9 Thai Desserts You Have to Try in Thailand

Thai desserts are nothing like what you think of in the traditional sense…But then, if you’re a frequent traveler to Asia, you’ll know this already. 

Forget tarts, cakes, pastries, and chocolate-rich concoctions. Instead, Thai desserts favor fruit-y infusions, with common ingredients like rice flour, pandan, coconut, and coconut milk heroed. 

Thai desserts have always reminded me of Vietnamese desserts. Don’t go expecting Japanese cheesecakes here, people. 

Interesting to say the least, try something new beyond the usual sweet treats you’re used to. I also love how “light” Thai desserts are. You aren’t left with that heavy feeling. And also, vegans, you’re in the right country for dairy/egg-less options. Enjoy! 

1. Khao Neow Ma Muang (Mango sticky rice) 

How on Earth can something so “simple” be soooo delicious? I’ve always loved fruit — I don’t understand those people who don’t (my brother included in this equation). In Southeast Asia, fruit features heavily in desserts. 

I’ll never forget when first moving to Hanoi and eating at a restaurant for the first time. After my meal, I expected to order some sort of chocolate-y or ice-cream treat, at least. Boy, was I wrong, and instead, had to settle for a fruit platter…

Now, back to mango sticky rice — Thailand’s most iconic dessert. I’d go so far as to call it the “national dessert,” although I don’t think that’s a thing. 

Fresh slices of bright orange/yellow mango are accompanied by a bed of sticky rice drizzled in coconut milk. The rice is topped with sesame, but the thick kind when they’re still in their hull and are actually crunchy, or with small boiled corn kernels.  

2. Kanom Beung (Thai crepes) 

Calling the Land of Smiles home for a while, I do have my Thai desserts I favor the most, and kanom beung would be next in line. 

I ate Thai crepes for the first time whilst staying in Phuket at one of the night markets. It was love at first sight, or should I say, bite! 

It was their appearance that first caught my eye, well, the whipped egg white to be exact. It’s one of my weaknesses. When I moved to the USA, I couldn’t believe that they sold entire jars of the stuff (Marshmallow Fluff). Crazy…Anyhoo, back to the Thai desserts. 

Minute in size, the “crepe” is crispy and made from rice flour, but it almost reminds me of a wafer. Whipped egg white is added, then hardened coconut candy, ranging in colours from orange to green to pink. These are placed on top of the wafer whilst it’s still hot, which is then folded over, like a little taco! 

3. O-Aew

It’s not what you think…O-Aew is NOT bingsu! Although I can totally see why one might confuse the two desserts. Similar to the Korean treat, this Thai dessert is shaved ice, but I feel like bingsu has a finer ice texture. 

Originating in Phuket (makes sense as it’s sooooo hot in this part of Thailand and the perfect refreshing bite after a long beach day), the shaven ice reminds me of a slushy. 

But the star component of the dessert is undoubtedly the Aiyu jelly, made from the o-aew plant (creeping fig). Guessing this is how it got the name. Like many Asian desserts, it’s finished off with syrup, red bean, and other jelly sweets. Some spots also add fruit, like watermelon balls. 

You get different flavors, and the syrup part changes the flavor. 

As it’s a Phuket original, the best place to sample it would be in the Southern Thai city. Stalls at ChamChaamarket make the best, but other goodies include Pornthip Dessert Cafe and Wanlamun Phuket. 

4. Foi Thong (Golden egg yolk thread)

The thing that intrigued me most about foi thong (ฝอยทอง) when I first saw it was its appearance…I remember thinking: ‘Is it sweet spaghetti? Sweet pastry threads you sometimes see with baklava? Crispy birds’ nest commonly used in desserts?’ Then I learned of its English name and was even more curious! 

Made from, guess what, egg yolk (!!!), the Thai dessert is basically just egg and sugar. A pot of boiling sugar syrup is the first part to get going if you’re recreating this one at home. Next, the egg yolk is poured into the sizzling water, but via a sieve. The moment the yolk hits the water, it hardens, creating foi thong as we know it. 

Served at special occasions (if you’re Thai), you will spot golden egg yolk threads at most local markets. 

5. Thai roti-pancakes with Nutella  

Sure, I’ve eaten hundreds of pancakes in my lifetime, but nothing quite prepared me for the sizzling hot Nutella dolloped versions Thailand is so famous for. 

After adventuring around Thailand for months and then leaving, I still couldn’t find pancakes as good as Thailand. Ending up in Cambodia next, the amount of Nutella crepes I went through trying to find one close to the Thai desserts version…Impossible! 

Texture-wise, I’d say the “pancake” is a combination of a pancake and a roti. The inside is smeared with Nutella whilst the base is still on the grill, so it melts all over. It’s then wrapped and cut into squares, with like a panga knife no less. Very theatrical…

Another version I LOVE is with bananas. Slices of banana are added to the inside, it’s cut, and THEN smothered with Nutella. You can also get a plain banana version, with condensed milk replacing the Nutella. 

Every market in Thailand sells Thai pancakes. 

6. Bua Loy 

I used to go gaga for mochi (until I ate wayyyy too many, does that ever happen to you?), and bua loy always reminds me of the Japanese sweeties. Of course, it’s the Thai desserts version, and these arrive floating in a sort of “soup.” 

Ever noticed how cutesy Asian desserts can be? This is one such example. Bua loy (บัวลอย) are pastel-colored, varying in shades of pink, purple, yellow, and green. Made from rice flour (like mochi) and taro, this gives them a chewy sort of texture.  

The balls are added to a coconut milk broth, sweetened with palm sugar. 

7. Luk Chup

Luk Chup very much looks like a candy fruit, but looks can be deceiving…These Thai desserts are almost too pretty to eat, don’t you think? 

Shaped in the cutest little fruit varieties, the shiny “candies” range from mangosteens to cherries, apples, oranges, mangoes, peaches, jackfruit, the works. It takes some skilled baking artisans to make such gorgeous-looking treats. 

Filled with mung bean paste, it’s for this reason that I haven’t personally tasted these Thai desserts. I am not a mung bean fan, as much as I’ve given it a chance. The outer layer is made from marzipan, which is perfect for moulding.   

8. I-dtim mat phrao (Coconut ice cream)  

This sweet treat is pretty much exactly as its English name describes…It’s coconut ice-cream. But it’s not just flavored with coconut vibes. Oh no… 

The reason why you get hit in the face with a coconut BANG — and it literally tastes as if you’re eating a fresh coconut, just in a frozen form — is because instead of using dairy (cow’s milk) to make the ice cream, it is, in fact, made with coconut milk! 

A local favorite is to top the coconut ice cream with corn kernels (which is a popular topping with Thai desserts). 

P.S. Traveling through Bangkok? Grab coconut ice cream from นัฐพรไอศครีมกะทิสด (Nuttaporn Icecream) or MOLTHIP Coconut Ice Cream. But you’ll also find it at every market in Thailand, both day and night. 

9. Khanom Chun (Thai Jelly)

Has anyone else noticed jelly-like cakes becoming a trend on social media, especially among the vegan influencers? Khanom Chun reminds me of these cakes because of their texture, and in Thailand, these Thai desserts are often referred to as a layered Thai jelly (or jell-o, for Americans) cake. 

Surprisingly, ขนมชั้น comprises pandan (which lends the green color, too), tapioca and rice flour combined, and coconut milk. It’s also infused with jasmine and butterfly pea flowers, and is as fragrant as ever. 

There are some people who can’t stand jelly for textural reasons (my mother-in-law is one of these people). If you’re the same, I suggest skipping this one. It’s not as soft as jelly, though, and is a little chewy. 

Whilst we’re on the topic of must-try Thai foods, here are 10 mouthwatering Bangkok street foods to sample! Heading further North? I’ve got you covered with these 9 classic street foods from Chiang Mai. 

If you happen to be in Pattaya, check out these best restaurants for fine dining, views, and beachfront locations!

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