A vibrant Filipino shaved ice sundae that layers sweet beans, jellies, ripe fruits, and ube jam under a snowy mountain of shaved ice and a generous pour of evaporated milk. Topped with creamy ube ice cream and a slice of silky leche flan, every spoonful is a perfect balance of textures and tropical sweetness. Mix it all together before eating for the ultimate cooling treat on a hot day.
Prep Time20 mins
Cook Time15 mins
Total Time35 mins
Servings4
Yield4 tall sundaes
Nutrition Facts
Per serving (estimated)
- 430 kcalCalories
- 12 gFat
- 7 gSaturated Fat
- 72 gCarbs
- 4 gFiber
- 45 gSugar
- 8 gProtein
- 110 mgSodium
- 480 mgPotassium
- 200 mgCalcium
- 2 mgIron
- 10 mgVitamin C
- 180 mcgVitamin A
Ingredients
For the Sweet Beans and Jellies
- 1 cup sweetened mung beans (canned, drained)
- 1 cup sweetened white beans or garbanzos (canned, drained)
- 1/2 cup macapuno (coconut sport), drained
- 1/2 cup nata de coco (coconut jelly), drained
- 1/2 cup kaong (sugar palm fruit), drained
For the Fresh Fruits and Ube
- 1 cup ripe saba banana or regular plantain, peeled and sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 cup ripe jackfruit, shredded into bite-sized pieces
- 1/2 cup ube halaya (purple yam jam)
- 2 tablespoons toasted pinipig or crispy rice flakes
For the Tapioca Pearls
- 1/2 cup small dried tapioca pearls (sago)
- 4 cups water
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- Pinch of salt
For Assembly
- 8 cups finely shaved ice
- 1 cup evaporated milk, thoroughly chilled
- 4 scoops ube (purple yam) ice cream
- 4 slices leche flan (Filipino custard)
- Extra toasted pinipig, for garnish
Directions
- Rinse and drain all canned beans and jellies; portion each into small bowls for an easy assembly station. Slice the banana and shred the jackfruit just before serving to prevent browning.
- Bring 4 cups of water to a rolling boil in a saucepan, add the tapioca pearls, and stir. Simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until the pearls turn fully translucent with no white centers. Drain and rinse under cold water, then toss with the sugar and salt.
- If using dried beans instead of canned, soak 1 cup mung beans overnight, then simmer in fresh water with 1/2 cup sugar for 35 to 45 minutes until tender; drain and cool before using.
- Shave ice cubes finely with an electric ice shaver until you have a light, snow-like texture; pack the shaved ice into a chilled bowl and return it to the freezer briefly to keep it from clumping.
- To build each sundae in a tall 12-ounce glass, spoon 2 tablespoons each of mung beans, white beans, macapuno, nata de coco, kaong, banana, jackfruit, and ube halaya into the bottom, layering them around the glass.
- Add a spoonful of cooked tapioca pearls, then mound the shaved ice generously above the rim of the glass, pressing it down lightly. Pour 1/4 cup of chilled evaporated milk over the ice, letting it drip down through the layers.
- Crown each sundae with a scoop of ube ice cream and a slice of leche flan, then sprinkle with toasted pinipig.
- Serve immediately with a long spoon and instruct diners to stir everything vigorously from the bottom up before eating — the signature move that blends all the sweet flavors together.
Cook’s Notes
- Use a heavy-duty electric ice shaver for fine, snow-like ice; crushed or blended ice melts too fast and loses the signature texture.
- Set up all toppings in a buffet line so each diner can customize their sundae with favorites — coconut strips, corn kernels, and sweet potato cubes are popular add-ins.
- For a dairy-free version, swap evaporated milk with chilled canned coconut milk or coconut cream for a richer tropical flavor.
- Always assemble right before serving; shaved ice begins to melt within minutes and will water down the layers if it sits too long.
- If ube halaya is hard to find, blend cooked purple sweet potato with a little condensed milk and a splash of ube extract as a quick substitute.










