponge cake. Have you ever seen one wobble on video?

You will need: Ingredients: 8 oz cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk, 5 eggs separated, 1/3 cup cake flour, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1/2 cup sugar.

How to make it: 1. Melt cream cheese, butter and milk together. 2. Whisk in yolks, flour and cornstarch. 3. Beat whites and sugar to soft peaks. 4. Fold in gently. 5. Bake in a lined pan in a water bath at 320F for 70 minutes. 6. Cool in the oven.

Classic Mooncakes, Festive Asian Desserts

Mooncakes are pressed pastries eaten during the Mid Autumn Festival, when families gather to admire the full moon. A thin golden crust hides a rich lotus seed or red bean filling, sometimes with a salted egg yolk in the middle like a little moon. They make lovely gifts and are among the most meaningful Asian desserts.

You will need: Ingredients: 1 cup flour, 1/3 cup golden syrup, 3 tbsp oil, 1/4 tsp baking soda, 2 cups lotus or red bean paste, 1 egg yolk for glaze.

How to make it: 1. Mix syrup, oil and soda, then add flour. 2. Rest the dough 1 hour. 3. Wrap small pieces of dough around balls of filling. 4. Press into a mooncake mold. 5. Bake at 350F for 5 minutes, brush with yolk. 6. Bake 12 minutes more.

No Bake Snow Skin Mooncakes

Snow skin mooncakes are the modern, no bake cousin of the classic. The soft, chewy skin is made from cooked rice flour and comes in pastel colors like pink and green. Fill them with custard, fruit paste or even ice cream. They are served cold and look almost too pretty to eat.

You will need: Ingredients: 1/2 cup glutinous rice flour, 1/4 cup rice flour, 2 tbsp cornstarch, 1/3 cup powdered sugar, 3/4 cup milk, 2 tbsp oil, food coloring, 1.5 cups filling.

How to make it: 1. Whisk everything except the filling. 2. Steam 20 minutes, stirring once. 3. Knead the warm dough smooth. 4. Divide and color it. 5. Wrap around balls of filling. 6. Press in a mold and chill 1 hour.

Crispy Sesame Balls

Sesame balls are a dim sum favorite: a crisp sesame crust outside, a chewy hollow layer inside and sweet red bean paste in the center. They puff up as they fry, which is fun to watch. Which of these Asian desserts would you try first: sesame balls, mochi or egg tarts? Hungry for more? Try our bakery style pastries next.

You will need: Ingredients: 2 cups glutinous rice flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 3/4 cup hot water, 1 cup red bean paste, 1/2 cup sesame seeds, oil for frying.

How to make it: 1. Dissolve the sugar in hot water and mix into the flour. 2. Knead into a soft dough. 3. Wrap pieces around red bean paste. 4. Roll in damp hands, then in sesame seeds. 5. Fry at 320F, pressing gently as they puff. 6. Drain and serve warm.