10 Traditional Indonesian Sweets You Must Try

Indonesia offers a variety of traditional snacks that reflect its diverse culture and abundant natural ingredients. These sweets are not only delicious but also tell stories of local customs and history. Traditional Indonesian sweets offer a glimpse into the country's culinary heritage. They mostly use simple, natural ingredients like rice flour, coconut, and palm sugar, yet deliver complex flavors and textures. Whether you prefer something chewy, creamy, or refreshing, Indonesia’s sweets have something to offer.

1. Klepon

Klepon is a popular snack made from glutinous rice flour, pandan extract and bursting with melted palm sugar. The balls are boiled until they float and immediately rolled in freshly grated coconut. The combination of chewy rice cake, sweet palm sugar, and freshlu grated coconut makes klepon a favorite among Indonesians.

• Texture: Chewy outside, bursting with palm sugar inside

• Flavor: Sweet and savory from shredded coconut

• Commonly sold at traditional markets

  
  

2. Es Cendol

Es Cendol is a refreshing iced dessert perfect for hot tropical days. It consists of long shaped pandan rice flour jelly (the cendol), served with coconut milk and sweetened with palm sugar syrup. The cool, creamy, and sweet flavors make it a perfect treat to beat the heat.

• Ingredients: Pandan rice flour jelly (cendol), coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, crushed ice

• Taste: Sweet, creamy, slightly earthy from palm sugar and grassy aromas from the pandan

• Popular street food especially during Ramadan

  
  

3. Dadar Gulung

Dadar Gulung is like a rolled thin pandan pancake filled with sweet coconut and palm sugar. The pancake’s green color comes naturally from pandan leaf extract, which adds a subtle grassy aroma. This dessert is simple but packed with flavor.

• Appearance: Green rolled pancake with brown coconut filling

• Flavor: Sweet and fragrant with pandan aroma and palm sugar notes

• Often found in traditional markets

  
  

4. Bubur Sumsum & Biji salak

Bubur Sumsum is a smooth rice flour porridge and Biji salak is chewy sweet potato balls cooked and served together with palm sugar syrup. This two dishes are usually combinedn together but can also be served separately. Both has a mild sweetness level, making it a comforting dessert. These dishes are often enjoyed warm or at room temperature.

• Ingredients: Rice flour, coconut milk, palm sugar syrup, steamed sweet potato, tapioka flour

• Texture: Soft, creamy and chewy

• Often found in traditional markets. Served during ceremonies and family gatherings, popular during Ramadan

  
  

5. Kue Lapis pepe

Kue Lapis pepe is a layered cake made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar. The layers are steamed one by one, creating a colorful striped effect. This dessert is visually appealing and has a soft, chewy texture.

• Layers: Usually colorful with natural dyes like pandan and chocolate powder

• Taste: Sweet and slightly coconutty

• Often sold in traditional markets

  
  

6. Serabi

Serabi is a type of pancake made from rice flour and coconut milk, cooked on a small clay pan. It can be served plain or topped with sweet toppings like coconut sugar syrup or grated coconut. The texture is soft and slightly crispy on the edges.

• Cooking method: Grilled on a clay pan

• Flavor: Mildly sweet with coconut aroma

• Popular street food in Java

  
  

7. Martabak Manis

Martabak manis (or named terang bulan in some parts of Indonesia) is a thick sweet Indonesian pancake cooked on a special flat thick bottom pan topped with a lot of butter, condensed milk, sugar, fillings of choice and folded in half. It is known for its fluffy, chewy texture and is a popular street food dessert. Most popular filling combination includes: chocolate sprinkles with cheese, chocolate sprinkles with peanuts and sesame.

• Appearance: Thick airy pancake folded in half with butter oozing out

• Taste: Depending on the filling chosen, martabak can be sweet and savory

• Often served during tea time or in the evening

  
  

8. Kue Lapis Legit

Kue Lapis legit is a layered cake made from butter, eggs, flour, milk powder, spices and sugar. The layers are baked one by one, creating a striped effect. This dessert is visually appealing and has a soft and moist texture.

• Taste: Very rich and moist from the high butter content and hints of spices

• Popular during festive occations such as Ramadan and Chinese New Year. Usually gifted by friends and families. Price is quite expensive for premium quality lapis legit.

9. Getuk

Getuk made from steamed then mashed cassava, often mixed with sugar and grated coconut. It comes in different variations, such as the rustic, brownish version made with palm sugar and the colorful, noodle-like "getuk lindri". Another type, "getuk goreng," is fried to be sweet and savory, making it a popular street food or gift. 

• Size: Small, bite-sized

• Commonly sold in traditional markets

  
  
  
  

10. Lemper Ayam

Lemper Ayam is a not technically a dessert but is a popular Indonesian sweet and savory snack made from sticky glutinous rice cooked with coconut milk and filled with seasoned shredded chicken, shaped into rectangles and wrapped in banana leaves.

• Shape: Rectangular glutinous rice cakes

• Taste: Sweet and savory

• Often sold in traditional markets