Shaved ice desserts are hotter than ever. Here are five to try this spring

Shaved ice desserts are easy to make, relatively healthy and come in a wide range of flavours. Check out five fantastic ice-laden desserts from across Asian.

With sunny picnic weather upon us, cravings for icy treats are sure to follow.

Ditch the heavy ice cream tubs and metal scoopers and try some of these light shaved-ice iterations instead.

These iced desserts are most popular in Asia, where humid summers hit hard.

But while this is a worldwide list, chill out – these desserts can easily be replicated at home with the right equipment, and are widely available at restaurants specialising in their respective cuisines.

Made mostly of pillowy shards of ice and milk, bingsu is often served with sweet flavoured ice creams and chewy bites of tteok (glutinous rice cakes).

Bingsu

Originating from South Korea, this icy dessert has taken TikTok by storm. Made mostly of pillowy shards of ice and milk, bingsu is often served with sweet flavoured ice creams and chewy bites of tteok (glutinous rice cakes). Common flavours include green tea, red bean and strawberry. Other favourites mirror the country’s abundant summer crop – namely rockmelon and watermelon – as bingsu is best enjoyed on hot days. Keep an eye out for its distant cousin ‘hwachae’ on your next TikTok scroll. This treat uses whole ice cubes instead of shaved ice. Find heaped servings of bingsu just off Strathfield station in Sydney.

Kakigori is often confused with bingsu.

Kakigori

Made in neighbouring Japan, kakigori is often confused with bingsu. The Japanese iteration’s base is made with just ice and water, allowing for a more refreshing spoonful. They’re most commonly topped with matcha powder and condensed milk, and are built in tall mounds. Kakigori often comes with mochi balls, fresh fruits and various other accoutrements.

Ais kacang was designed to satisfy your sweet tooth and quench your thirst.

Ais kacang

This Malaysian dessert literally translates to ‘bean ice’. Also known as ‘ice kakang’ or ‘ABC’, this chilled treat was designed to satisfy your sweet tooth and quench your thirst. It’s commonly served with beans, grass jelly, creamed corn, tapioca pearls (sago) and coconut milk. The earthiness of the beans complements its sweet Southeast Asian flavour counterparts, resulting in a soothingly balanced sweet treat.

Halo halo roughly translates to mix-mix, encouraging you to blend the varied colours and textures in your bowl.

Halo halo

This rainbow sweet treat is the Philippines’ national dessert. The name roughly translates to ‘mix-mix’, encouraging you to blend the varied colours and textures in your bowl. The recipe will vary between families and regions, but some common staple ingredients include evaporated milk, ube ice cream, chunks of leche flan, pandan jelly and, of course, shaved ice. Head to Western Sydney to try authentic halo-halo. Calli’s Grill in Rooty Hill offers a large family-sized serving… which you can have all to yourself. We won’t judge.

Iced gola is the hottest street food dessert in India and across South Asia.

Ice gola

Known by many different names, iced gola is the (not so) hottest street food dessert in India and across South Asia. These sweet treats often get confused for icy pops (as they’re served on a stick), but we promise – they’re still technically made with shaved ice. Shaped by a hand-operated compress and drizzled with a myriad of sugar syrups, these colourful treats are a quick and tasty way to keep cool in an Indian summer.

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Originally published as Shaved ice desserts are hotter than ever. Here are five to try this spring