From the sweet crunch of fried Oreos to the delicious sweetness of tanghulu, the world of street desserts offers a tantalizing array of treats that can now be recreated in the comfort of your own home kitchen. In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of making popular street desserts at home, perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings and impressing friends and family.
7. Street Desserts at Home: Fried Oreos
Fried Oreos have gained immense popularity as a delicious snack and have become a staple at various carnivals and fairs. Though the exact origins of this classic American dessert are unclear, it is quite simple to recreate this delicious treat at home using a few easy-to-find ingredients and equipment.
For this easy air-fryer recipe, you will only need Oreos and crescent rolls! Simply wrap the Oreos with crescent rolls and pop them into the air fryer until they turn golden brown and crispy. The end result is a delectable and sweet treat that is perfect for any occasion!
Additionally, if you’re looking to switch things up, you could experiment with different types of Oreos and dipping sauces to create unique and personalized variations of this classic snack. The possibilities are endless, and you can easily customize this snack to suit your taste buds.
6. Street Desserts at Home: Tanghulu
Tanghulu, a traditional Chinese street dessert, combines the satisfying crunch of fresh fruits with a sweet and slightly tangy coating. This delightful treat is not only visually appealing but also easy to make in your own kitchen.
Before coating the fruits, ensure they are washed and completely dried. Thread them onto skewers for easy coating and eating. Heat sugar in a saucepan until it turns golden amber, then dip the skewered fruit, ensuring an even coating. Place on parchment paper or a non-stick surface to cool and harden. Once the sugar coating has hardened, enjoy the delightful taste experience.
Tips for Making Tanghulu
Get creative with fruits: try apple slices, kiwi, or orange segments. Drizzle lemon juice over the fruit before coating for extra tang. Speed up cooling by refrigerating coated tanghulu. Present on a platter for a visually appealing treat.
Tanghulu is an easy-to-make street dessert with a unique mix of flavors and textures. You don’t have to visit a street vendor to enjoy this delightful Chinese treat!
5. Street Desserts at Home: Mango Sticky Rice
Mango Sticky Rice is a delicious dessert that is popular in Southeast Asia. This sweet and creamy treat consists of ripe mango slices served on top of a bed of sticky rice that has been cooked with coconut milk and sugar.
In order to create the delicious and popular dessert known as mango sticky rice, there are a few key ingredients that are essential to the dish. These include glutinous rice, coconut milk, sugar, and, of course, ripe and juicy mangoes.
Each of these ingredients plays a crucial role in bringing together the unique flavors and textures that make mango sticky rice so beloved. The glutinous rice, for example, provides a chewy and slightly sweet base for the dish, while the coconut milk adds a rich and creamy flavor that complements the sweetness of the mangoes.
Tips for Making Mango Sticky Rice
When preparing this dish, it’s important to choose ripe and juicy mangoes. Finding good mangoes can be tricky in the United States compared to other parts of the world. My personal preference is Alphonso mangoes, as they have a deliciously sweet taste and a lower fiber content, resulting in more flavorful mangoes.
The dish’s success depends on the sweetness and tanginess of the mangoes, so it’s worth the effort to seek out the freshest and most flavorful fruit.
4. Street Desserts at Home: Churros
Churros are an all-time favorite Spanish street dessert that has become a global sensation. The crispy, golden-brown exterior and soft, doughy interior of these treats make them a perfect dessert for people of all ages. The best thing about churros is that they are incredibly easy to make at home, allowing you to enjoy the taste of street food from the comfort of your kitchen.
To recreate this classic delight, you will need a few simple ingredients that are easily available at your local grocery store. Flour, sugar, salt, water, and oil are all you need to make the perfect churros.
The process of making churros is straightforward, and you don’t need any special equipment. All you need is a piping bag and a star tip to get started. The dough is made by mixing flour, sugar, salt, and water in a saucepan and cooking it over medium heat until it forms a thick, smooth paste. The dough is then transferred to a piping bag.
The dough is either piped into hot oil or an air fryer. Lately, I’ve seen many air fryer versions of this classic dish, making it more accessible and healthier.
The finished churros are then dusted with sugar and served warm with your favorite dipping sauce. Whether you prefer chocolate, caramel, or dulce de leche, churros are the perfect dessert to satisfy your sweet tooth.
3. Street Desserts at Home: Crepes
Crepes are an internationally recognized and beloved street dessert, revered for their deliciousness and versatility. If you’re keen on mastering the art of crepe-making, there are a few essential aspects to consider.
First and foremost, crafting the perfect crepe batter is crucial, and getting the right thinness is equally important. Achieving the correct consistency is a delicate balance of flour, eggs, milk, and sometimes water. The batter should be smooth and free of lumps, yielding a thin, delicate crepe when cooked.
Once you have the batter down, it’s time to experiment with sweet and savory fillings. Traditional options like Nutella and strawberries, honey and banana, or lemon and sugar are always crowd-pleasers. However, branching out with more unexpected options like ham and cheese, chicken and pesto, or even scrambled eggs and bacon makes for a delicious savory option.
In addition to the classic fillings, I think this recipe would be delicious with our 3-Ingredient Oreo Cookie Butter inside the crepe, along with fresh strawberries and whipped cream, for a decadent and indulgent treat.
Lastly, presentation is key. There are countless techniques for folding and presenting crepes, each with its unique beauty. From the classic roll to the intricate fan, mastering the art of presentation elevates the crepe experience. With a bit of practice and experimentation, you’ll be a crepe-making pro in no time!
2. Street Desserts at Home: Mangos and Tajin and Chamoy
A delightful street dessert that has gained popularity in Mexico is a unique combination of three distinct flavors: juicy and ripe mangoes, tangy and mildly spicy Tajin seasoning, and pickled fruit condiment chamoy. The combination of these flavors creates a delectable snack that is sure to please the taste buds of anyone who tries it.
Mangoes serve as the base for this delicious treat, and when combined with Tajin seasoning, the tangy and mildly spicy flavor is a match made in heaven. The addition of chamoy, a pickled fruit condiment, balances the flavors with its savory, sweet, and spicy notes.
Creating this snack at home is an easy task that requires slicing the mangoes, sprinkling them with Tajin seasoning, and drizzling them with chamoy. However, if you don’t have chamoy, it can still be enjoyed with just mango and Tajin seasoning.
The versatility of this snack allows it to be enjoyed on its own, used as a topping for ice cream, or added to breakfast dishes.
However, it is my personal preference to eat it on its own as it makes for a refreshing afternoon snack!
1. Street Desserts at Home: Gulab Jamun
Gulab Jamun is one of the most beloved and popular Indian sweets, known for its delightful combination of texture, flavor, and aroma. The process of making this street dessert at home is relatively simple.
I tried this dish when I was in India, and I loved it. Every time we went for dessert, I made sure to get it when possible.
To start, you’ll need to mix milk powder, flour, baking soda, ghee, and milk to form a soft, pliable dough. Once the dough is ready, shape it into small balls and fry them in oil until they turn a beautiful golden-brown color.
Next, it’s time to make the fragrant sugar syrup. This is done by combining water, sugar, and cardamom in a pan and heating it until the sugar dissolves and the mixture becomes syrupy. Once the syrup is ready, soak the fried balls in it for at least an hour to allow them to absorb the flavors and become tender.
When you’re ready to serve, garnish the Gulab Jamun with chopped nuts and enjoy it either warm or at room temperature. Making Gulab Jamun is a wonderful and rewarding culinary experience that offers a sweet taste of Indian tradition.
Mastering Street Desserts at Home
As we conclude our exploration of street desserts that you can make at home, it is clear that these sweet indulgences hold significance beyond just their culinary value. Each dessert carries a piece of culture, a story of tradition, and a touch of innovation that can be savored with every bite.
Indulge in a variety of flavors from around the world. From crispy fried Oreos to tangy Tanghulu, velvety mango sticky rice to doughy churros, delicate crepes to fiery mangoes with Tajin and Chamoy, and soul-soothing Gulab Jamun. Each treat has its own unique experience that brings us closer to the diverse range of global flavors.
By learning the techniques, experimenting with flavors, and embracing the joy of creation, you’re not just making desserts – you’re creating memories, sharing experiences, and savoring the richness of human expression through food.
Whether you’re hosting a small gathering, treating yourself after a long day, or simply satisfying a sweet craving, these street desserts offer you a passport to travel the world of flavors without leaving your kitchen.