Filipino Desserts

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Technorati Tags: desserts, Filipino Dessert, Philippine cuisine, Philippine food, Quick Desserts

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Philippines is ideally located in Southeast Asia and is known to be the “land of all fiestas“. Out of all fiestas there is on a Philippine calendar, Christmas outshines them all. No winter snow fall on Philippine soil or swaying pine trees to better complement the Christmas party mood. Yet, Christmas in Philippines is worth waiting for. Christmas is a national holiday and is observed with utmost love and passion by Filipinos. As early as September, colorful displays and decorations adorn homes and commercial establishments. Undoubtedly, decorations play an important part in the celebration of Christmas in Philippines. The striking, vibrant and elaborate Filipino Christmas decoration emphasizes Filipino Christmas as an event of sheer merrymaking.

Filipinos find joy in decorating their homes with star lanterns or “parol” along with all sorts of colorful Christmas decors. Filipinos often choose wreaths and other decors made out of local native materials as opposed to those decors of Western designs. Brightly colored streamers are hung inside and out of homes. Christmas cards show scenes Filipino culture-inspired. These cards are then displayed in the living room for all to see and enjoy. Multi-colored Christmas lights beam in each homes and shops. It never seems to be a surprise to see decorated homes and shops for the Christmas holidays as early as September.

Filipinos adorn their homes with “parol” or Christmas lanterns. It is made of bamboo and thin sheets of paper. Parol stands as a symbol of Christmas in the Philippines. It represents the guiding light or star of Bethlehem. They are usually lighten up at night to emit an unparalleled warmth among decorations uniquely Filipino. Modern parols are innovated with capiz or seashells with attached dancing lights originating from Pampanga. Some modern parols also utilize recycled materials such as used newspapers made colorful with dyes, colored plastic and foils.

Christmas trees is considered a regular Christmas decoration adapted from Western culture.  They can be as tall such as those normally found in malls.  Modestly large Christmas trees are displayed in average Filipino homes. Recycling never goes out of style in the Filipino culture that even Christmas trees can be made of uniformly colored bottles piled together as to make it a tall and elegant looking trees.

The “Belen” or nativity scene is shown as miniatures to commemorate the day when Mother Mary bore baby Jesus to the world. It is either cut from cardboards or made of ceramics. Other versions of Belen can be as big as a life-sized decoration complete with colorful lights of red, green or yellow.

Christmas in Philippines is made alive with brilliant and flamboyant thanks to unique Filipino decorations. The Christmas decors represent a time to celebrate life itself and to gather hopes for a new beginning. Most of all, it symbolizes the birth of our Savior and how wonderful life is as a gift given to us, having greater joy and meaning when Christmas is spent with families and friends bounded by love.

Technorati Tags: food Filipino culture Philippines Christmas Decorations

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Fruit salad is a very simple Filipino dessert to make. It adds color and sweetness to a noche buena table.

Ingredients:
2 large cans of Del Monte Fruit Cocktail (Imported)
grated Coconut meat from 10 buko (young coconut)
2 cans lychees (optional)
1 small bottle nata de coco (green)
1 small bottle nata de coco (red)
1 small bottle kaong (green)
1/4 kilo seedless grapes
3 small Fuji apples , cubed
1 can condensed milk
2 packs Nestle Cream
1 can Peaches for topping
Few red or green cherries for topping

Directions:
1. Drain the fruit cocktail from the can. Let it sit at least 2 hours to prevent a soggy fruit salad.

2. When all the juices have been drained, mix all the fruits together in a big bowl.
3. Add the condensed milk and cream. Blend well.

4. Transfer to serving bowls and top with peaches and cherries.
5. Freeze or refrigerate properly. Be careful to refrigerate it after it’s done. Buko or coconut meat spoils if not refrigerated or frozen.

Technorati Tags: fruit cocktail, fruit salad recipe, tropical chrsitmas fruit salad

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Welcome to our Christmas special where we will feature Filipino dessert recipes and interesting facts about Christmas in the Philippines. Read our first article here on www.filipinodesserts.net.

It is especially true and proudly proclaimed that Filipinos is the “Land of Fiestas”. Christmas season is the most well-known festive fiesta in the Philippines. This country has by far the longest and merriest Christmas season complete with Christmas carols heard as early as September and lovely, colorful Christmas decorations hung up on display whether at homes or at stores. The Christmas season officially starts on December 16 with the attendance at the first of nine pre-dawn masses and continues until the first Sunday of January, Feast of the Three Kings.

The Philippines is the only Asian country to be predominated by Christians which makes Roman Catholic as a religion followed by majority of its people. Christmas day, therefore, is a special and important family affair for most Filipinos as a Christmas tradition. It is a time for family, for sharing and giving and a time for food, fun and fellowship. Christmas Eve is a night without sleep and continuous celebration which Filipino families anticipate for the clock to strike 12 midnight. In some regions where fireworks are allowed, most families greet Christmas at the strike of 12 midnight with sparks and blasts of colorful and lively fireworks.

Noche Buena

The Noche Buena is a tradition inherited form Spanish ancestors where multitude Filipino culinary delight adds rich aroma and appetizing flavor in a Filipino home. Noche Buena is a sumptuous Filipino meal usually partaken by twelve midnight. This feast usually follows after the entire family has attended a late evening church service or Misa de Aguinaldo about an hour or so before midnight. Misa de Aguinaldo or a Holy Mass is being celebrated to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. A typical noche buena prepared on the table consists of a main course of Filipino food and Filipino desserts. The entrees of Filipino foods are lechon (roasted suckling pig), fried chicken, lumpia, chicken or pork adobo, rice among many others. Filipino desserts include halo-halo, rice cakes, pastries, cakes and so much more. After all, Filipinos are known for their love of sweets regardless of how old or young they may be. Typical drinks for all ages are soda, fruit punch and juice. Also included in the list of drinks are wine and beer for those who look forward to an intoxicating Christmas!

The Noche Buena could last until four o’clock in the morning noon Christmas day. Most Filipino families will again attend mass or church service during the morning. It is during Christmas day that some godchildren (inaanak) visit their godfather (ninong) and godmother or (ninang). Christmas day is also a perfect time to hold grand reunions of extended family clan members such as grandparents, grandchildren, cousins, uncles and aunts. It is an opportunity for families to get together, open Christmas gifts, singing Christmas carols and story-telling. In some charitable homes, it is also a way to welcome the less fortunate such as orphans or poor people to join the Christmas celebration. Christmas carolers often visit house to house to raise funds for civic organizations and are given donations in cash or kind.

Christmas is a day of family closeness and everyone in the family and clan wishes good cheer and glad tidings to one another. The Christmas spirit of generosity prevails and the love for family and God is emphasized all because of the Christmas traditions that Filipinos adheres to. All of these traditions and beliefs make up Philippines’ longest yet merriest Christmas season known in the world.

Technorati Tags: christmas spirit, christmas tradition, filipino food, misa de aguinaldo, noche buena, philippines

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Taho is a soya-based Filipino dessert made of fresh soft tofu, arnibal (brown sugar and vanilla syrup and pearl tapioca. This staple comfort food is readily available all over Philippines which is sold by “mangtataho” or taho vendor. It is considered a health food, high in protein, low in fat and definitely low cost. The Indonesian and Malaysian equivalent of this Filipino snack is Tahu.

Ingredients:

1 cup soy bean powder or soy bean flour
4 cups water
4 tablespoons lemon juice
2 cups brown sugar for syrup
1 envelope (1 tablespoon) pure unflavored gelatine

Directions:

1. Mix soy bean powder/water and let stand 1 hour or overnight stirring often.

2. Bring to a boil stirring constantly and reduce heat and simmer 8 minutes.

3. Stir in gelatine until dissolved and not lumpy. Remove from heat and add lemon juice while stirring.

4. Transfer to desired bowl and chill.

5. Scoop thin layers and pile them up in a cup. Topped with hot syrup to cover.

To make syrup:

Dissolve 1 cup brown sugar in 1 cup water. Llet it boil for 5 minutes.

Technorati Tags: beancurd sweet syrup, soya based snack dessert, taho

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Want to taste a healthy and affordable Filipino dessert?

Try this Filipino snack called Taho. This staple comfort food is delicious, creamy and sweet Filipino snack. Follow this instructional video on how to make Taho.

Technorati Tags: taho video

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Champorado is a sweet chocolate rice porridge is one of the Filipino desserts or can be an alternative to the usual rice meal. It is traditionally made by boiling sticky or sweet rice and cocoa powder. The cocoa gives it a distinctly brown color. Champorado is best served for breakfast and sometimes eaten together with dried fish locally known as tuyo. There are dry champorado mixes, which may be found in some Asian food stores, are cooked by adding just boiling water. It can be served hot or cold and with milk and sugar to taste.

Ingredients

1 cup glutinous (sweet/sticky) rice

2 1/2 cups water

1/2 cup (more or less to taste) unsweetened cocoa

1/2 cup (more or less to taste) sugar

1/8 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

4 ounces sweetened condensed milk

Directions

1.  Cook or boil rice in a medium-sized saucepan with 2 1/2 cups water.

2.  Stir constantly to prevent rice from sticking at the bottom.

3.  When rice is fluffy and soft, add cocoa, sugar and vanilla.

4.  Serve in bowls with swirls of sweet condensed milk on top. Serves 4 people.

Technorati Tags: champorado, sweet rice porridge

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The Philippine Custard or Leche Flan is a sweet dessert that is so simple to make. Watch this instructional video on how to cook this Filipino dessert.

View our recipe of Leche Flan.

Technorati Tags: Leche Flan Philippine Custard video recipe

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Ingredients

200 grams graham crackers (approximately)

1 (10 1/2 ounce) can all purpose cream

3 large ripe mangoes

1 (10 ounce) can condensed milk

Directions

1. Slice mangoes into thin wedges.

2. Combine condensed milk, all purpose cream, and sliced mangoes.

3. Layer the graham crackers in a square glass pan or other container.

4. Put on the crackers a layer of the filling of mangoes, all purpose cream, and condensed milk.

5. Repeat by putting layers of graham crackers and filling until you’ve used it all. Top the final layer with graham crackers.

6. Put it in the refrigerator and chill overnight. Mango float as a frozen treat tastes even more delicious when you put this desert in the freezer.

Technorati Tags: Mango float recipe

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An instructional video on how to make a frozen and yummy treat, Mango Float!

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