Thai desserts are very different from everything we have in the West.
The tropical flavors create a much more vibrant flavor while keeping it light and fresh!
Here are three of my favorite Thai desserts: Khanom thuay, khanom tom bai toey and, bua lawy pheuak.
These are all coconut based desserts, featuring not only coconut milk but also coconut sugar and fresh coconut meat.
The sweet coconut flavor is often pair with pandan leafs a.k.a. the vanilla of the East.
Pandan has a much more floral scent when compared with vanilla. It’s also used to add beautiful green color to many desserts and can even be used in savory dishes such as fried chicken and curries.
Khanom Thuay
This silky coconut and pandan custard is commonly found in Thai restaurants. The sweetness of pandan and cooling effect of coconut helps fight the spiciness of Thai food and the local heat.
Because khanom thuay is steamed you can usually find it being served in tiny ceramic bowls. Those bowls are later sterilized and reused, creating a sustainable and low waste dessert experience.
Khanom Tom
This is probably my all time favorite Thai dessert!
Khanom tom is not only super cute but also absolutely delicious! The candied coconut paired with the stretchy pandan flavored tapioca dough is the perfect combination of sweet and chewy.
Like most Thai desserts khanom tom is quite easy to make, so if you’d like to learn how to make this and other Thai desserts at home leave us a comment below. We’re always happy to hear from you!
Bua Lawy Pheuk
Bua lawy is a sweet and savory coconut-based “boba like” dessert.The chewy tapioca pearls floating on the lightly salted coconut milk can be made out of taro, sweet potatoes, mung beans or pandan.The pastel colors from the tapioca balls and creamy white from coconut milk make bua lawy an extra cute dessert. Often served warm and with a salted egg yolk, this exotic Thai dessert is a must try whenever visiting Thailand!
Watch the video below to learn more about these delicious and exotic Thai desserts.