Chocoholic: 10 Must-Try Indonesian Sweet Snacks

If you have never tried Indonesian traditional snacks, read on. Chocoholic has compiled this guide of Indonesian traditional snacks worth trying for your convenience.

P.S: Since I have only been in the island of Java–and Indonesia is an archipelago consisting of thousands of islands–this list is by no means extensive and only reflects my regional familiarity with Indonesian food.

1. Martabak manis
This griddle pancake is spongy in texture. Usually filled with permutations of chocolate, shredded cheese, chopped peanuts, and/or white sesame seeds.

martabak manis

2. Putu mayang
Colorful (usually come in white, pink, and green) and looks like little noodle cakes. Chewy. Comes with palm sugar syrup that you’re supposed to pour on top.

PC: mayrecipe.blogspot.com

3. Klepon
Small green balls made of glutinous rice flour with liquid palm sugar in the center and coated with shredded coconut.

PC: kuliner123.com

4. Nastar
These dome-shaped snacks are filled with pineapple jam. The shell itself is crumbly. The only one on this list that’s baked in an oven.

PC: Queen Layer Cakes

5. Kue ape (read phonetically; not the ape evolutionarily related to humans)
Green and flat, these babies look like sunny side ups. The “yolk” part is moist while the “egg white” portion is crispy.

PC: The Samperuru
PC: enjoyjakarta.blogspot.com

6. Kue pukis
Soft and moist boat-shaped snack with chocolate sprinkles on top.

PC: kuepukislebdosari.wordpress.com

7. Kue putu
This green-colored snack is filled with palm sugar and steamed in bamboo tube to achieve its cylindrical shape. The finished product is coated in shredded coconut. Similar in concept to klepon, but kue putu is crumbly instead of chewy like klepon because it’s made of regular rice flour. Kue putu is also sold in downside bowl/dome shape called “putu mangkok” (mangkok literally means bowl in Indonesian).

Kue putu
PC: zonamakan.blogspot.com
Kue putu in the making
PC: Wikimedia Commons
Putu Mangkok
PC: resepcaramasak.com

8. Getuk lindri
Made from mashed cassava mixed with shredded coconut, sugar, and a dash of salt, this colorful snack also looks like small noodle cakes but neatly ordered unlike putu mayang.

PC: Emak Ndaru

9. Serabi
Similar spongy texture to martabak manis, but is round and flat like a pancake and is served with palm sugar syrup on top. It’s usually green.
serabi

10. Bika Ambon
Another one with spongy texture, but has a distinctive sweet taste without additional filling or add-ons.

PC: kulinermedan27.wordpress.com

For those of you in Philadelphia, you can go ahead and get martabak manis and serabi at Cafe Pendawa Lima (1529 Morris St). A note of caution: the martabak manis there is not freshly made like it is in Indonesia where they would make it to order. Martabak manis is best consumed within the hour after it’s made, so your American-store-bought martabak manis is not going to be anywhere near as good as the ones you get straight from the street in Indonesia. Nevertheless, I still recommend that everyone try it at least once.

-Tina Kartika

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