Tapioca flour is a familiar ingredient in many Vietnamese households. Despite its low cost, tapioca flour can be easily transformed into various delicious dishes. So, what desserts can you make with tapioca flour that are delicious? Let's explore 8 mouthwatering desserts that are both tasty and simple to make in the article below
1. Tapioca Flour for Making Hot Steamed Cakes
Hot steamed cakes are a delicious and nutritious treat. These cakes are chewy, fragrant, and paired with sweet and savory fish sauce and flavorful meat filling.

Image: Collection
Prepare the Ingredients
- Rice flour: 200g
- Tapioca flour: 200g
- Glutinous rice flour: 50g
- Minced pork: 200g
- Shiitake mushrooms: 20g
- Wood ear mushrooms: 20g
- Minced garlic and chili
- Cilantro
- Finely chopped shallots: 2 bulbs
- Vegetable oil: 1 tablespoon
- Vinegar: 1 tablespoon
- Fish sauce: 2 tablespoons
- Seasonings: salt, sugar, pepper
Guide on Making Hot Steamed Cakes
Step 1: Sauté the Meat
- Soak shiitake mushrooms and wood ear mushrooms in cold water for 30 minutes until soft. Remove the stems of the mushrooms, wash thoroughly, and chop finely.
- Sauté shallots until golden brown, then scoop out half of the sautéed shallots and set aside. Add minced pork and mushrooms. Stir the mixture over medium heat until cooked, season with spices, and continue to sauté for about 10 minutes before turning off the heat.
Step 2: Prepare the Fish Sauce
- Mix warm water, sugar, vinegar, and fish sauce in a ratio of 2 tablespoons of warm water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of fish sauce.
- Stir the fish sauce mixture with a clean spoon until well combined, then add a little minced garlic and chili.
Step 3: Cook the Rice Cake
- In a pot, mix rice flour, tapioca starch, glutinous rice flour, and 1 liter of water, then stir until the mixture is smooth.
- Place the pot on the stove and stir with a spoon over medium heat until the mixture becomes smooth and thick. Then add 1 tablespoon of cooking oil, continue to cook for about 2 more minutes, and turn off the heat.
Finished Product
After completing the above steps, scoop the rice cake into a bowl and top it with the cooked meat. Add fried shallots, cilantro, fish sauce, mix well, and enjoy while hot. The hot rice cake is soft and smooth with a delightful sweet, spicy, and savory flavor.
2. Wife Cake
Another delicious treat made with tapioca starch is the wife cake, a traditional Vietnamese pastry often served at engagement ceremonies and weddings. This cake, known as bánh phu thê in Vietnamese, features a chewy and smooth texture with an appealing green color, thanks to the addition of pandan leaves. The filling is made from finely ground mung beans mixed with sugar and sweetened coconut, offering a delightful and not overly sweet taste.

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- See more: How to make wife cake
3. Tapioca Flour for Making Shrimp and Pork Clear Dumplings
Shrimp and pork clear dumplings are one of the delicious treats made from tapioca flour. These dumplings are enticing with a chewy outer layer and a flavorful filling of shrimp and pork. Depending on personal preference, you can dip the dumplings in a spicy-sweet fish sauce or chili sauce.

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Mytour Tip: How to Make Tapioca Flour Clear Dumplings
4. Tapioca Flour for Making Pandan Layer Cake
Pandan layer cake is another excellent option when you're wondering what to make with tapioca flour. This cake is a nostalgic childhood treat for many, with its characteristic layers stacked beautifully. The ingredients for this cake typically include tapioca flour, glutinous rice flour, sugar, coconut milk, and natural coloring from pandan leaves, gac fruit, or magenta leaves. Some versions of pandan layer cake also feature a layer of mung bean for an extra sweet and chewy texture that delights many.

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5. Tapioca Flour for Making Tapioca Dumplings with Mung Bean Filling
Alongside tapioca dumplings with shrimp and pork filling (savory filling), tapioca dumplings with mung bean filling (sweet filling) are also a delightful treat made from tapioca flour that you shouldn't miss. This is one of the fantastic variations from the people of Central Vietnam, combining tapioca dough with mung bean filling for a harmonious, gentle flavor. These dumplings are suitable for both vegetarians and those on a diet, with their crispy outer layer complementing the creamy mung bean filling, enhanced with a touch of scallion oil and served with a sweet and sour dipping sauce. If you're unsure what to make with tapioca flour that tastes delicious, then check out this recipe for how to make tapioca dumplings with mung bean filling!

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6. Tapioca Flour for Making Taro Cakes
The crispy and fragrant taro cakes are a favorite snack for many. These cakes are made from simple ingredients but captivate taste buds of all ages with their delicious, rich flavor. No need to wonder what to make with tapioca flour for something tasty anymore!

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Ingredients Preparation
- Taro: 350gr
- Tapioca flour: 140gr
- Cornstarch: 100gr
- Sugar: 50gr
- Condensed milk: 60gr
- Fresh milk without sugar: 40ml
- Vegetable oil
Method
Step 1: Prepare Taro
- Peel and wash the taro, cut into small pieces then steam or boil for about 20 minutes.
- Take out the cooked taro and mash it with a spoon.
Step 2: Mix the Batter
- Add tapioca flour, cornstarch, sugar, and condensed milk to the mashed taro. Use disposable gloves to mix until smooth.
- Wrap the bowl of batter tightly with plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Step 3: Shape and Fry the Cakes
- Open the rested batter, divide it, and use your hands to shape the cakes according to your preference, with a moderate size for easy eating. Note that you should dust your hands with some tapioca flour to prevent sticking before shaping the cakes.
- Heat cooking oil in a pan, then add each shaped cake. Use chopsticks or a fork to flip them evenly until they turn golden brown.
- Fry the cakes over medium heat until they are evenly cooked. Once done, transfer the fried cakes onto a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil and prevent them from becoming greasy when eaten.
Finished Product
Fried taro cakes are irresistibly tempting with their crispy golden crust and soft, fragrant interior. They have a delightful sweet and savory flavor, especially when paired with chili sauce.
7. Tapioca Flour for Making Rice Cakes
Here's another suggestion for what tapioca flour can make delicious: rice cakes. This dish captivates the taste buds of diners with its delightful flavor, never getting tiresome to eat. The soft and chewy texture of the rice cakes blends perfectly with the shrimp and pork filling, complemented by a dipping sauce that is sour, spicy, and sweet, making it incredibly satisfying.

Ảnh: Sưu tầm
Preparing the Ingredients
- Tapioca flour: 400g
- Wild shrimp: 100g
- Ground pork: 100g
- Fried shallots: 1 small bowl
- Seasonings: fish sauce, salt, sugar, seasoning powder, lime, chili
- Raw vegetables for serving
Method
Step 1: Making the Dough
- Divide the dough into 2 parts, 250g and 150g.
- For the larger portion of dough, add ½ tablespoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to a bowl, then mix well. Meanwhile, pour hot water slowly in, stirring continuously with chopsticks or a spatula until the flour and water are well combined.
- Add the remaining 150 grams of tapioca flour, wait for about 10 - 15 minutes until the dough cools down, then put on nylon gloves and knead the dough until smooth and non-sticky.
- Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and let it rest for 30 minutes.
Step 2: Making the Filling
- Marinate minced meat with fish sauce, salt, seasoning powder, and pepper.
- Stir-fry the chopped shallots until fragrant, then add the meat and stir-fry until it's cooked. Next, add the prepared wild shrimp and continue stir-frying.
- Once the shrimp are dry, add a bit of cooking oil, adjust the seasoning to taste, and then turn off the heat.
Step 3: Shaping the Cake
- After the dough has rested, roll it out and divide it into equal-sized pieces. Roll each portion into a round shape with a diameter of 5 - 6cm, then roll it out thinly.
- Add the filling onto one half of the dough, fold it in half, and crimp the edges to form a crescent-shaped cake.
Step 4: Boiling the Cakes
- Bring about 1 - 1.5 liters of water to a boil, adding 1 tablespoon of cooking oil to prevent the cakes from sticking together.
- Add the cakes to the boiling water until they float and turn white, then remove them. Immediately transfer the cakes to a bowl of boiling water to cool and prevent sticking.
Step 5: Making the Dipping Sauce
- Add about 200ml of water to a saucepan, then add fish sauce, sugar (to taste), and stir until dissolved. Add vinegar and finely chopped chili to finish.
Finished Product
You scoop the cooked bánh bèo into individual bowls, then sprinkle fried shallots, cilantro, and mint on top, followed by drizzling the pre-made fish sauce. The finished bánh bèo has a chewy, translucent outer layer and a sweet, aromatic filling that harmonizes perfectly with the ingredients.
8. Purple Sweet Potato Mochi
Purple sweet potato mochi earns points with its soft, chewy outer layer and rich, creamy filling infused with the gentle fragrance of coconut. These adorable little purple sweet potato mochi have an eye-catching appearance. Just one bite and the sweet taste and delightful aroma of the mochi will immediately stimulate all your senses. Suitable for all ages, especially children. See more: 5 ways to make purple sweet potato cakes

Ảnh: Collected
With the suggestions above, Mytour Blog believes you've found the answer to the question what desserts can you make with tapioca flour, right? Don't hesitate anymore, choose your favorite dessert and get cooking right away!
You may also be interested:
- What desserts can you make with wheat flour?
- What desserts can you make with brown rice flour?
