22 Chinese Desserts That’ll Sweeten Your Day

Chinese desserts are rich in flavor, texture, and history, blending ingredients like red bean, sesame, and lotus with unique cooking techniques.

These 22 Chinese desserts will sweeten your day with their balance of sweetness and subtle flavors.

From classic mooncakes to the chewy, comforting tang yuan (sweet rice dumplings), Chinese sweets offer a satisfying end to any meal.

These recipes bring together traditional favorites and modern twists, so you can enjoy everything from crispy sesame balls to silky custard tarts.

If you love trying new, exciting desserts, these Chinese-inspired treats are a must-try!

Delicious Chinese Desserts You Have to Try

Chinese desserts are a delightful blend of flavors, often balancing sweetness with savory or refreshing ingredients.

These treats are not just about satisfying your sweet tooth, but also showcasing the rich culture and traditions of China.

From simple rice-based dishes to intricate pastries, there’s a Chinese dessert for everyone.

Mango Pudding

Mango Pudding

Mango pudding is a refreshing dessert that brings together the tropical sweetness of mangoes with a smooth, creamy texture.

The mangoes are blended into a puree, combined with sugar, evaporated milk, and gelatin to set the pudding into its signature jiggly form.

This dessert is often served chilled, and many enjoy topping it with fresh mango chunks or a drizzle of evaporated milk for an extra creamy touch.

Perfect for warm days, mango pudding is easy to make at home with just a few ingredients.

It’s a delightful and light treat, balancing sweetness and richness in every bite.

Red Bean Cakes

Red Bean Cakes

Red bean cakes are a traditional treat loved for their soft texture and subtly sweet flavor.

These cakes use red bean paste, which is made by cooking red beans until soft, then mashing them with sugar to create a smooth filling.

The dough is typically made from cake flour, eggs, and water, resulting in a soft outer layer.

When cooked, the outside becomes slightly crispy, giving way to the sweet, soft interior.

Often steamed, baked, or pan-fried, red bean cakes are small, round, and perfect for a snack or dessert.

Sesame Balls

Sesame Balls

Sesame balls are a popular Chinese dessert that features a crispy exterior with a chewy inside.

Made from glutinous rice flour dough, these treats are filled with sweet red bean paste and coated in sesame seeds before frying.

The frying process puffs up the dough, turning it golden and crunchy.

These sesame balls are often served at dim sum restaurants or during festivals.

The combination of chewy, crunchy, and sweet elements makes them a beloved snack across many cultures.

The contrast of textures offers a unique and satisfying eating experience.

Egg Tarts

Egg Tarts

Egg tarts are a beloved dessert with a flaky pastry crust and sweet, creamy egg custard filling.

The filling is made from eggs, sugar, evaporated milk, and vanilla, creating a silky smooth texture that contrasts beautifully with the crisp pastry.

These tarts are best enjoyed warm, with a glossy finish on the top.

Often served at dim sum or bakeries, egg tarts are versatile, and you can add fruit or whipped cream for extra flavor.

Their buttery, custard-filled goodness is a delightful treat for any occasion, especially paired with tea or coffee.

Tangyuan

Tangyuan

Tangyuan are sweet Chinese rice balls known for their chewy texture and variety of delicious fillings.

Made from glutinous rice flour dough, these balls are often filled with black sesame, peanut, or red bean paste.

Typically served in a warm, sweet soup, tangyuan are especially popular during the Lantern Festival.

The round shape symbolizes family unity and togetherness in Chinese culture.

Whether enjoyed as a special treat or a snack, tangyuan bring comfort and joy, representing tradition and togetherness in every bite.

Mung Bean Cake

Mung Bean Cake

Mung bean cake is a traditional Chinese dessert that combines the nutty flavor of mung beans with a soft, chewy texture.

Mung beans are soaked and steamed until tender, then blended into a smooth paste, cooked with sugar and butter until it thickens.

Once cooled, the paste is shaped into small cakes or pressed into molds.

Often enjoyed as a summer dessert, mung bean cakes have a mild sweetness and a smooth, satisfying texture.

Variations can include matcha powder for color and added flavor, making this a delightful treat for those who enjoy traditional Chinese sweets.

Almond Jelly

Almond Jelly

Almond jelly is a refreshing dessert made with almond milk, sugar, and agar powder, offering a cool and light texture.

It’s a simple yet satisfying dessert that’s perfect for hot weather.

The jelly is chilled until firm and then cut into cubes or fun shapes.

For extra flavor, toppings like mango or lychee can be added, along with a drizzle of evaporated milk for creaminess.

This light dessert is a common offering at Chinese restaurants and is a great way to end a meal with a refreshing and aromatic treat.

Pineapple Buns

Pineapple Buns

Pineapple buns are a well-loved Chinese bakery treat, named for their golden, crackly top that resembles a pineapple.

Despite not containing any actual pineapple, the buns feature a sweet, buttery filling inside.

The contrast of the soft bread base and the crispy, cookie-like topping creates a delightful texture.

These buns are best enjoyed fresh and warm from the oven, with a generous spread of butter for added richness.

Their sweet, satisfying flavor makes them perfect for breakfast or as an afternoon snack with tea.

Snow Skin Mooncakes

Snow Skin Mooncakes

Snow skin mooncakes are a modern twist on the traditional mooncake, perfect for hot summer days.

Instead of the usual baked crust, they feature a soft, chewy outer layer made from glutinous rice flour.

These mooncakes are often filled with custard, fruit, or red bean paste.

They come in vibrant colors and fun shapes, making them visually appealing as well as delicious.

Snow skin mooncakes are a popular choice for those who want a lighter, fresher alternative to the classic mooncake, making them perfect for any occasion.

Durian Pastry

Durian Pastry

Durian pastry is a unique dessert that combines the bold flavor of durian fruit with a buttery pastry.

The rich, creamy durian filling is enclosed in a flaky, golden-brown pastry shell, creating a satisfying contrast of textures.

While durian's strong aroma can be divisive, its sweet, custard-like texture and flavor are beloved by many.

These pastries are often found in Chinese bakeries and are perfect for those who appreciate the distinct taste of durian.

The combination of the fruit's richness with the crisp pastry makes for a truly indulgent treat.

Dragon’s Beard Candy

Dragon's Beard Candy

Dragon’s beard candy is a traditional Chinese sweet that amazes with its delicate, fine strands, resembling a dragon’s whiskers.

The candy is made by heating sugar and corn syrup to create a sticky base, then stretching and pulling it until it forms thousands of fine threads.

Often filled with crushed peanuts or sesame seeds, this candy melts in your mouth, offering a sweet and slightly nutty flavor.

Typically found at Chinese festivals or specialty shops, it’s a unique dessert that showcases the craftsmanship of candy makers.

The mesmerizing process of creating this candy adds to its charm.

Osmanthus Cake

Osmanthus Cake

Osmanthus cake is a light, aromatic dessert flavored with the sweet floral notes of osmanthus flowers.

The cake has a spongy texture and a subtle golden color, infused with the essence of osmanthus tea.

It’s made by steeping the flowers in hot water and then incorporating the liquid into a batter with eggs, sugar, and flour.

Osmanthus cake is popular during the Mid-Autumn Festival but can be enjoyed at any time of year.

Its delicate fragrance and soft texture make it a wonderful treat to pair with tea.

Walnut Cookies

Walnut Cookies

Walnut cookies are a crispy, nutty treat with a delicious crunch.

Made with crushed walnuts and sesame seeds, these cookies offer a rich, toasty flavor.

The dough is mixed with flour, sugar, and baking powder before being shaped into small balls and pressed with a walnut half.

Once baked, the cookies become crisp and crumble easily in your mouth.

Perfect for holidays or casual snacking, these cookies are a great way to enjoy the hearty flavor of walnuts in a sweet, crunchy form.

Lychee Sorbet

Lychee Sorbet

Lychee sorbet is a refreshing and light dessert made from pureed lychees, perfect for cooling off on a hot day.

Lychees, known for their sweet and floral flavor, create a sorbet that’s both fruity and refreshing.

The addition of lime juice adds a zingy contrast to the lychee’s sweetness.

The sorbet is easy to make by blending the lychees with syrup and freezing the mixture until firm.

Its smooth texture and natural fruit flavor make it a satisfying treat that’s perfect for summer gatherings.

Matcha Mille Crepe

Matcha Mille Crepe

Matcha mille crepe is a Japanese-inspired dessert that layers delicate crepes with whipped cream and matcha flavoring.

Each thin crepe is infused with matcha powder, giving the cake a light green color and a subtle, earthy flavor.

The crepes are stacked with whipped cream between each layer, resulting in a visually appealing, multi-layered dessert.

This cake isn’t overly sweet, allowing the matcha flavor to shine through.

It’s a perfect dessert for those who appreciate the subtle bitterness of green tea in a sweet form.

White Rabbit Candy

White Rabbit Candy

White Rabbit candy is a nostalgic Chinese treat that’s well-loved for its creamy, milky taste.

Wrapped in edible rice paper, these candies have a smooth texture that melts in your mouth.

The candy is made from a blend of milk, sugar, and other ingredients, creating a rich and sweet flavor.

White Rabbit candy is often enjoyed on its own, though it can also be used in creative desserts like ice cream.

This sweet treat is beloved by many and has spread beyond China to become a global favorite.

Jujube Cake

Jujube Cake

Jujube cake is a soft, chewy dessert made with jujube dates, known for their natural sweetness.

The cake is often made with glutinous rice flour, giving it a dense, chewy texture.

Jujube dates add a pleasant sweetness and aroma, making this cake a comforting treat.

Whether steamed or baked, jujube cake can be enjoyed during Chinese New Year or as a snack.

Variations may include the addition of nuts or seeds for added flavor and texture.

This cake offers a unique, traditional flavor that’s both satisfying and nostalgic.

Coconut Bar

Coconut Bar

Coconut bars are sweet, chewy treats made from shredded coconut, condensed milk, and a pinch of salt.

The ingredients are pressed into a baking pan and baked until golden, creating a chewy and rich coconut flavor.

These bars are simple to make and can be customized with added flavors like vanilla or almond essence.

For extra indulgence, the bars can be dipped in melted chocolate.

Coconut bars are perfect for snacking or sharing at gatherings, offering a tropical sweetness that’s irresistible.

Eight Treasure Rice

Eight Treasure Rice

Eight treasure rice is a traditional Chinese dessert made with glutinous rice and eight different ingredients, often served during special celebrations like the Lunar New Year.

The rice is steamed until soft and sticky, then mixed with a variety of dried fruits, nuts, and seeds.

The "eight treasures" can include red dates, lotus seeds, and goji berries, among others.

This sweet dish is served in a decorative pattern, creating a beautiful and festive presentation.

It’s a dessert that symbolizes good fortune and abundance, making it a perfect offering for the new year.

Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin Pancakes

Pumpkin pancakes are a comforting Chinese dessert that combines the natural sweetness of pumpkin with the chewy texture of rice flour.

The dough is mixed with pumpkin puree and shaped into small discs, then rolled in sesame seeds before being fried to a golden crisp.

These pancakes are warm and slightly sweet on the inside, with a crispy exterior.

Perfect for fall, they make a great snack or dessert after a meal.

The combination of flavors and textures makes them a fun and satisfying treat.

Haw Flakes

Haw Flakes

Haw flakes are a nostalgic Chinese candy made from hawthorn berries, offering a unique balance of sweet and sour flavors.

These thin, disc-shaped candies are often eaten as a snack or used in desserts for a creative twist.

The sweet-tart flavor of haw flakes pairs well with creamy or fruity desserts, making them a versatile ingredient.

Whether enjoyed on their own or added to other dishes, haw flakes bring a delightful burst of flavor that many people cherish from their childhood.

Sweet Potato Balls

Sweet Potato Balls

Sweet potato balls are a chewy dessert made with steamed sweet potatoes and tapioca starch, creating a soft, slightly sweet treat.

The mixture is shaped into small balls, then boiled until they float to the surface.

These balls are often served in syrup or as part of a larger dessert spread.

The mild sweetness of the sweet potatoes pairs well with the chewy texture of the balls.

Variations with purple sweet potatoes or taro add a pop of color and additional flavor, making these treats a delightful snack.

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