Yema Ball Recipe
Yema is a type of custard candy made from egg yolks and condensed milk. This is a common Filipino dessert and one of the easiest to make. The ingredients needed are readily available and this does not require a lot of cooking and preparation time.
There are several ways to present this dessert – the most common is the use of colored cellophane. The mixture is scooped and placed inside individually cut cellophane then manually molded until the shape becomes pyramid-like. Others roll the mixture until the shape becomes spherical and place them in a small paper cup or use some frill picks to go with it. Majority just eat it as it cools ๐
Try this Yema Ball recipe.
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Yema is a type of custard candy made from egg yolks and condensed milk. This is a common Filipino dessert and one of the easiest to make. The ingredients needed are readily available and this does not require a lot of cooking and preparation time. Yema Balls are ball-shaped yema that are perfect for dessert.
There are several ways to present this dessert – the most common is the use of colored cellophane. The mixture is scooped and placed inside individually cut cellophane then manually molded until the shape becomes pyramid-like. Others roll the mixture until the shape becomes spherical and place them in a small paper cup or use some frill picks to go with it. Majority just eat it as it cools ๐
Try this Yema Ball recipe. Let me know what you think.
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!

Yema Ball Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 can 14 ounces condensed milk
- 3 egg yolks
- 3 tbsp peanuts chopped
Instructions
- Place the butter in a heated saucepan and allow to melt
- Stir-in the condensed milk and allow to cook for 3 minutes
- Add the egg yolks then continue stirring for 2 minutes
- Set the heat to medium and put-in the chopped peanuts then stir until the mixture becomes thick (about 15 to 20 minutes). Adjust heat to low when texture is about to be achieved.
- Turn-off the heat and allow the mixture to cool down
- When the temperature of the mixture is tolerable, scoop a spoonful then roll with your hands to form a sphere (ball shape).
- Transfer to a serving dish and apply your desired presentation
- Serve. Share and Enjoy!
Greg Leffew says
Hello Sir! I was wondering what type of condensed milk are you using? because i tried evaporated and it definitely was not the right one.
Panlasang Pinoy says
welcome, celine
janet says
wow!! i miss yeme balls! i will surely try your recipe.. thanks a lot
marcella says
Hello everybody, I found this recipe via a link in the comments on smitten kitchen and ran to check it out as I’m a big fan of this kind of candy. I was in Spain some years ago and tasted Yemas de Avila right out of the nunnery’s sweet shop ๐ and I loved them so much I tried to make them at home from a recipe found on the web. They came out delicious and very similar-looking to yours, but the recipe only called for yolks and sugar (and a bit of water to turn the sugar into syrup). The final result is tasty although quite funny -- feels like a hard-boiled yolk, only much softer and of course very sugary. Could this be the recipe for “dry” yemas you mentioned in a comment above? thank you very much and congrats on your blog, I’m off to have a good look ๐
Kimi says
Hi Kuya, I’m your #1 fan! I’m a beginner at cooking but watching your videos inspired me on how to cook filipino food. I’m abroad right now and my parents always thought I can never live by myself since I didn’t know how to cook, but now I can show them that I cannot only cook, but I can cook our traditional dishes!
I have a few questions:
1) I’d like to know why you use 3 egg yolks instead of 2? Can I use 2?
2) I’d like to experiment a bit with the yema balls and add coconut cream powder. When do you add the coconut powder into the mix?
3) Would coconut cream be better than shredded coconut?
P.S. I <3 your website! ^^
Corazon Aquino Fister says
19 yrs. ko ng hinahanap ang recipe ng yema, I’m so glad I finally found it…thanks to you and blessed your heart…
dina m says
hi i would e ery grteful if u c show as well how to make tamales wrap in banana leaves pls
jenifer says
hi there! can i use margarine instead of butter?
Panlasang Pinoy says
I don’t recommend using margarine for this recipe because it can alter the taste.
Panlasang Pinoy says
Carly, you need to refrigerate it since may milk na ingredient. It will be safe to eat (assuming its refrigerated) for 3 to 5 days.
suzette says
Hi! how many days the yema will last? If not consumed right away, do I need to refrigerate?
Thanks. More power.
conn cosio says
will definitely try this one… thanx!
conn cosio says
Hi chef! I tried this one..yummy xa! ๐
although di xa katulad nun lasa ng yema na shaped ng triangle,but it’s good!
Do u have the recipe for the triangle shaped yema?
thanx! and more power!
Panlasang Pinoy says
Thanks for the comment conn. This is the chewy type of yema. If you want the dry yet tasty one, we can feature it in the future.
josie says
ummmm….I love it
Panlasang Pinoy says
I think that it would not hurt if you substitute butter with margarine. It will just change the taste and you need to anticipate it. Hope this helps.
Rocky Garcia says
Wow! Really like this one!
janice says
Hello kuya!i love ur videos…i learned a lot from u!nwez,just wanna ask if i can use walnuts instead of peanuts?ehhe..we just ate our peanuts so ubos na..walnuts lang ang available..or can i prepare this yema balls without peanuts?thanks for uploading cooking videos..it helps me and the others..good job always! God bless and to ur family…
Panlasang Pinoy says
Hi janice, you can definitely use walnuts ๐
Mae says
I love Yema so much!!! ๐
Rina says
i mean HONEY *ROASTED PEANUTS
Panlasang Pinoy says
I just used plain peanuts here. You may use that Rina though it might taste a little roasted but I think that it will be tolerable.
Panlasang Pinoy says
YW Sheila
Panlasang Pinoy says
Thank you pretty me ๐
Panlasang Pinoy says
Thanks. Likewise ๐