List of Thai desserts and snacks facts for kids

Dara thong is a beautiful Thai dessert, also known as thong ek krachang.

Have you ever tried a delicious Thai snack or dessert? In Thailand, these yummy treats are called khanom (Thai: ขนม). The word "khanom" probably comes from two older words: "khao," which means rice, and "khnom," which means sweet. So, "khanom" usually means a sweet food or snack made from flour. Many of these treats are super popular in Thailand and are loved by people of all ages!

Popular Thai Desserts (Khanom)

Thai desserts are known for their bright colors, unique shapes, and amazing flavors. Many of them use ingredients like coconut milk, rice flour, and fresh fruit. Here are some of the most famous and fun khanom you might find:

Sweet Treats Made with Coconut Milk

Khanom krok are little coconut pancakes.

• Bua Loy: Imagine tiny, colorful balls made from rice flour. These soft balls are cooked in sweet, creamy coconut milk, sometimes with a fresh egg yolk added. It's a warm and comforting dessert!
• Khanom krok: These are small, round coconut pancakes cooked in a special pan. They are crispy on the outside and soft and creamy on the inside. You can find them plain or with toppings like corn or green onions.
• Kluai buat chi: This is a simple but delicious dessert made from bananas cooked in sweet coconut milk. It's warm, creamy, and naturally sweet.
• Sago with coconut milk: Tiny sago pearls are cooked until clear and then mixed with sweet coconut milk. Sometimes, corn or taro is added for extra flavor and texture.

Colorful and Artistic Khanom

• Foi thong: This dessert looks like golden threads! It's made from egg yolks that are drizzled into hot sugar syrup. It's very sweet and often used to decorate other desserts.
• Luk chup: These are super cute and colorful! Luk chup are tiny fruit and vegetable shapes made from mung bean paste. They are painted with food coloring to look like real mini fruits, then covered in a clear jelly. They are almost too pretty to eat!
• Thapthim krop: This dessert is famous for its bright red color and crunchy texture. It's made from water chestnuts that are coated in red food coloring and tapioca flour, then boiled. They look like "crispy rubies" and are served with crushed ice and sweet coconut milk.
• Thong ek: This is a beautiful and delicate golden dessert, often shaped like a flower. It's made from wheat flour, egg yolks, and coconut milk, and sometimes decorated with a tiny gold leaf. It's one of the "Nine Auspicious Thai Desserts."
• Thong yip: Meaning "pinched gold," this dessert looks like a golden flower. It's made from egg yolks and sugar syrup, carefully pinched into a flower shape. It's another one of the auspicious desserts.
• Thong yot: These are small, golden drops made from egg yolks and sugar syrup. Their name means "golden drops," and they are also considered one of the auspicious desserts.

Layered and Unique Textures

Khanom bueang are like crispy Thai crepes.

• Khanom bueang: Often called Thai crêpes, these are thin, crispy pancakes. They are usually folded and filled with sweet cream and sometimes shredded coconut or savory toppings.
• Khanom chan: This dessert means "layer dessert" because it's made of many colorful, chewy layers. It's usually flavored with pandan (a fragrant leaf) or other natural colors. You peel off each layer as you eat it!
• Mango sticky rice: This is a super popular seasonal dessert, especially when mangoes are ripe. Sweet sticky rice is cooked with coconut milk and sugar, then served with fresh, ripe mango slices. It's a must-try!

Other Interesting Khanom

• Grass jelly: This is a dark, jelly-like dessert made from a type of plant. It's often served with ice and brown sugar syrup or coconut milk, especially on hot days.
• Nine auspicious Thai desserts: These are a special group of nine desserts served on important occasions like weddings or housewarmings. They are believed to bring good luck and blessings to people. Thong yip, thong yot, and thong ek are some examples from this group.

See also

• List of desserts
• List of Thai dishes
• Maria Guyomar de Pinha – a person known for bringing new dessert recipes to the royal court in Ayutthaya, Thailand, a long time ago.