Growing Chefs! Ontario Halo-Halo

Halo-Halo

Halo-halo” means mix-mix” in Filipino! This colourful dessert is made by layering sweet fruits, beans, jellies, shaved ice, and creamy toppings before mixing everything together with a spoon. Every bite is different, making this one of the Philippines’ most beloved treats.
Difficulty
Intermediate
Yield
Serves 8
Ingredients
6 cups crushed ice1 cup sweetened condensed milk1 cup 35% cream1/4 cup icing sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup Ube halaya (purple yam jam)1 cup sweetened macapuno (coconut sport), drained1 cup sweetened red beans or sweetened red mung beans, drained1 cup nata de coco (coconut jelly), drained1 cup grass jelly or coffee jelly, diced1 cup canned young jackfruit, drained and sliced into bite-sized pieces2 bananas, sliced8 small pieces leche flan (egg custard)8 small scoops vanilla or ube ice cream (optional)
Equipment
Knife or safe chopperCutting boardMedium potBowls of various sizesMeasuring cupsMeasuring spoonsFood processorStand mixer with whisk attachmentRubber spatulaWhiskCan openerServing glasses or dessert bowlsSpoonsIce cream scoopDish towel

Directions

Get Organized!

Gather your mise en place; get together all of the equipment needed for the recipe and gather your ingredients.

Get Prepped!

Drain the macapuno, sweetened beans, nata de coco, and canned jackfruit. Slice the jackfruit into bite-sized pieces if necessary. Dice the grass jelly or coffee jelly and slice the bananas.

Combine the 35% cream, icing sugar, vanilla extract, and ube halaya in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment. Whisk until the mixture becomes light, fluffy, and holds soft peaks. Transfer to a piping bag or bowl and refrigerate until ready to assemble.

Crush the ice in a food processor until fine and fluffy, then return it to the freezer until needed.

Cut the leche flan into eight portions.

Get Cooking!

Place a spoonful of the sweetened beans, nata de coco, grass jelly, macapuno, jackfruit, and banana into the bottom of each serving glass or bowl.

Fill each glass with crushed ice and drizzle generously with sweetened condensed milk.

Top with a dollop or swirl of the ube whipped cream. Garnish with a piece of leche flan and, if desired, a scoop of vanilla or ube ice cream.

Serve immediately and encourage everyone to mix everything together before eating, that’s what makes Halo-Halo so much fun!