Serves 3-4 people
30 g jackfruit (julienned)
60 g natade coco
35 g palm seeds
40 g red beans
600 g purple yam (also known as ‘ube’) steamed
5 egg yolks
200 g shaved ice
440 ml condensed milk
430 ml evaporated milk
130 ml whipped cream
1 tsp vanilla essence
2 tsp pandan essence
2 tsp strawberry essence
½ tsp purple food coloring (optional)
3 Tbsp sugar

Recipe Courtesy of
Asian Food Network

Halo Halo

Here’s a dessert can cheer the crabbiest of characters –the sprightly and colorful Halo Halo (or Haluhalo to some), a popular and traditional Filipino dessert with historians tracing its origin to the 1920s. Perfect for the tropics, this dessert is essentially a concoction of crushed ice, topped with ingredients such as sweetened beans, jackfruit, sweet potatoes, and smothered with evaporated milk. Here, we give you a modern take to the classic Halo Halo!

Difficulty: Medium

Preparation: 10 min
Cook: 50 min
Clean up: 10 min

Steps: 3 steps
15 Ingredients

Difficulty: Medium
Steps: 3 steps
15 Ingredients

Preparation: 10 min
Cook: 50 min
Clean up: 10 min

Halo Halo

Name: Halo Halo
Prep time: P0Y0M0D0H10M0S
Cook time: P0Y0M0D0H50M0S
Total time: P0Y0M0D1H0M0S
Yield: Serves 3-4 people
Cuisine: Asian
Ingredients: 30 g jackfruit (julienned); 60 g natade coco; 35 g palm seeds; 40 g red beans; 600 g purple yam (also known as ‘ube’) steamed; 5 egg yolks; 200 g shaved ice; 440 ml condensed milk; 430 ml evaporated milk; 130 ml whipped cream; 1 tsp vanilla essence; 2 tsp pandan essence; 2 tsp strawberry essence; ½ tsp purple food coloring (optional); 3 Tbsp sugar

Sweet Filipino Halo Halo Dessert

The Halo Halo, a classic Filipino dessert, can cheer the crabbiest of characters. Known as HaluHalo to some, the origin of this sprightly and colorful Filipino dessert can be traced back to the 1920s.

Halo Halo makes for a perfect dessert for those living in the tropical climates. Translating to ‘mix-mix’, the classic Filipino dessert combines ingredients from several cultures, reflecting the rich diversity and heritage of the Philippines. Often, the Halo Halo dessert is an obligatory dish to end off mealtimes with family and friends.

This popular and traditional Filipino dessert is essentially a concoction of crushed ice, topped with ingredients such as sweetened beans, jackfruit, sweet potatoes, and smothered with evaporated milk.

The classic Filipino dessert has been around for over 100 years. Here, we give you a modern take to the classic Halo Halo!

Frequently-Asked Questions About Halo Halo

Is this your first time making Halo Halo? We have all the answers, resources and tips you need to make your very first Halo Halo!

What kind of a dessert is the Halo Halo?

The Halo Halo is a type of mixed fruit dessert and is a traditional Filipino recipe!

What kind of fruits can I include in the Halo Halo?

This Filipino dessert is a highly versatile dessert. You can mix anything including basic ingredients like sweet potato, plantain bananas and shredded coconut for a sweet treat that is refreshing on a humid day.

Can I use ice cubes instead of shaved ice?

The shaved ice is an important part of the Halo Halo recipe. Shaved ice allows for the easier mixing of ingredients that are layered to assemble the Halo Halo. You can use an electric ice shaver for this part of the recipe.

How can I best serve the Halo Halo dessert?

As the Halo Halo is meant to be mixed together, serving it cold in a wide bowl or tall glass can help with the mixing. Tall glasses are recommended if you are serving these traditional Filipino desserts at a party - they are much more visually appealing to the eye!

Making The Halo Halo: Recipe Tips and Tricks

Play around with the combination of ingredients: To change things up with the Halo Halo recipe, you can try different combinations of ingredients. Kidney beans, sago, pinipig, sweetened banana and gelatin cubes are some of the ingredients you can experiment with. This Filipino dessert comes in many variations, influenced by the availability of the ingredients in the location as well. Get creative!

Prepare your own Leche Flan: Making your own homemade Leche Flan can add dimension to your Halo Halo. Creamy and rich, you can even take a few liberties with customising your Leche Flan. Add key lime zests to it for added flavour to the classic Filipino dessert.

Halo Halo Recipe Instructions

Make leche flan
- In a mixing bowl, add 5 egg yolks, 180 ml evaporated milk, 180 ml condensed milk and 1 tsp vanilla essence. Stir well to mix the custard, then set aside.
- In a pan on medium heat, add 3 tbsp sugar and allow to melt. Do not stir! Once the color turns amber, pour into a small dish.
- Gently pour the custard into the dish to create two layers, then double boil for 45 minutes.
- Chill for 30 minutes to set.

Soak nata de coco
- In 2 ramekins, divide nata de coco into 2 equal portions. Add 2 tsp pandan essence into 1 ramekin and 2 tsp strawberry essence into the other. Allow to soak for 20 minutes.

Prepare yam ice cream
- Using a knife, remove the skin of the yam, then dice.
- Steam yam for 40 minutes, add ¼ tsp purple food coloring (optional) and mash.
- Mix in 200 ml condensed milk and 130 ml evaporated milk. When evenly combined, fold in whipped cream.
- Freeze for 2-3 hours, stirring occasionally
(Steaming instead of boiling the yam retains much better flavor, along with nutrients. To mash the yam, use a fork, or even a stand mixer with the paddle attachment on high speed)

Garnish and Serve!

In a bowl or large glass, add 1 tbsp palm seed, 1 tbsp red beans and 30 g coconut flesh. Add 1 tbsp of each flavor of nata de coco on each side, then cover with crushed ice. Drizzle with remaining evaporated milk and condensed milk, then add a scoop of yamice cream and a slice of leche flan. Top off with jackfruit and serve cold! Add more evaporated milk if you prefer your Halo Halo a little bit sweeter.

Share your Halo Halo with us on Asian Food Network's Instagram.