Kuih Onde-Onde (Pandan Palm Sugar Rice Balls)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Candy confections Medium

Kuih Onde-Onde (Pandan Palm Sugar Rice Balls)

Chewy green glutinous rice balls that burst with melted palm sugar, rolled in fresh grated coconut. One of the best known members of the large kuih family. Makes 24 balls in about 50 minutes.

Prep 35 min

Cook 15 min

Total 50 min

Yield 24 balls

Diet Dairy free, Vegan

Ingredients

Adjust yield

balls

2 cups (250 g)glutinous rice flour
2 tbsp (15 g)tapioca starch
¾ cup (200 ml)pandan juice, blended from fresh pandan leaves and strained, or 190 ml water plus 1/2 tsp pandan extract
1 pinchsalt, for the dough
¾ cup (150 g)palm sugar (gula melaka), finely chopped
¾ cup (100 g)grated coconut, fresh or thawed frozen
1 pinchsalt, for the coating

Fresh ingredient guides

CoconutHow to pick, season & nutrition · 496 kcal per 140 g

Baking tools for this recipe

Convert to grams Scale it Change the pan

Instructions

Steam the grated coconut with a pinch of salt for 5 minutes, then cool. This keeps it fresh longer.
Mix the rice flour, tapioca starch and salt. Add the pandan juice slowly, kneading to a smooth soft dough like clay. Add a little flour or juice to adjust.
Pinch off a 15 g piece, flatten, and place about 1/2 teaspoon of chopped palm sugar in the middle.
Seal the dough around the sugar, making sure there are no gaps, and roll into a smooth ball.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Drop in the balls in batches. They sink first.
When they float, cook 1 more minute, then lift out with a slotted spoon into a bowl of cold water for 10 seconds.
Drain and roll in the coconut. Serve soon.

Tips

Finely chop the sugar so it melts quickly; big pieces split the dough.
Seal tightly or the sugar leaks and the water turns brown.
Do not overcook; a minute past floating is enough.
Good with black tea.

Made this?

Log it to keep your bakes, ratings and notes together in My Kitchen.

Be the first to share one.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make kuih onde-onde (pandan palm sugar rice balls)?

Plan on 35 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 24 balls.

How should I store kuih onde-onde (pandan palm sugar rice balls)?

Best eaten the same day. Store at room temperature up to 8 hours; refrigeration hardens the rice dough.

Can I make kuih onde-onde (pandan palm sugar rice balls) ahead?

It is at its best the day it is made; prepare it a few hours before serving.

Is this recipe vegan?

Yes, as written. Check that packaged ingredients such as chocolate, sprinkles and plant butter are labeled vegan.

Serve it with black tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 24 servings this recipe makes.

84 Calories / serving

1.5g Fat

17.3g Carbs

0.8g Protein

7.8g Sugar

Whole recipe (24 servings): ~2016 cal · 36g fat · 415g carbs · 19g protein · 187g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.