Never mind store-bought creamy goodness - the Halo Halo recipe is the ultimate Filipino summer treat! This layered dessert is made with shaved ice, ube ice cream and of course the most important ingredient of all - mixed fruit!

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

halo halo topped with ube ice cream in a tall glass

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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?

A Japanese dessert called kakigori was the first version of Halo-Halo. This treat used shaved ice, sweet syrup, and red beans. Japanese workers brought it to the Philippines in the early 1900s. At first, Filipinos enjoyed a simpler version called mongo con hielo, which had ice, milk, and sweet mung beans.

Filipinos added their own ingredients, like tapioca pearls, nata de coco (coconut jelly) or kaong, saba bananas, ube (purple yam), jackfruit, red mung beans, palm seeds and leche flan.

These local ingredients made Halo-Halo a unique Filipino creation.

cream and fruits blended together in a glass

Health Benefits of Mixed Fruits

Mixed fruits are packed with nutrients that provide a range of health benefits. Here's what they can do for your body:

Rich in Vitamins and Minerals - Boosts immunity, supports skin and eye health.
High in Fiber - Aids digestion, controls cholesterol.
Natural Energy Boost - Provides quick energy from natural sugars.
Antioxidant-Rich - Fights cell damage, slows aging, and reduces inflammation.
Hydration and Detoxification - Keeps you hydrated and supports detox.

Variations

Matcha matching - use matcha-flavored milk and matcha ice cream instead!
Coffee 'n cream - use coffee-flavored shaved ice and coffee ice cream for the change!
Vegan version - combine coconut milk or almond milk, shaved ice, sweetened beans, fruits and a scoop of vegan ice cream for this!

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

Fruits and Beans: Store sweetened fruits, beans, and jellies in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Shaved Ice: Prepare shaved ice ahead and keep it in a ziplock bag or airtight container in the freezer. Break apart clumps before use.
Keep evaporated and condensed milk in separate containers if opened, and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
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):

mixed fruit
shaved ice
evaporated milk
condensed milk (optional)
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!

Hint: For the best Halo-Halo experience, chill all the ingredients (fruits, beans, and milk) before assembling. And you can add as many ingredients as you can.

⭐ Top Tip

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

If you’re making a large batch, pre-shave the ice and store it in the freezer in an airtight container to prevent clumping. Add the milk just before serving to keep the ice fluffy.

And if you have available milk flan for your halo halo, you can also use it as a delicious topping too!

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.

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Halo Halo Recipe

The Halo Halo recipe is a Filipino Dessert that is mixed with fruits, beans, and shaved ice - perfect for cooling sensation!

Prep Time10

Total Time10

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Filipino

Calories: 286kcal

Ingredients

For the Layers:

▢ mixed fruit
▢ 2 cups shaved ice

For the Milk:

▢ ¼ - ½ cup evaporated milk
▢ 1 tablespoon sweetened condensed milk optional

For the Topping:

▢ Ube ice cream

Instructions

Layer the Ingredients:

Start by layering the halo-halo mixed fruit at the bottom of a tall glass.
Add a layer of shaved ice on top.
Repeat the layers until the glass is about ⅔ full.

Add the Milk:

Pour evaporated milk over the layered mixture.
If desired, drizzle with sweetened condensed milk for extra sweetness.

Finish with Ice Cream:

Top the halo-halo with a scoop of your favorite ice cream (ube, mango, coconut, or vanilla).

Serve:

Serve immediately and enjoy this refreshing treat!

Notes

If you can't get the halo halo jar, the ingredients you can use are:
-canned red beans and sweetened it with sugar
-canned white beans and sweetened
-coconut jelly
-sliced mango
-chopped, burro bananas
-rice krispies

you must have at least 2 fruits, red or white beans to get the taste of halo halo

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

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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!