17 Must-Try Traditional Sweets in Malaysia
Aching to get that sweet tooth satisfied? Well, you’re in luck, as Malaysia is home to tons of colourful and flavourful sweets that will make Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory feel less than stellar.
This country is filled to the brim with local dessert stalls and establishments that offer traditional desserts that are affordable and delicious. That said, if you get the opportunity to visit Malaysia, here are some traditional sweets we recommend you try at least once during your trip:
Ais Kacang
Literally translating to “peanut ice,” ais kacang was originally a dessert that essentially consisted of shaved ice, peanuts and other ingredients.
Back in the day, it was only made by mixing shaved ice and red beans. Fast forward to today, however, and it feels much more like a fiesta in a bowl with its plethora of colourful and flavourful ingredients.
Aside from red beans, you’ll find grass jelly, sweet corn, palm seeds and more to make this dish extra colourful. In some variations, you’ll even find a scoop of ice cream on top to add another layer of sweetness and coldness into the mix!
This combination of ingredients makes for an interesting texture that you’ll be having the pleasure of experiencing with every bite. Personally, I love the contrast between the crunchiness of the roasted peanuts and the silkiness of the grass jelly.
Where to try it: Penang Road Famous Teochew Chendul
Why? This humble restaurant in George Town has been serving this dessert along with cendol for several decades. Since it’s near one of the busiest tourist spots in Malaysia, the Clan Jetties of Penang, it makes for a great rest stop for cooling down!
Bubur Cha Cha
Who knew that dessert can come in soup form? Well, you’ll be surprised to learn more about this local Malaysian dessert called bubur cha cha, the sweetest soup you’ll ever taste, and also one of the most flexible desserts in our books!
This traditional Southeast Asian dessert is essentially a bowl of different ingredients such as pearls, bananas, sweet potatoes pandan leaves and grated coconut. They are then submerged in delectable coconut milk, creating the dessert soup people know and love today.
We love this dessert because it can be served at different times of the day, and it will still be appropriate. You can either have it during breakfast to get a delicious kick to start your day or eat it after a nice meal to end it on a sweet note.
Lastly, this dessert can be served chilled or hot, depending on your preference. Regardless of what you choose, however, it’s certain that you’ll enjoy this nice bowl of creamy goodness.
Where to try it: Padang Food Court
Why: The number one reason why we think this is the best place to get this dessert is because of its creaminess. The coconut milk they use to create this dish tastes and feels fresh, making it the perfect base for this soup dessert.
Goreng Pisang
A dessert that’s popular in both Malaysia and Indonesia is goreng pisang. Here, the vendor deep fries a bunch of bananas until they develop a crispy shell while maintaining a soft and creamy inner layer.
The result is an amazing finger food that’s great to munch on at any time of the day. To top it all off, some versions will have it dusted with powdered sugar to add an extra bit of sweetness to the mix.
Where to try it: Brickfields Pisang Goreng
Why: This humble stall is considered by many, including us, to be the best goreng pisang in town, and it’s not hard to see why. What you’ll immediately notice about their version of this beloved dessert is that their bananas tend to caramelise over time while they’re being fried.
Apam Balik
Apam balik is known as the sweeter brother of another beloved Malaysian local delicacy, Murtabak. In fact, it’s also called “martabak manis” which translates to sweet murtabak.
Much like its savoury brother, apam balik is essentially fried pancakes that have been folded and filled with different kinds of fillings. This time, however, it’s filled with sweet ingredients such as sweet corn, coconut milk and sugar instead of eggs and different kinds of vegetables.
This particular dessert is a great option if you like variety, as it usually comes in different flavours. For instance, you can have it filled with fruit jam, chocolate spread, melted cheese and so much more.
Where to try it: Apam Balik Nusantara
Why: This has been a go-to spot in KL for people craving apam balik because of the quality of its offerings and the variety it provides. The store offers delicious flavours such as sweet corn, rich chocolate and nuts.
Muah Chee
You can think of muah chee as the Chinese version of the beloved Japanese sweet, mochi. With that in mind, these two desserts closely resemble each other, with both dishes featuring a chewy consistency courtesy of glutinous rice.
For this dish, instead of coming in different colours and being filled with some type of filling, these glutinous balls of rice flour are dumped in seasoning. This special seasoning is composed of crushed peanuts, sugar and sesame seeds.
Where to try it: Madam Tang
Why: Widely renowned as the Queen of Muah Chee, Madam Tang is the place to be for this dessert as she’s been doing this for several years, and it shows! We also like its convenient packaging, as it’s easy to hold in one hand while walking along the streets of Chinatown.
Kuih Keria
For all those doughnut lovers out there who want something unique for a change, we recommend trying out kuih keria. At first glance, this traditional delicacy does look like your average doughnut, but you’ll be surprised that they’re actually made from sweet potatoes!
The main ingredient doesn’t only alter its taste but the flavour as well! By replacing flour with these quality sweet potatoes, the final product tends to be airier and lighter than usual.
As soon as they’re fresh off the deep-frier, the vendors will sprinkle some white sugar over them to add some sweetness to the overall dish. This part is our favourite because you can see how the powdered white sugar stick to the surface of the doughnuts, as they’re being sprinkled.
Where to try it: Kuih Keria Antarabangsa
Why: This restaurant in Malacca offers the best kuih keria in Malaysia. From the consistency of the doughnuts down to the taste and more, everything is nailed to a tee, which is why you’ll often see it crowded.
Furthermore, Malacca is just a pleasant place to visit in Malaysia overall so it’s really a win-win situation if you ask us. While you’re here, you can discover its beautiful beaches, learn more about its rich history and more!
Cendol
The closest dessert that shares various similarities with ais kacang is cendol. For starters, both dishes consist of shaved ice and other sweet ingredients.
However, if you look closer, they’re actually more different than you think. One of the biggest differences between the two is the milk they use to drench the shaved ice and its typical fix-ins.
As soon as you take a bite out of this cold treat, you’ll notice that it has a richer and creamier taste. This is thanks to the combination of coconut milk and gula melaka, which makes the dish extra sweeter as well.
Aside from the red beans, you’ll find some green rice flour noodles swimming around in the coconut milk. These noodles don’t really taste much on their own, but they’re at absorbing the different flavours in this dessert!
Where to try it: Grandmama’s
Why: Grandmama’s is a great place that offers some of your favourite comfort foods, one of which is their famous cendol. We love their version of this classic dessert because it’s creamier and richer in flavour.
Furthermore, the serving size is relatively bigger compared to what you’ll get from other stalls and restaurants. This makes it much more enjoyable to eat, as you’ll know that you’re getting the best value for your money.
Bubur Pulut Hitam
If you’re looking for another dessert that you can eat at any time of the day, try out bubur pulut hitam. This delicious porridge-like dessert combines sweet ingredients such as coconut milk, pandan leaves and palm sugar, and mixes them with glutinous rice.
We love this dish because aside from being delicious, it can also be considered a meal because of how full we feel after eating it. Plus, its warm temperature makes it a great comfort food for those cosy and rainy days in the country.
Where to try it: Little Penang Cafe
Why: The serving size is great for its price and the quality of the dish itself is topnotch. It’s not overly sweet but it doesn’t fall short on flavour at the same time, thanks to its use of different fresh ingredients.
It also helps that this cafe is conveniently located in Suria KLCC, one of the most famous shopping centres in the capital. This way, you can stop by this restaurant as you’re shopping for the best Malaysian souvenirs you can find in the mall.
Sago Gula Melaka
Sago gula melaka is the perfect example of less is more. This dessert features one of the simplest recipes out there but it does the job of providing a nice sweet note to end your meal.
The dish is essentially a plate of sago pearls, drenched in gula melaka (palm sugar syrup) and coconut milk. In some variations, pandan leaves are also added to make the dish more flavourful and fragrant, and personally, we like it more this way.
Where to try it: Calanthe Art Cafe
Why: What we love about their version of this all-time classic dessert is that they add a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. This adds a whole layer of flavour and texture to the already perfect recipe of sago gula melaka, making it more delectable.
Roti Tisu
Malaysia is considered a melting pot of different cuisines, which is why you’ll find famous dishes from other Southeast Asian countries here. Among all of these influences, an extremely popular dish is roti canai, and its dessert version, roti tisu, is something you shouldn’t miss.
Roti tisu is noticeably thinner than your usual roti canai, and it’s shaped like a cone. On its own, it doesn’t taste like much, but once you start incorporating some of the things that it comes with, you’ll be treated to a sweet treat.
We love it when it comes with ice cream, but it’s personally up to your preference. Sometimes, it can be served alongside condensed milk, sugar and coconut jam.
Where to try it: Nasi Kandar Pelita
Why: The roti tisu that this restaurant serves is creatively presented, as it’s served at a towering height on a little plate. Plus, they leave you in charge of how you want to flavour it with the sweet ingredients they serve alongside the dish.
Tang Yuan
Another soup-like dessert that we’re sure you’ll enjoy is tang yuan. Just like traditional soup, it’s served hot; however, instead of being drenched in a meaty broth, its base is a syrup infused with ginger and pandan.
In this syrup, you’ll find different-sized balls that are made from glutinous rice. They feature a chewy consistency and a mildly sweet taste.
Furthermore, they’re a joy to eat, as they’re filled with sweet ingredients such as black sesame paste. Kids love this dish, and quite frankly, we’re huge fans of it as well, as it’s a nice and sweet treat to have at any time of day.
This syrup is perfectly absorbed by the soft and chewy glutinous rice balls that swim in it. These balls can come in different sizes and are sometimes filled with something sweet such as black sesame paste.
Where to try it: Tian Yuan
Why?: This is the only store in Malaysia that we think nails the fiery ginger taste tang yuan down. This dessert shop offers various sweets but tang yuan is what we think their magnum opus is.
The great thing about this restaurant is they serve this particular dessert on a platter. This means that you can try other Malaysian desserts on top of this iconic dish to help you get a better idea of the sweets that this country has to offer.
Tau Sar Piah
If you ever find yourself in Penang during your visit to Malaysia, we recommend trying tau sar piah. This dessert is a specialty on the island, and it’s one of the best things you can buy in the state because of its delicious taste and affordable price.
Tau sar piah is basically pockets of fried dough that have been filled with mushy mung beans, resulting in a sweet and savoury flavour. They’re about the size of a small saucer, so it’s nothing heavy, making them a great option to snack on as you roam the streets of Penang.
Where to try it: Him Heang
Why: This place is filled with local sweets and biscuits, and you’ll be doing yourself a favour when you buy their taur sar piah because of its quality. The ones they offer here come in packs, and they don’t cost much!
Also, one thing we like about this store is that their biscuits are made using vegetable oil, which is known to house essential fatty acids.
Kuih Dadar
One thing that you’ll notice about Malaysia’s sweets is that some, or even most,feature vibrant colours. A great example of this is a comfort food/dessert called kuih dadar, which is a bright green colour.
Pandan is a key ingredient in this dish, as it affects both the pancake’s colour and flavour, which we’re all in for! Plus, the bite-sized nature of these pancakes makes them an easy-to-eat dessert.
The main event of this dish, however, is the filling. Each roll is filled with delicious grated coconut that has been flavoured with gula melaka, a famous sweet syrup used in the country.
Where to try it: La Cucur
Why: This restaurant offers high-quality kuih dadar, as they’ve nailed down the recipe thanks to their years of experience. From the texture of the green pancakes down to the filling inside them, everything is perfectly made.
Also, we love how they aren’t afraid to be generous with their servings, as each roll is fattened up thanks to the amount of filling they put inside.
Kuih Lapis
Have you ever wondered what rainbows would taste like? Well, the closest answer we can get is probably kuih lapis. This famous sweet is composed of 9 different layers, each of which features a different colour, making it look like the arch of colours from the rainbow.
Furthermore, biting into these tiny sweets feels like chewing on clouds because of how instantly they melt in your mouth. You can thank its use of tapioca and rice flour for this one-of-a-kind texture.
As for its taste, you can expect to have your sweet tooth satisfied thanks to its use of coconut milk, sugar and pandan leaves. Not only do these ingredients do a great job of captivating your tastebuds, but they also work in providing more fragrance to the overall dish.
Where to try it: Vanity Kitchen
Why: We love how they make this dessert because of its texture. It’s not too spongy and it features the right amount of moistness to achieve that melt-in-your-mouth feel.
Furthermore, the taste isn’t too shabby as well. It features the right amount of sweetness, which is something that most people prefer. Some restaurants make the mistake of making it too sweet, which ruins the dish.
Ondeh Ondeh
When it comes to teatime, we Malays love to bring out different kinds of sweets to pair with our nice hot beverage. One that you’ll often see being served on a nice afternoon is a dessert called ondeh ondeh, which are these green balls, covered in coconut shavings.
You may be wondering why these sweets have a unique green colour. This is mainly because of one of its key ingredients, pandan, which not only alters the colour but the flavour as well.
Personally, the thing we love the most about this dish is its texture. The chewy consistency of these sweets is quite addicting, and it’s all thanks to its use of glutinous rice.
The best part about this dish, however, is the delectably sweet filling that you’re rewarded with once you get to the middle. This rich syrup is mainly made out of brown palm sugar, which isn’t overly sweet but enough to satisfy your cravings for sweets.
To finish this beloved dessert off, each ball is wrapped in white coconut shavings to add a bit of crunch to every bite. The result is an interesting dish that’s packed with different flavours and textures that we’re sure you won’t get enough of.
Where to try it: Nyonya Colors
Why: We love Nyonya Colors’ version of this classic dessert because of how generous they are with their coconut shavings. It’s to the point when the green glutinous balls are almost covered in these white strings of coconut.
Dodol
Want something chewy to munch on? Try out dodol, one of Malaysia’s most famous candies that have several variations.
The most common version you’ll encounter, however, are the ones wrapped in plastic. This allows the candy to be transported easily so that people can bring them wherever they want and munch on them anytime and anywhere.
This candy is chewy, sweet and brown. These characteristics can be attributed to its ingredients such as brown sugar, glutinous rice and coconut milk.
Where to try it: Tan Kim Hock
Why: We recommend buying dodol from this place because of the variety they offer. Not only do they offer this dessert in its natural form but they also produce different flavours such as durian, one of their best sellers.
Bahulu
One dessert that’s a sure-fire hit for adults and younglings is bahulu. This classic treat is basically a sponge cake that has been turned into bite-sized pieces–need I say more?
Bahulu is made up of your run-of-the-mill cake ingredients including flour, eggs and sugar. This simple yet effective recipe paired with the moist texture makes this an extremely addicting snack.
The reason why this dessert is such a hit among adults is that it’s a great dish to accompany a nice hot cup of coffee/tea. As for why kids love them, they’re delicious and come in different fun shapes, so what’s not to love?
Where to try it: Pasar Malam Night Market
Why: The best place to get bahulu for us is at the Pasar Malam Night Market in Kuala Lumpur. This is because you can find this snack being served in various stalls for a cheap price.
Furthermore, thanks to its small size, this sweet is great to munch on while browsing the different products featured in one of the biggest night markets in the country.