Halo-Halo (Filipino Shaved Ice Dessert)

Halo-halo is a Filipino shaved ice dessert with sweetened fruits, beans, jellies, and milk. Ube ice cream, leche flan, and toasted pinipig go on top.

You don't need every ingredient to make a good halo-halo. Use your favorites or whatever you can find.

Just leave enough room in the glass to mix everything together!

Notes and Substitutions

• Ube halaya: A sweet purple yam jam that makes the halo-halo creamier as you mix it in. Homemade or store-bought works.

• Sweetened Fruits: Saba bananas, ripe jackfruit, or pineapple cooked in syrup are common choices. You can make them yourself or buy them in jars at Filipino or Asian grocery stores.

• Fresh Fruits: Ripe mangoes, melon, or young coconut meat (buko) also work. Cut them into small pieces so they're easy to scoop.

• Beans, corn, and root crops: Use sweetened red mung beans, white beans, or chickpeas. Cooked sweet corn, sweet potatoes, or taro also work. Cut the root crops into small pieces and sweeten to taste.

• Sago and jellies: Use cooked sago or tapioca pearls, nata de coco, and gulaman or gelatin cut into small cubes. Any color of gulaman works.

• Ice: Finely shaved ice is easier to mix and eat. Crushed ice also works, but avoid large chunks.
• Milk: I use evaporated milk. If you want it sweeter, add a little condensed milk or sugar after mixing.
• Ice cream: Ube is a common choice, but mango, coconut, or vanilla also works.
• Leche flan: Add a small piece on top if you have it. You can leave it out, too.

• Pinipig: Toast it for a little crunch. Cornflakes also work.

• Cheese: Optional, but I like a little grated cheese for that sweet and salty mix. Cheddar or Eden cheese works.

How to Make Halo-Halo

Step 1: Add the fruits, beans, and jellies

Cut the fruits and jellies into small pieces. Have the cooked sago and other ingredients ready before shaving the ice.

Divide these among 4 tall glasses:

• ½ cup ube halaya
• ¼ cup sweetened saba bananas
• ¼ cup mango pieces
• ¼ cup sweetened red mung beans
• ¼ cup cooked sago
• ¼ cup nata de coco
• ¼ cup green gulaman cubes
• ¼ cup red gulaman cubes

You can use fewer ingredients or change the amounts to your liking.

Step 2: Add the ice

Spoon about 2 cups shaved or finely crushed ice into each glass.

Leave a little room for the toppings and milk.

Step 3: Add the toppings

Top each glass with 1 scoop of ice cream.

Divide ¼ cup leche flan and ¼ cup toasted pinipig among the glasses.

Step 4: Add the milk and serve

Pour about ¼ cup evaporated milk into each glass.

Use a long spoon to mix everything together.

Taste before adding sugar since most of the ingredients are already sweetened.

Enjoy your halo-halo right away, before the ice melts.

Tips for Making Halo-Halo

• Chill the ingredients first. Warm ingredients will melt the ice faster.
• Use small pieces. Cut the fruits and jellies so you can get a little of everything in each spoonful.
• Leave room to mix. A glass filled to the rim makes this harder than it needs to be.
• Taste after mixing. The syrup, ube halaya, and toppings may already make it sweet enough.

Recipe FAQs

More Filipino Cold Treats to Try

• Mango shake: Ripe mangoes blended with milk and ice.
• Mango ice cream: Creamy mango ice cream with small pieces of salty cheese.
• Avocado and milk: Avocado pieces with milk and ice.
• Avocado shake: Avocados blended with milk, sugar, and ice.
• Avocado ice cream: Ripe avocado ice cream with chopped pistachios.
• Sago at gulaman: Sago and jelly in a chilled brown sugar drink.
• Watermelon slushie: Watermelon blended with ice.
• Ube ice cream: Homemade purple yam ice cream.