27 Popular Chinese Desserts to Try

A creamier dish than other gelatin desserts, almond jelly uses milk in its recipe and infuses almond flavor with the help of an extract.

A modest amount of granulated sugar sweetens the dish, creating the perfect dessert to serve with fresh fruit.

Though this is a dessert, I also like to eat this sweet treat in the morning.

One of the most popular Chinese desserts in the United States, bubble tea can be prepared in many ways.

Some use fruit for added flavor, but I enjoy this classic rendition with tea and a creamy element.

Customize the recipe by using your favorite tea and add this drink’s unique feature, springy tapioca balls, to add the “bubbles.” 

These cookies are a favorite dessert for holiday celebrations, though they’re easy enough to make even when it’s not a special occasion.

These cookies don’t just have one note of nuttiness.

In addition to walnuts, the recipe calls for toasted sesame seeds for an extra flavor boost that makes it superior to other renditions. 

Chocolate and spice help this Chinese dessert stand out from other similar cakes.

What I like most about this dish is the intense and rich notes of spices like cinnamon, clove, and pepper.

The cake also has a slight bitterness from brewed coffee though espresso or chai tea can yield a more flavorful cake.

Check out other classic chocolate desserts if you like this one!

The eight treasures in this rice pudding recipe combine dried fruits and nuts.

If you stick with the recipe, you’ll have to set aside some time to rehydrate dried ingredients.

To save time, I like to incorporate fresh fruits. The real star is the sweet red bean paste inside this sticky dessert. 

Who hasn’t wanted to recreate this staple of Chinese-American restaurants at home? The recipe is pretty basic and easy to make.

For me, the most challenging part of this recipe was folding the cookies, but once you master the technique, the process is quick, resulting in a familiar crispy treat. 

The shape and texture of this Chinese dessert remind me of a sweet version of fried tofu.

Milk thickened with cornstarch forms the soft and creamy base of this treat.

A layer of bread crumbs adds a crunchy element to this soft and slightly sweet dish, which, when deep fried, turns an attractive gold color. 

Mango pudding is a great place to start if you’ve never made an Asian dessert.

The techniques involved are straightforward and similar to those used in other recipes while incorporating fresh flavors.

Mango puree and coconut milk create a delicate texture made firmer with the addition of gelatin to form this pudding. 

A Chinese dessert made from ground mung beans, this cake requires some setup.

The beans need to soak overnight, so they are soft enough to mash and form the cake batter.

Though it may take extra time, the recipe is relatively easy! Plus, when making these cakes, you can add a filling. I recommend trying traditional red bean paste. 

These small square cakes are filled with a tart yet sweet pineapple filling.

In a pinch, the filling can be substituted for pre-made pineapple preserves but using fresh yields a better taste, in my opinion.

The pineapple pairs perfectly with the soft cake surrounding it. This cake is rich, using butter and egg yolks to create the perfect bite.  

Many people are familiar with this popular Chinese dessert. Sesame balls can be made in several ways, including savory renditions.

This recipe is a sweet preparation with a red bean paste filling.

These little treats are fluffy and delicious, with a tasty coating of sesame seeds on the outside. 

This creamy pudding has an easily modified recipe to make this dessert vegan. Soy milk pudding uses soybeans to create a delicious dessert.

The beans make fresh soy milk, which I find more flavorful than premade products.

Top with soybean flour for a textural contrast against the soft pudding. 

These almond cookies serve as a great starting place for those unfamiliar with Chinese desserts.

The recipe is straightforward and very similar to other cookie recipes.

Buttery and rich, these cookies use almond extract to provide a delicate flavor to the treats.

The almond on top is my favorite part of this dessert, adding a crunchy element. 

In English, Fat Sang Wu roughly translates to Chinese Peanut Cream Dessert. If you’re a fan of peanut butter, you’ll love this creamy treat!

Start with fresh peanuts if you have a blender that can crush them or substitute them with peanut butter.

The dessert is thickened with rice flour, so this is an excellent option for those looking for a dairy-free option!

Tang Yuan is another dessert commonly served at the end of Chinses New Year celebrations.

These are sweet dumplings with wrappers made from glutinous flour.

Follow this recipe to learn how to make them in two styles using different types of filling. Once you master this recipe, you can make your version of these delicious treats!

This Chinese pudding uses egg yolks rather than gelatin to achieve the pudding texture of the dish. Expect an eggy, custardy sweetness from this dessert.

The first time I made this dish, I tried using a metal steamer I already had. It worked, but I struggled to get the bowls to sit straight.

The process goes smoother when using the traditional bamboo steamer! 

Brown sugar bread doesn’t use brown sugar as an ingredient in the dough of this soft treat. The brown sugar is in the filling!

The outer layer of bread reminds me of an English muffin with a much more delicate texture.

Another perk of using this recipe is this bread is pan-fried, so you don’t need an oven to make it.

As another decadent Chinese dessert that uses eggs, these tarts are bite-size and addicting.

This recipe suggests using store-bought puff pastry since it makes the process much easier.

Eggs and additional egg yolks bring a rich texture and flavor to this custard, while added vanilla helps to highlight the sweetness in this dessert. 

Despite the name, there are no almonds in this dessert soup.

Instead, the recipe calls for two varieties of apricot seeds, one of which shares a similar sweet flavor with the almond.

Apricot seeds contain toxic cyanide, so take care when working with the ingredient. However, the cooking process should lessen the effect, resulting in a sweet, creamy soup. 

The perfect sweet and fried snack that you can enjoy without overindulging.

This recipe calls for only a tablespoon of sugar, getting the rest of the sweetness from ripe bananas.

Though this is a fried dish, the batter is light and fluffy, resulting in a crispy dessert. Serve this dessert with a dipping sauce of your choice. 

Fa Gao are small, simple cakes made from a four-ingredient recipe.

What’s challenging about this recipe is using the proper technique to achieve a proper texture from the dessert.

When cooked successfully, these cakes should split during the steaming process, creating a dessert reminiscent of an opening flower. 

Follow this recipe for a baked version of this traditionally steamed cake. These eggy cakes are light and fluffy.

Be sure to whip the eggs first at a moderate speed and then at a slower one.

This process eliminates large bubbles and is crucial to achieving this cake’s texture. Top with lemon zest to add brightness to this dessert. 

Mooncakes are attractive little cakes served at Chinese celebrations centered on family.

This traditional recipe provides directions for two of the most common fillings in these cakes: bean paste or black sesame.

These cakes are crispy on the outside with a light texture, while the insides are softer. For me, this contrast is one of the best aspects of this dessert. 

This Chinese dessert is rich in eggy flavor but has an airy texture expected from a sponge cake.

Only a small amount of lemon juice or white vinegar adds contrast to this cake.

Creamy ingredients in the cake, like butter and milk, contribute to the decadent taste while keeping the texture light. 

Water chestnuts are a popular ingredient in China used in many dishes, savory and sweet.

This Chinese dessert uses water chestnut flour to create a unique cake that is transparent.

Freshwater chestnut is also added to contrast this sweet and soft dessert. This dish can be served hot or chilled. 

Many cultures make a version of a butter cookie, but this dessert is slightly less sweet than other varieties.

What they lack in sweetness, these cookies make up for in decadence. This recipe calls for a good portion of butter and vanilla that enhances the rich flavor of these cookies. 

This candy is a great Chinese dessert to try if you enjoy making homemade candy.

Personally, I find candy-making challenging. Like other candy-making processes, this dish requires applied technique to come out correctly.

The candy should be soft and sticky.