10 Thai Desserts You Should Try in Thailand
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If you find yourself in Thailand, you have to try some of the delicious traditional Thai desserts. While mango sticky rice is definitely a must, there are plenty of less well-known sweets that you should try as well. Here are 10 tasty treats to satisfy your sweet tooth!
1. Mango Sticky Rice
A classic Thai dessert, mango sticky rice (ข้าวเหนียวมะม่วง) is a delicious combination of sweet, sticky rice, fresh mango slices, and creamy coconut milk. The balance of sweetness and saltiness is what makes this dish a favorite.
If you are in Bangkok, don't miss out the chance to visit Kor Panich, Thailand's oldest mango sticky rice shop since 1927. Check out our "8 Best Mango Sticky Rice Spots to Try" page for the ultimate mango goodness!
2. Kanom Krok (Thai coconut pancakes)
Kanom Krok (ขนมครก) is a Thai-style coconut pancake. Made from coconut milk combined with sugar, glutinous rice flour and white rice flour, the pancake has a light sweet taste and creamy texture.
3. Bua Loy (rice balls in coconut milk)
Bua Loy (บัวลอย) is a classic Thai dessert made from soft glutinous rice flour dumplings cooked in sweet coconut milk. The dumplings are sometimes mixed with pandan juice, mashed taro, or pumpkin puree for extra flavors.
4. Thai Sweet Roti (crispy pancakes with condensed milk)
Unlike the traditional Indian roti, which is usually soft and savory, Thai roti (โรตีนมข้น) is fried to a golden crisp and often served as a dessert or sweet snack. A mixture of flour, water, sugar, and a bit of oil forms the dough for Thai roti. Then, after the roti is cooked and perfectly crispy, it is cut into bite-sized pieces and drizzled generously with sweetened condensed milk.
Some vendors add a sprinkle of sugar or a drizzle of chocolate sauce for extra sweetness, but the classic version with just condensed milk remains a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
5. Itim Kati (Thai coconut ice cream)
Itim Kati (ไอติมกะทิ), or Thai-style coconut ice cream, is a refreshing treat, especially on a hot day in Thailand. Made from coconut milk, this icy dessert is usually topped with roasted peanuts, sticky rice, lotus seeds, or taro. Some shops also mix coconut water into their ice cream recipe for a more intense coconutty flavor.
6. Sakoo Piak (sago pudding)
A light and delightful dessert, Sakoo Piak (สาคูเปียก) is made from tiny tapioca pearls, coconut milk, and sugar. Then, creamy coconut topping is added along with different toppings such as young coconut meat, longan, and melon.
7. Ruam Mit (chilled coconut dessert soup)
Ruam Mit (รวมมิตร) is a delicious, refreshing dessert to cool off on a hot day. It also boasts a variety of ingredients, such as sweetened coconut flesh, tapioca pearls, pandan-flavored jellies, corn kernels, candied palm seeds, water chestnuts, lotus roots, jackfruits, sweet potatoes, taro cubes, and starchy noodles. Ruam Mit's coconut milk base gives a rich, creamy texture and a slightly sweet taste.
8. Foi Thong (golden egg yolk threads)
Foi Thong (ฝอยทอง) originated in the 17th-century Ayutthaya period as a result of Portuguese influence on Thai cuisine. Fascinating background story: Foi Thong was introduced to Thailand by Maria Guyomar de Pinha, a woman of Portuguese-Japanese-Bengali descent who was married to a Greek minister at the Siamese court.
Egg yolks, sugar, and jasmine water are the main ingredients. Then, fine, golden strands are created by drizzling the egg yolk mixture into syrup and, later, resting in sugary jasmine water for a brief period of time. Foi Thong bears a striking resemblance in appearance and flavor to "fios de ovos," also known as the Portuguese "egg threads."
9. Kanom Buang (sweet/savory crispy crepes)
Kanom Buang (ขนมเบื้อง) is a popular Thai street food, resembling a crispy pancake or taco filled with sweet or savory toppings. The base of Kanom Buang is made from rice flour, mung bean flour, and eggs, which are mixed into a batter and spread thinly onto a hot griddle.
It comes in two main varieties: sweet and savory. The sweet version is filled with sweetened coconut cream, shredded coconut, and Foi Thong (golden egg yolk threads), while the savory version features salted coconut cream, shrimp, coriander, and green onions.
10. Kanom Chan (Thai layer cake)
