10 Traditional Hong Kong Desserts to Satiate Your Sweet Cravings

Desserts are the comfort foods of Hong Kong cuisine. Enjoyed as after meal delights, pick-me-ups between the hustle of city life, and well-deserved treats after a long day. Served in diners, street food markets, cafés, restaurants, or made fresh in households for the whole family.

While modernity has brought many sweet creations from around the world, traditional desserts born from Hong Kong’s East-meets -West culinary legacy remain beloved among local foodies. Here are some all-time favourites that are sure to please your tastebuds!

Egg Waffles

The golden Hong Kong egg waffle has a thin crispy crust and soft cake-like filling. Made from egg leavened batter with sugar, butter and evaporated milk, poured into a special griddle pan with a honeycombed mould of round cells, and baked over charcoal fire or portable electric stove.

First introduced to Hong Kong street food in the early post-WW2 years, when eggs were scarce, this creative waffle quickly became a signature treat for generations of Hongkongers. You can find them today in street food markets and bakeries, with the addition of new tasty flavours like green tea, chocolate, sweet potato and even cheese.

The egg waffle griddle pan has also become a popular baking utensil, available even in Australia!

Egg Tart

Inspired by the English custard tart and Portuguese pastel de nata, the iconic Hong Kong Egg Tart wraps a soft golden egg custard in a crispy pastry crust. Baked fresh and served daily in diners and bakeries. The crust crumbles as you bite into the sweet egg custard. A yummy wonder you simply must try.

Mango Sago

Tapioca pearls or Sago boiled and softened into a jelly-like treat. It is then left to cool and iced with cubed mango for a sweet dessert soup with an alluring fruity tang. Popular at Hong Kong street food markets to cool off after your shopping walk. Some vendors may also add pulped pomelo to the soup, or coconut milk for a creamier sip. Try our authentic recipe!

Glutinous Rice Dumpling

Hong Kong Lo Mai Chi or glutinous rice dumpling is another beloved street food dessert. Soft and munchable with a crushed peanut filling for a sweet crunchy bite. Other flavours include black sesame paste or lotus paste. 

Tofu Pudding

Silky smooth and fluffy soft with a custard-like mouthfeel. The classic Taufu Fa or tofu pudding is a Hong Kong cuisine heritage, adored for its comforting taste and texture, as well as its wholly organic goodness. Made by blending hot soymilk with gypsum powder, and cooled to solidify into its custard form, often served in ginger syrup or brown sugar syrup. A comfort treat enjoyed warm or chilled. You can also make your own tofu pudding with our special recipe!

Milk Pudding

Named ‘double skin milk pudding’ in Cantonese, this Hong Kong special is made with a blend of boiled milk with sweetened egg white, steamed into a bouncy soft and smooth milky pudding. It is beloved among foodies as tofu pudding, served warm at street food markets and dessert diners for an instant comforting taste. 

Tofu Skin and Barley Soup

Dried tofu skin has many uses in Chinese cuisine and this sweet wholesome dessert soup is one of Hong Kong’s favourites. Barley grains are boiled until soft, cooked with pre-soaked tofu skin into a silky-smooth texture and sweetened with rock sugar. Some Hong Kong dessert chefs may also add tender gingko nuts and red dates to enrich the soup’s flavour. Served warm or chilled as a tasty refreshment. Try it with our authentic recipe!

Red Bean Soup

Creamy sweet and a soft congee-like texture, the red bean soup is always a delight in Hong Kong desserts. Packed with the rich goodness of red beans and sweetened with rock sugar, made extra fragrant with the addition of dried tangerine peel during the boil and smoothened with coconut milk. It’s easy to make with our recipe! 

Walnut Sweet Soup

Walnut has a high Vitamin E content among other health benefits. Hongkongers also believe it can help maintain brain health, improve kidney function and even beautify skin. The Hong Kong sweet walnut soup is their favourite way to enjoy it – smooth and creamy with a tantalising roasted nutty flavour that lingers on your tastebuds.      

Black Sesame Soup

Black sesame is another wholesome Hong Kong dessert ingredient, cooked into a thick, creamy soup in this beloved broth. Savoured as a warming treat during cold weather, it’s made with toasted black and white sesame seeds blended into a smooth paste. It is then cooked with glutinous rice flour to thicken, and flavoured with rock sugar and a dash of salt for an umami sweet taste.

Hungry for Hong Kong? Head to www.discoverhongkong.com/anz and plan your next foodie adventure.