Rachel LeeAsk anyone on the streets what they know about Thai desserts, and they’ll probably say either “mango sticky rice” or “red ruby”. Yup, these ubiquitous dishes are indeed delectable, but their popularity has relegated other equally delicious Thai treats to relative oblivion. There are so many things to try – here’s our guide to discovering Thailand’s most tantalising local delights!
1. Khanom Buang (Crispy coconut crepes)
Image credit: Thangsong City Page
You may have seen Instagram videos of these crepes being made in Thai markets. Topped with coconut meringue cream and foy tong (sweet egg yolk strips), this simple combination is the quintessential Thai snack you must try!
2. Luk Chup (Mung bean candy)
Image credit: (left) Susan Slater, (right) Ly. H.
They may resemble fruits, but these still look too good to eat! Made of mung bean marzipan, these candies are coloured and carefully sculpted into shape, then poured into containers from which you can pick the ones you want like you’re at a real fruit stall!
3. Khanom Krok (Coconut kettle cakes)
Image credit: (left) NuCastiel, (right) SistaCafe Yummy
These melt-in-your-mouth coconut kettle cakes are deftly flipped from pan to plate and often topped with green onions, sweet corn or taro. But they’re just as enjoyable when eaten plain too!
4. Pakim Kai Tow (Coconut jelly soup)
Image credit: Combo Du Lịch Giá Rẻ
An intriguing burst of flavours fills your mouth when you take a spoonful of this sweet soup filled with chewy, salty noodle jelly. Choose between the creamy white coconut soup with coconut noodles, or the lighter, sweeter brown palm sugar flavour. Actually, you should probably just get both.
5. Taung Muan Sot (Rolled sesame pancakes)
Image credit: ทองม้วนสด_ร้อยล้าน_จันทบุรี
Easily available along many soi (streets) in Thailand, these are sweet rolled pancakes that come in a variety of flavours like pandan, coconut, taro and corn and are embedded with roasted black sesame seeds. The soft pancake and crunchy seeds make for a tasty clash of textures.
6. Kai Wan/Tong Yord (Egg yolk desserts)
Image credit: (left) The Kitchen Society, (right) Monkey Bakery
These egg yolk desserts are weirdly good. Kai wan are egg yolks dropped in sugar water and boiled with a bit of ginger. Ingredient-wise, they’re similar to tong yord which are egg yolks mixed with sugar water, boiled till they solidify into a cake-like texture and moulded into balls. Together with tong yip (flower-shaped egg cake) and foi tong, these make up the top tier of egg-based Thai desserts. Be warned though: they’re intensely sweet!
7. Thai Roti
Image credit: (left) Kent Wang, (right) Michael Saechang
Similar to roti prata, the Thai version is fried with lots of butter or margarine. It’s most popularly stuffed with bananas and egg and drizzled with sweetened condensed milk, but most stalls offer tons of toppings and sauces for you to choose from, like nutella, honey and more. Crispy on the outside and moist inside, you can’t miss this sinful snack!
8. Sang Kaya Fug Tong (Pumpkin custard)
Image credit: (left) Atikan Ketsak, (right) Viewwat Charee
Essentially a steamed pumpkin filled with coconut custard, this unique Thai concoction is rich, smooth and satisfying – practically a meal on its own! Plus, it’s not overly sweet. Buy it by the slice, or two, or more…
9. Roti Sai Mai (Cotton candy wraps)
Image credit: Messy Vegan Cook
Cotton candy. Burrito. Need we even say more?
Originating in Ayutthaya, Roti Sai Mai is an ultra-popular Thai street snack that consists of stringy, brightly coloured cotton candy rolled up in a paper-thin pandan wrap. Super light and addictive!
10. Toorien Guan (Durian paste)
Image credit: Bhan Kanom Thai
Within the tight plastic wrapper is a gooey mixture of durian and sugar. Its texture is akin to toothpaste. Perfect for any durian lover!
11. Candied fruits
Image credit: (left) แม่บุญรวม ขนมไทย, (right) Sirimongkon
Because normal fruits aren’t sweet enough. The Thais especially enjoy putsa cheum (Chinese dates), luktan cheum (palm seeds) and gluay cheum (bananas) soaked in a saccharine syrup.
Image credit: Kanokrat Tosarapee
Another option is grataun song kreung – candied santol (also known as cotton fruit) mixed with peanuts, chilli and a sugary shrimp-flavoured glaze. Not for the faint-hearted!
12. Khao Neow (Sticky Rice)
Image credit: (left) Forks in the Path, (right) insatiable munch
Mango sticky rice is so mainstream, but there are still plenty of other sticky rice desserts to try!
Khao neow sang kaya and khao neow toorien are almost the same as mango sticky rice except they’re topped with custard cream and durian respectively.
Image credit: Joe Charin Thama
Khao lam is sticky rice cooked with black beans and coconut milk in a hollow bamboo stem, then hacked open with a machete for consumption, while khao mak is a pudding made of fermented sticky rice, with a slightly crunchy surface.
Last but not least, khao neow dam is black sticky rice sprinkled with shredded coconut. Humble but filling!
You can easily get these goodies in Thailand at markets or roadside stalls. If you’re craving something sweet after all that tom yum and pad thai, opt for these desserts instead of your usual mango sticky rice and Thai milk tea – they’re affordable, delicious and uniquely Thai!
