Halo Halo is a classic Filipino shaved ice dessert layered with sweet fruits, creamy milk, and ice cream for the ultimate refreshing treat. This easy homemade version is colorful, creamy, and perfect for cooling down on a warm day.

Similar creamy mix-ins desserts like Dirt Pudding, Cookie Butter ice cream and Mango Sago deserve a try for your sweet tastebuds too!

Jump to:

Substitutions
Storage
Ingredients
Instructions
⭐ Top Tip
FAQ
Halo Halo Recipe

This shaved ice dessert is usually served as a refreshing dessert or snack during hot weather, especially in the summer months in the Philippines, typically from March to May.

The combination of shaved ice, milk, and sweet ingredients makes it a popular way to cool down in the tropical heat.

What is Halo Halo recipe?

Halo Halo is a popular Filipino shaved ice dessert made with layers of sweet preserved fruits, beans, jellies, milk, and topped with ice cream. The name halo halo means “mix mix” in Tagalog, because everything is stirred together before eating.

This refreshing dessert is believed to have been inspired by Japanese kakigori and later adapted in the Philippines with local ingredients like nata de coco, sweetened beans, jackfruit, saba bananas, ube, palm fruit, and leche flan. Today, Halo Halo is one of the most iconic Filipino desserts, loved for its creamy texture, colorful layers, and mix of sweet flavors in every bite.

halo halo ingredients labeled on.a white plate

Substitutions

Shaved ice - Replace with crushed ice or pre-packaged snow cones.
Evaporated milk - Substitute with whole milk, coconut milk (dairy-free), almond milk, or oat milk.
Condensed milk - Use honey, agave syrup, or sweetened coconut cream.
Ube ice cream - Swap with vanilla, coconut or taro ice cream, or any dairy-free option.

Storage

Do not store assembled Halo-Halo as the ice will melt, and the dessert will lose its texture. Always assemble fresh for serving.

Ingredients

Listed below are all the ingredients you will need (omitting quantities):

Halo-halo Sweet Fruit Mix
shaved ice
evaporated milk
condensed milk
Ube ice cream

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

Crush the ice depending on how many servings you will make.

Mix all the ingredients. Take note, Halo Halo looks prettier when served in tall clear glasses!

Layer the halo halo starting with the halo halo mixture, followed by the shaved ice, and repeat till the glass is ⅓ full.

halo halo ingredients and shaved ice in a tall glass

Add evaporated milk. The quantity of evaporated milk also depends also on how liquidy you want your halo halo to be.

shaved ice and halo halo ingredients with milk

Finish with your flavor of ice cream.

scooped ube vanilla ice cream for topping

Serve and mix well before eating. Enjoy!

I love using Ube ice cream and this flavor is the most popular flavor used when serving halo halo since the purple color is so vibrant and it makes the halo halo look more festive.

Now you can enjoy your halo halo but first, mix it well. Hence the name Halo Halo which means "mix-mix" in Tagalog!

⭐ Top Tip

To achieve the perfect texture for shaved ice, use a hand-crank ice shaver or a blender with a pulse setting.

FAQ

What is the purple stuff in halo-halo?

Ube halaya: Some versions of halo-halo will include ube, or purple yam, whether that's in ice cream form or by using ube halaya (purple yam jam). Ube is a popular ingredient in Filipino desserts.

Why is halo-halo famous?

The beloved summer treat Halo-halo is like an unofficial symbol of summer in the Philippines. The longing for something cold and refreshing under the sweltering heat, the sweet and surprising flavor bombs that remind us of happy times is what this colorful concoction brings to the table.

What is the main ingredient of halo-halo brainly?

It's the sweetened fruits! The major ingredient in the popular Filipino dessert known as halo-halo, which is made up of a variety of components, is sweetened fruit.

More Recipes

5 from 3 votes

Print Pin Recipe

Halo Halo Recipe

Halo Halo is a classic Filipino shaved ice dessert made with sweet fruits, creamy milk, and topped with ice cream for the perfect refreshing treat. It’s cold, creamy, colorful, and easy to customize with your favorite toppings.

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Filipino

Servings: 1 serving

Calories: 286kcal

Ingredients

▢ 1 (12 oz) Halo Halo Sweet Fruit Mix
▢ 2 cups shaved ice
▢ ¼ - ½ cup evaporated milk
▢ 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk optional

For the Topping:

▢ ube ice cream
▢ vanilla ice cream

Instructions

Layer the halo halo

Add the halo halo mixed fruit to the bottom of a tall serving glass.
Fill the glass with shaved ice until about ⅔ to ¾ full.

Add the milk and toppings

Pour the evaporated milk evenly over the shaved ice.
Drizzle sweetened condensed milk on top, if using.
Top with 1 scoop of ube ice cream.

Serve

Serve immediately while cold and enjoy. Mix everything together before eating for the best flavor.

Notes

If you can’t find a prepared halo halo mix jar, you can easily make your own using simple ingredients from the grocery store. Try using sweetened red beans or sweetened white beans, coconut jelly, sliced mango, chopped burro bananas, and a little crushed rice cereal or crispy rice for texture. For the best halo halo flavor, I recommend using at least 2 fruits along with either red beans or white beans.

You can also top your halo halo with leche flan, jackfruit, pinipig, coconut strips, or extra sweetened beans for even more texture and flavor.

Serving: 1gCalories: 286kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 8gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 54mgSodium: 169mgPotassium: 396mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 482IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 320mgIron: 0.2mg

Watch The Recipe Video!

Did you make this recipe?Share it on instagram or tag @simplybakings or #simplybakings!

Storytelling Time!

When I first tried Halo Halo, I handed the cup back to my mom and told her I didn't want it. The second time I tried it, I took three bites and handed it back to my parents. I tried countless times to enjoy Halo Halo, but it wasn't until one summer that my boyfriend handed me Halo Halo and told me to eat it.

From then on I loved Halo Halo and I probably spent more than $100 on Halo Halo that summer! Thanks, boyfriend for handing me that cup of Halo Halo and telling me to eat it!