It is no secret that the typical Filipino has a weakness to sweetness, and because of the myriad of ingredients that abound in our pleasantly tropical country, generations of Filipinos have invented, created and adopted many recipes for pastries that truly satisfy the cravings of even the most discerning of palates. Pastries are various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder, and/or eggs. Small tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries." Pastries are differentiated from bread by having a higher fat content, which contributes to a flaky or crumbly texture. A good pastry is light and airy and fatty, but firm enough to support the weight of the filling.
The right combination of softness, fluffyness and sweetness is what makes pastries and pies popular to all Filipinos. Baked goodies are always welcome any time of the day, and is not relegated to being mere desserts. They are served as snacks, can be meals by themselves, or are bought to be given to family and friends when coming home or visiting as "pasalubong." These treats are always welcome, as they help foster a sense of thoughtfulness, closeness, even nostalgia.
The craving for these sweet baked goods can be sated by an amazing variety of sources. The ever-present neighborhood bakery called "panaderya," has a fascinating assortment of inexpensive baked goods for enjoyable quick snacks to full cakes and pies. For others who can afford something a little more pricey, specialty shops and restaurants will definitely wow anyone with a staggering selection of creamy, fluffy, sweet things that may let you think you've already gone to heaven. They offer a bewildering array of creations that appeal both to the eyes and even more to the palate.
The following are ten pastries and pies Filipinos love and are very familiar with because just seeing them evokes feelings of nostalgia and delight, but more often than not, they evoke hunger and craving.
1. Crema de Fruta
Can be bought at any day from stores and shops although most popular during the Christmas season, crema de fruta is a soft cake layered with cream, custard, candied fruit, and topped off with gelatin. It is a favorite among children, whose eyes gleam and widen at its colorful, shiny presentation. There are many variations to the standard recipe, although all are best served cold as to preserve the sweetness and the form of the ingredients for a delightfully delicious presentation.
2. Buko Pie
Buko pie is a traditional Filipino baked young-coconut (malauhog) custard pie.
Popular with Filipinos, it resembles a coconut cream pie, except that it is made with young coconuts (buko in Tagalog) and has neither cream in the coconut custard filling or meringue swirls on top of the baked coconut custard. Instead, the pie uses sweetened condensed milk, making it denser and healthier. The pie is made with buko meat. There are also variations of the pie, which are similar but use slightly different ingredients, such as macapuno pie, that uses a special type of coconut which differs from ordinary coconut as it is thick and sticky. The pie was originally a delicacy only available in the Philippines, but blast freezing technology has allowed buko pie-makers the ability to export. Buko pie is traditionally plain, but other flavorings may be used, such as pandan, vanilla, or almond essences.
3. Leche Flan
A heavier version of leche flan, tocino del cielo, is similar, but has significantly more egg yolks and sugar.
4. Pineapple Pie
5. Sans Rival
Another fabulous Filipino desert is Sans Rival, which literally means "without rival" in French. Although it has its roots in French cuisine, Filipinos over the years have given it a local twist, making it a layered cake with caramelized sugar and a variety of nuts.
Sans rival is arguably a difficult dessert to make, as its layers of meringue and cream require skill to pull off. It is then generously sprinkled with a variety of nuts. this wonderful dessert is best served cold. It's variety of textures and flavors makes sans rival truly a dessert without rival.
Pianono are cake rolls served in local bakeries, where they are sold as snacks or pasalubong. The typical pianono is a chiffon roll flavored with different fillings, which range to jam, custard, caramel, or pudding. Some have a glazed outer layer or are sprinkled with sugar.
10. Silvañas
Silvañas are large, oval-shaped, cookie-sized desserts, with a thin meringue on either side of a buttercream filling and dusted with crumbed cookies. Not overly sweet, they are rich, crisp, chewy, and buttery all at the same time. They are popular for meriendas and are often bought as pasalubong from specialty shops.