Halo-Halo Dessert Is The Filipino Sundae We All Need

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Halo-halo, which translates to “mix-mix,” is a lovable Filipino dessert that starts with a base of shaved ice, but the toppings are the best part. They’re nothing like you’ll find on your typical ice cream sundae. The Filipino treat, pronounced “hollow-hollow,” is served either in a tall glass or large bowl. It combines shaved ice with evaporated milk and piles of sweet and hearty toppings like sweet beans, jellies and fruit.

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You won’t find mini peanut butter cups or sprinkles on halo-halo. You’ll often find the shaved ice topped with sweetened kidney beans, sweetened chickpeas, plantains, jackfruit — a fully ripened jackfruit is sweet with the texture of a ripe banana and falls into the fig family — tapioca, leche flan (egg custard) coconut gelatin, mochi and sweet potato. Sometimes you’ll find a scoop of vivid violet-hued purple yam ice cream, avocado ice cream or mais con queso ice cream (sweet corn and cheese) on top. Sugar palm seeds or pinipig (roasted, pounded, immature glutinous rice flakes) are added for an extra crunch.

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If you want to make the real deal halo-halo, the ice has to be freshly shaved to order. It’ll seem light and fluffy, just like snow. When the ice starts to liquify and mixes with the evaporated milk, it’ll turn sweet and slushy. With the toppings all mixed in, everything blends into a colorful, delicious, muddled mess. Some people make the mistake of putting the ice back into the fridge after it’s shaved. That will cause the ice to turn back into a solid ball and no one wants that.

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Restaurants like Shokudo in Miami and Lumpia Shack Snackbar in New York City serve their own takes on the Filipino dessert. Sokudo makes its halo-halo with sweet milk, nata de coco, jack fruit, ube (purple yam), candied beans and mango mochi. At Lumpia Shack Snackbar, chef Neil Syham created a rif on the classic treat with foamy milk, fresh coconut, coconut jelly, bananas soaked in simple syrup, palm seeds, berries, leche flan, lavender-hued purple yam whipped cream and popcorn. DAMN.