Besides the fortune cookies that come with takeout, there are many delicious Chinese treats that will expand your palate. We’ve rounded up 22 Traditional Chinese Desserts, from Red Bean Buns to Bubble Tea, Boba Ice Cream, Moon Cake and more.

What Are Some Popular Chinese Desserts?

Chinese cuisine has so many delicious dessert options. Popular choices include desserts made with sweetened red bean paste, such as Red Bean Buns and Red Bean Soup. Other popular Chinese desserts include jellies like almond jelly and lychee jelly. Black sesame seeds are also used to create popular desserts such as sesame seed balls and sesame seed soup.

Best Chinese Desserts for the New Year

Red Bean Buns

Also called 豆沙包 in Chinese, these steamed buns are soft, sweet and filled with traditional sweet red bean paste. They’re often served at breakfast with milk.

Sweet Rice Balls (Tang Yuan 汤圆)

These round, sweet dumplings are as pretty as they are delicious. You’ll love the sweet, nutty filling.

Nian Gao (Chinese New Year Cake 年糕)

Gong hei fat choy! This cake is traditionally used to celebrate the Chinese New Year, but can really be enjoyed during any season.

Sesame Seed Balls

If you’ve enjoyed these tasty balls at Dim Sum (also called 煎堆), you’ll be happy to know they can be recreated at home. The crispy exterior and sweet filling and totally addictive.

Fortune Cookies

We’ve all received these fun, classic cookies with Chinese takeout. Make them at home and fill them with personalized fortunes for friends and family!

Chinese Desserts with Fruits

Lychee Jelly

Lychee jelly is sweet, jiggly and super refreshing. Best of all, it’s vegan-friendly and uses only a handful of ingredients.

Chinese Mango Pudding

Mango pudding is sweet, smooth, and creamy. It’s so easy to make and is an explosion of flavor and texture.

Chinese Glaceed Bananas

You’ll love this decadent dessert inspired by Beijing’s trendy restaurant scene. Fried bananas are drizzled with caramel for a crispy and sweet after-dinner treat.

Candied Fruits on A stick (Tanghulu)

Tanghulu is a deliciously simple Chinese dessert consisting of fresh fruit encased in a crunchy, sugary shell. You can make Tanghulu with strawberries, pineapple chunks or mandarin slices.

Durian Pancakes (Hong Kong Style)

These pillow-shaped crepes are filled with cream and the traditional durian fruit. If you like, you can substitute durian for other fruit like strawberries and mangoes.

Healthy Chinese Desserts

Red Bean Soup

Soup for dessert? Yes! This creamy, sugary soup is made with the incredibly healthy Adzuzi bean.

Almond Jelly

This jiggly dessert is a popular treat for children and couldn’t be easier to make. Best of all, you only need a few simple ingredients.

Chinese Black Sesame Soup

Black sesame seed powder and rice are used to make a sweet, slightly nutty dessert. Make it as thick as a pudding or as thin as a soup.

Other Popular Desserts

Boba Ice Cream

This brown-sugar based Asian dessert recently went viral. You’ll love the taste of rich, creamy ice cream and chewy boba pearls.

Mooncake (Yue Bing)

Mooncake is a traditional Chinese dessert popularly served during the mod-Autumn festival. Now, you can make it any time of year at home.

Egg Tarts

For lovers of dim sum, egg tarts are a special treat reserved for the very end of the meal. These tasty treats are like mini pies and we can never eat just one!

Fried Milk Custard

This unexpected dessert is made by battering and deep frying milk custard. The result is sweet, creamy and cake-like

Bubble Tea

Bubble tea has quickly become a popular beverage all over the world. Now, you can make your own at home, complete with chewy tapioca balls.

Eight-Treasure Rice Pudding

Sweet, sticky rice, dried fruits, nuts and red bean paste are used to make this traditional festive delight.

Homemade Chinese Donuts

These donuts aren’t too sweet and have a delectable crunchy, sugary coating you’re sure to love. You can make these donuts from scratch in less than an hour.

Dragon Beard Candy

Also known as Chinese cotton candy, Dragon’s beard candy is whisky, sugary and melt-in-your-mouth good.

Chinese Pumpkin Pancakes

These plant-based pancakes are gluten-free and made with three simple ingredients – pumpkin, flour and sugar. The finished product is crispy on the outside but soft and sticky on the inside.

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