Matcha Halo-Halo: A Layered Frozen Dessert

Inspired by the Filipino dessert, this halo-halo layers toppings to eat by the spoonful and mix together. It joins our matcha dessert recipes. This version stacks sweetened red beans, coconut gel, jackfruit, crushed ice, and matcha milk. You'll need about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha and 20 minutes for two tall glasses.

• Prep 20 minutes
• Rest none
• Cook none
• Total 20 minutes
• Yield 2 tall glasses
• Equipment colander, knife, fine sieve, bowl, small whisk, blender suitable for ice cubes, two tall glasses, and two long spoons

The matcha milk runs through the sweet toppings. For cooking with matcha, Kura-ge offers Essence.

Ingredients for matcha halo-halo

• 2.8 oz (80 g) jarred sweetened red beans, drained
• 2.1 oz (60 g) coconut gel, or nata de coco, drained
• 2.1 oz (60 g) canned jackfruit, drained
• 7 oz (200 g) ice cubes
• About 2 tsp (4 g) matcha
• 2 tbsp (30 ml) water at about 158°F (70°C)
• About 7 tbsp (100 ml) unsweetened evaporated milk
• 3.5 oz (100 g) vanilla ice cream containing milk and eggs

Make the matcha halo-halo

1. Drain the 2.8 oz (80 g) sweetened red beans, 2.1 oz (60 g) coconut gel, and 2.1 oz (60 g) jackfruit.
2. Cut the jackfruit into small pieces.
3. Sift about 2 tsp (4 g) matcha into a bowl.
4. Pour the 2 tbsp (30 ml) water at about 158°F (70°C) over the matcha.
5. Whisk until smooth.
6. Add about 7 tbsp (100 ml) unsweetened evaporated milk and mix.
7. Divide the beans, coconut gel, and jackfruit between the two tall glasses.
8. Blend the 7 oz (200 g) ice cubes in short pulses until finely crushed.
9. Immediately divide the crushed ice between the glasses.
10. Pour half the matcha milk into each glass.
11. Put 1.8 oz (50 g) vanilla ice cream on each glass.
12. Serve right away with a long spoon to mix the layers.

Prepare the toppings before crushing the ice. The crystals stay light when you assemble the glasses right away; crushed too early, they clump and the layers become less distinct.

Which matcha goes into halo-halo milk?

For the milk in this halo-halo, we choose Essence, our matcha; you can still taste it among the sweet toppings. Fruit and vanilla ice cream soften its flavor. In a cup served with water alone, the tea would show other nuances.

What goes into these two glasses?

Filipino halo-halo is mixed: crushed ice, milk, and toppings come together in every spoonful. Sweetened red beans, coconut gel, and jackfruit keep the layers recognizable here before you mix them. Use two tall glasses; in a container that's too small, you'd have to crush the ice down.

Our tip. Drain the jarred and canned toppings before assembling the glasses. Their syrup would weigh down the crushed ice and hide the matcha milk more quickly.

Allergens. Milk in the evaporated milk and ice cream; eggs in the ice cream chosen. Check the ingredients of the toppings you buy.