If you haven’t read it yet, you can start with Sweet Treats of Indonesia, Part 1: Famous Desserts You Must Try in Bali, where we covered some of the most well-known Indonesian desserts found across Bali and beyond.
In this second part, we explore desserts that Indonesians grow up with — often enjoyed as afternoon snacks, evening treats, or comfort food during rainy days.
Warm & Soupy Desserts (sometimes called Indonesian comfort desserts)
Ronde
Ronde is a comforting traditional dessert — especially popular on rainy days or in the evening. It consists of chewy glutinous rice balls, often filled with crushed peanuts or palm sugar, served in a warm ginger-infused syrup. The combination of soft, sticky rice and the spicy heat of ginger makes ronde both soothing and energizing, particularly during cooler weather.
Bubur Sumsum
Bubur sumsum is a classic Indonesian sweet porridge made from rice flour cooked in coconut milk, served with a generous drizzle of liquid palm sugar. Smooth, creamy, and lightly fragrant, it’s similar in spirit to a rice pudding but with a distinctly Southeast Asian flavor profile. It’s commonly eaten as a dessert or light snack and is often found at traditional markets.
Bubur Kacang Hijau
Bubur kacang hijau is a hearty and comforting dessert made from mung beans simmered until soft, then served with coconut milk and palm sugar syrup. Slightly nutty and naturally filling, it sits somewhere between a dessert and a sweet meal. It’s enjoyed warm or hot and is especially popular in the morning or evening as a nourishing treat.
Baked & Street-Style Treats
Kue Putu
Kue putu is one of Indonesia’s most nostalgic street desserts. These steamed rice flour cakes filled with molten palm sugar are topped with freshly grated coconut and served piping hot. They are famously sold by vendors riding bikes or pushing carts through neighborhoods, accompanied by a high-pitched, whistling tune that instantly signals their arrival. Hearing that sound is often enough to send locals outside to buy some.
Dadar Gulung
Dadar gulung is probably the closest Indonesian dessert to a Western-style sweet. It resembles a pancake or crêpe, naturally green from pandan leaves, rolled around a filling of grated coconut cooked with palm sugar. Light, aromatic, and gently sweet, it’s an easy dessert to love — especially if you’re new to Indonesian sweets.
Bika Ambon
Originally from North Sumatra but enjoyed nationwide, bika ambon is known for its distinctive honeycomb-like texture. Made from tapioca flour, coconut milk, eggs, sugar, and yeast, it’s chewy, moist, and lightly sweet. Traditional versions are flavored with pandan or kaffir lime leaves, while modern variations include banana, durian, or cheese.
Bola Ubi
Bola ubi — literally sweet potato balls — are a popular street snack that doubles as a dessert. Mashed sweet potatoes are mixed with tapioca or sago flour, shaped into balls, and deep-fried until golden. Crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, they’re simple, satisfying, and incredibly addictive.
Final Thoughts
Indonesia’s dessert scene goes far beyond what most travelers expect, and Bali is the perfect place to explore it. From comforting bowls of soupy sweets like Bubur Sumsum, Bubur Kacang Hijau, and Ronde to indulgent baked and steamed treats like Kue Putu, Dadar Gulung, and Bola Ubi, each dessert reflects local ingredients, traditions, and generations of culinary heritage.
If you missed it, be sure to check out Part 1: Sweet Treats of Indonesia – Famous Desserts You Must Try in Bali, where we covered some of the most iconic and widely loved Indonesian sweets. And if you’re hungry for more stories, guides, and local insights, explore all our food-related articles in the Food category.
Whether you’re wandering through a traditional market or sampling snacks from a street vendor, don’t skip dessert — it’s one of the most delicious ways to experience Indonesia.
