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Home Recipes

Espasol Recipe

Espasol is a type of rice cake that is made of rice flour cooked in coconut milk. This cyclindricaly shaped treat originated from the Province of Laguna and is visible in almost all bus stops and “pasalubong” stores.

Like the other famous rice-puddings (or kakanin), there are various ways in making Espasol. I’ll be showing you one of the simple ways on how to make this fabulous dessert. Say adiue to your cravings and start making your own delicous Espasol.

Try this Espasol recipe.

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By: Vanjo Merano 64 Comments Updated: 11/5/24

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Have you ever been on a bus in the Philippines and seen vendors selling a delicious treat wrapped in paper? Chances are that those are espasol.

espasol recipe


 

How To Make Espasol

Boiling the Coconut Milk and Dissolving Sugar

Begin by pouring 3 cups of coconut milk into a cooking pot and bringing it to a gentle boil. Once it starts boiling, add 2 cups of sugar, stirring continuously for about 10 minutes. This crucial step allows the sugar to fully dissolve, creating a sweet and creamy base that will enhance the overall flavor of your espasol.

Incorporating Toasted Coconut and Flavor Enhancements

Next, mix in 1 ยฝ cups of toasted grated coconut and cook for an additional 5 minutes. This addition enriches the mixture with delightful texture and deepens the coconut flavor. Afterward, stir in 1 teaspoon of vanilla essence, which adds a subtle but important layer of flavor. Follow this by gradually incorporating 3 cups of toasted glutinous rice flour. Continue cooking for 40 minutes to 1 hour, stirring frequently until the mixture thickens significantly, ensuring the right consistency for your espasol.

Cooling the Mixture and Preparing for Shaping

Once the mixture has thickened, carefully remove it from the pot and allow it to cool completely. Meanwhile, dust a flat surface with ยฝ cup of toasted sweet rice flour to prevent sticking. Once the mixture has cooled, divide it into manageable portions and roll each portion in the dusted flour to form cylindrical shapes. This process not only shapes the espasol but also adds a delicate texture.

Finally, arrange your beautifully shaped espasol on a serving plate or wrap them in paper or banana leaves for a traditional touch. This presentation enhances the dishโ€™s appeal. Enjoy sharing this delightful Filipino kakanin with friends and family, and savor the rich flavors and textures!

espasol

Theories Behind the Name ‘Espasol’

Some people suggest that the word โ€œespasolโ€ comes from the Spanish term โ€œespรกrrago,โ€ meaning โ€œasparagus.โ€ It might seem confusing since espasol is a sweet treat, not a vegetable. The name could have been used because the cylindrical shape of this kakanin (Filipino rice cake) recipe somewhat resembles asparagus spears.

Others believe that the name “espasol” might derive from the Spanish verb “espalmar,” meaning “to flatten.” This makes sense because you make this Filipino kakanin by cooking rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar until the mixture thickens, and then flattening it into cylindrical shapes.

Espasol Ingredients

These ingredients can be easily found in the local markets. For a simple Filipino espasol recipe, you will need the following.

  • 3 cups glutinous rice flour (toasted) โ€“ Also known as sticky rice flour, it’s the primary ingredient that gives espasol its characteristic chewy texture. Toasting it before use adds a slightly nutty flavor and helps to achieve the right consistency to our kakanin.
  • 1/2 cup sweet rice flour (toasted) โ€“ Similar to glutinous rice flour but finer. It adds additional texture and sweetness. Toasting it enhances the flavor and ensures it blends well with the other ingredients in this kakanin recipe.
  • 2 cups sugar โ€“ Provides the sweetness essential to our Filipino kakanin.
  • 3 cups coconut milk โ€“ A key ingredient that imparts a rich, creamy flavor to espasol. It binds the rice flour and sugar together, creating a smooth and cohesive mixture to our recipe.
  • 1 1/2 cups grated coconut (toasted) โ€“ Toasted grated coconut adds a delightful texture and a deeper coconut flavor to our Filipino kakanin recipe when chewed.
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence โ€“ Adds a subtle but important layer of flavor to the espasol, complementing the sweetness and coconut notes. It enhances the overall aroma and taste of our Filipino espasol recipe.

Filipino espasol kakanin rice cake

Donโ€™t forget to stir occasionally, or else the mixture may stick to the bottom of the pot and burn!

How To Serve Espasol

To serve this amazing Filipino kakanin recipe, simply slice our espasol into bite-sized pieces according to your preference. You can place the slices on a serving plate for a casual presentation or wrap them individually in paper or banana leaves for a more traditional touch. You can enjoy this Filipino kakanin recipe as a sweet treat with coffee or tea, and people often share it with friends and family during special occasions or as a thoughtful gift. Make sure to serve this Filipino kakanin at room temperature for the best texture and flavor.

Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag us on Instagram at @panlasangpinoy or hashtag #panlasangpinoy so we can see your creations!

espasol recipe

Espasol Recipe

Rice cake made from glutinous rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar.
Prep: 10 minutes minutes
Cook: 50 minutes minutes
Total: 1 hour hour
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Ingredients

  • 3 cups glutinous rice flour toasted
  • 1/2 cup sweet rice flour toasted
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3 cups coconut milk
  • 1 1/2 cups grated coconut toasted
  • 1 tsp vanilla essence

Instructions

  • In a cooking pot, pour-in the coconut milk and bring to a boil.
    3 cups coconut milk
  • Add the sugar and stir continuously for 10 minutes.
    2 cups sugar
  • Put-in the toasted grated coconut and cook for 5 minutes.
    1 1/2 cups grated coconut
  • Add the vanilla essence and toasted rice flour and cook for 40 minutes to 1 hour or until the mixture becomes really thick while folding.
    1 tsp vanilla essence, 3 cups glutinous rice flour
  • Remove the mixture from the pot and allow to cool down.
  • Dust the toasted sweet rice flour in a flat surface.
    1/2 cup sweet rice flour
  • Divide the mixture into parts and roll over the dusted sweet rice flour until a cylindrical shape is formed.
  • Slice according to your preference.
  • Put in a serving plate or wrap in paper or banana leaf. Share and enjoy!

Notes

How To Toast the rice flour
Place a pan large enough to hold the rice flour on the stove and set it to low heat. Then add the rice flour to the pan and toast it, stirring continuously, until it turns light brown. Once toasted, remove the rice flour from the pan and transfer it to a bowl or large container.
How to toast the grated coconut
Similarly, place a pan on the stove and set it to low heat. Next, add the grated coconut to the pan and toast it, stirring continuously, until it turns light brown. Then remove the toasted coconut from the pan and transfer it to a bowl.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 4g Calories: 1445kcal (72%) Carbohydrates: 224g (75%) Protein: 14g (28%) Fat: 59g (91%) Saturated Fat: 51g (255%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g Monounsaturated Fat: 3g Sodium: 35mg (1%) Potassium: 656mg (19%) Fiber: 9g (36%) Sugar: 102g (113%) Vitamin C: 2mg (2%) Calcium: 54mg (5%) Iron: 7mg (39%)
ยฉ copyright: Vanjo Merano

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Vanjo Merano

Vanjo Merano is the creator of PanlasangPinoy.com. His goal is to introduce Filipino Food and Filipino Cuisine to the rest of the world. This blog was the first step that he took.

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Recipe Rating




  1. Jay says

    Posted on 3/15/11 at 1:30 am

    I went to Vietnamese and Thai Asian stores in my area and asked them for rice flour and glutinous rice flour. I was told by both stores that they were same.
    If rice flour is made of regular rice, can I just put regular rice in a blender and grind the heck out of it till it turns to powder?

    Reply
  2. Risa Galang says

    Posted on 2/27/11 at 10:59 pm

    hi,

    i tried this recipe and it was successful! i’m so happy kc i really like espasol before i used to order to my neighbor but now after watching you video i can make my own…you’re really big help to us! thank you very much for sharing it to us and keep on cooking other recipes.

    Reply
  3. mikmik says

    Posted on 1/15/11 at 2:02 pm

    thanks… thanks.. thanks… more power and more recipes!

    Reply
  4. Brenda says

    Posted on 1/1/11 at 5:09 pm

    Thank you po sa nga recipes. I’m a foodie here in New Zealand.
    You make it look so easy! I’m cooking more often now.
    Happy New Year!
    Cheers from all of us
    Brenda

    Reply
  5. Jez says

    Posted on 12/16/10 at 3:37 pm

    I always wanted to learn how to cook espasol.. thank God, may panlasang pioy.com…

    Reply
  6. sheila says

    Posted on 9/24/10 at 1:15 am

    ang dami kung natutunan s site mo kuya…thank u so much:)

    Reply
  7. Jes says

    Posted on 9/15/10 at 5:41 pm

    Hi I have a question about the flour ingredients:

    -3 cups glutinous rice flour, toasted

    -1/2 cup sweet rice flour, toasted

    I have Mochiko- Glutinous Rice Flour, but when I googled it says Glutinous Rice Flour was similar to Sweet Rice Flour. Can I use the Mochiko for both? or is there another substitute for Sweet Rice Flour?

    Thanks in Advance:)

    Reply
    • Shasha says

      Posted on 9/17/10 at 12:17 pm

      I have the same Mochiko here but it says on the box ‘sweet rice’ I googled it, according to wiki ‘glutinous rice’.. is also called ‘sticky rice’ or bigas na malagkit. Im a bit confused now with the ingredients.. maybe the 3 cups glutinous rice flour should only be just rice flour? I was about to make this but Im confused with the glutinous rice..

      Reply
  8. Paulo says

    Posted on 6/20/10 at 7:55 pm

    Hi,

    Thank you for all your fantastic recipes!
    I’m just wondering with this recipe, I’ve been looking everywhere for Sweet Rice Flour but unable to locate it anywhere.
    What can I use instead of it?

    Thanks very much.

    Reply
    • Panlasang Pinoy says

      Posted on 6/21/10 at 6:52 pm

      Ordinary rice flour will do, if that is the case Paulo.

      Reply
  9. leah says

    Posted on 6/14/10 at 4:55 am

    hi thanks a lot 4 posting your knowledge about cooking different kind of pilipino food! I ENJOYED it watching your video while your showing the step how to do it!! god bless panlasang pinoy! kip it up the good work! mabuhay,,:))

    Reply
  10. Susan says

    Posted on 5/11/10 at 12:45 am

    Hi there!
    Awesome site, I am a small business owner here abroad. I will try this recipe to sell. I will let u know the outcome. God bless you. You are a great help for me.

    Reply
  11. feenay says

    Posted on 4/28/10 at 1:15 pm

    Kuya, thanks for all your wonderful recipes. You are the best!!!

    Reply
  12. luiza says

    Posted on 2/25/10 at 10:09 am

    hi kuya,

    your recipes are of great help, i’m married to a muslim so PORK is a BIG NO.
    before bumping your site I only have fried chicken always in mind or tinolang manok, but now I have different cuisines to choose from because of what you have posted in your site.Cooking now is just like eating peanuts…Now manage to serve unfamiliar dishes in the table but surely mouth watering one.A BIG THANK YOU FOR YOU.

    If it isn’t 2 much to ask please feature BEEF RANDANG…
    God bless you.

    luiza

    Reply
  13. reggie buen says

    Posted on 2/24/10 at 10:05 pm

    hi, i just wanted to ask you, i did everything that says on the recipe, but at the end, mine wasn’t like yours. it wasn’t sticky, mine looked grainy, wasn’t smooth and sticky…can u tell me wat i did wrong…thnx

    reggie

    Reply
    • Panlasang Pinoy says

      Posted on 2/24/10 at 10:13 pm

      reggie, did you use glutinous rice flour for this recipe? If you did, I don’t see any scenario why it should be grainy because it will eventually become very sticky one its added.

      Reply
  14. Ram says

    Posted on 2/16/10 at 6:04 pm

    Hi, I’d just like to let you know that I cooked this today. I didn’t have any sweet rice flour so I put 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons of sugar and just used the glutinous rice flour w/out sugar to dredge or roll the Espasol. By the way, it took me only 20 minutes to cook the whole mixture of Espasol. Thank you very much, overall it is worth all the effort. It’s so good!!!

    Reply
  15. Ram says

    Posted on 2/13/10 at 9:07 pm

    Follow-up questions:

    -can I use the sweetened shredded coconut from the supermarket, same amount?

    -I don’t have sweet flour, can I use the toasted glutinous flour for rolling the cooked espasol?

    Thanks!

    Reply
  16. Ram says

    Posted on 2/13/10 at 8:52 pm

    Hello! I’m so happy to be back here in Panlasang Pinoy. I really appreciate what you’re doing for your kababayans, especially for us living abroad where we don’t have access to Filipino food that we miss so much.

    May I know the difference between glutinous rice flour and sweet rice flour? I live here in Florida and I don’t know which one to buy at the Oriental market. Thank you and more power!

    Reply
  17. Allan says

    Posted on 2/4/10 at 4:35 pm

    where to buy sweet rice flour?

    Reply
  18. wendy says

    Posted on 1/25/10 at 12:09 am

    hello po kuya…. I found this espasol recipe and it looks delicious. I can’t wait to make some but before that I have to ask you how to make the sweet rice flour? It says here in the recipe that 1/2 cup of sweet rice flour is needed and I honestly wonder what that is. Is this the toasted rice flour with sugar??? Help me please…..

    Reply
  19. lhen says

    Posted on 12/31/09 at 3:18 am

    just wanna thank you for sharing a lot of delicious recipes sa site mo. i have tried almost of it and it really works for me as a new housewife.my husband always wondering how did i cook such tasty food.so thanks a lot kuya.more power and GOD BLESS!!!!!!

    Reply
  20. mia says

    Posted on 12/25/09 at 3:13 am

    Hey, we are in Chicago too. What’s the name of the Filipino store you get your ingredients from?

    Reply
    • Panlasang Pinoy says

      Posted on 12/27/09 at 10:19 am

      Its actually a Korean grocery Mia. Assi plaza is the name and its in Niles IL along Milwaukee avenue.

      Reply
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As a huge fan of Filipino food, it is my goal to teach people how to cook it using the simplest way possible. Prepare your taste buds for an ultimate showdown of delectable Filipino dishes! Read more…

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