Sri Lankan food · Traveller guide
Sri Lankan Desserts You Should Try: From Watalappan to Local Sweets
Explore Sri Lankan desserts: watalappan, buffalo curd with treacle, kavum, kokis, aluwa, coconut sweets and fresh tropical fruit.
Sri Lankan desserts do not shout. They rely on coconut, jaggery, rice flour and palm treacle, and the result is rich, comforting and different from anything you may have at home.
1. Watalappan
A silky custard of coconut milk, eggs, jaggery and spices, commonly linked with the Sri Lankan Malay community. It tastes of deep caramel.
2. Curd with treacle
Thick buffalo curd, creamy and slightly tangy, drizzled with sweet kithul treacle. Simple, and unforgettable.
3. Kavum
A festive sweet associated with the Sinhala and Tamil New Year. Many varieties use rice flour and treacle or jaggery.
4. Kokis
A crisp, decorative treat made by frying batter in a special mould, popular at festive times.
5. Aluwa
A sweet made with flour and sugar or treacle, sometimes with nuts, cut into small pieces and served among festive treats.
6. Coconut sweets
Grated coconut or coconut milk gives many sweets their texture, from soft and chewy to firm and crisp.
7. Seasonal fruit
Mango, pineapple, papaya, rambutan and mangosteen, depending on the season. Light, fresh and refreshing.
Why so much variety?
A handful of ingredients, combined in different ways, create everything from delicate custards to crunchy snacks. And each reflects the food traditions of different communities.
Taste one at our class
Every guest at Ceylon Cooking Class in Hikkaduwa finishes with a complimentary Sri Lankan dessert of buffalo curd and kithul treacle. The class costs $15 per person, includes complimentary hotel pickup within 15 km, and you cook and eat a full traditional meal first. Ask about the menu if there is a dish you especially want to try.