Holiday favorites made even better!
What is Pinoy Christmas without puto bumbong and bibingka? Not even a pandemic can separate us from our local Christmas traditions and that includes munching on these warm holiday delicacies. According to food historian Felice Prudente Sta. Maria, Filipinos have been enjoying them since the Spanish colonization period. And while savoring them in their own traditional sense is a great experience on its own, Filipinos today have come up with numerous reimaginings of the holiday favorites, giving new looks and added flavors without losing their classic taste and characteristics. Now, if you’re looking for modern ways to enjoy them, we have listed truly delectable puto bumbong and bibingka creations worth trying this season, even if you’re not attending a Simbang Gabi.
Bibingka and Puto Bumbong Babkas
Holiday staples take a new form with The White Box’s bibingka and puto bumbong babkas. Hailed from Eastern Europe, this braided bread gets a Filipino touch with roasted desiccated coconut, muscovado streusels, muscovado syrup, and the aroma of banana leaf.
Bibingkang Ube, Bibingka de Leche, and Puto Bumbong
A hotspot for local cuisine, Manam Comfort Filipino has created versions of the Yuletide eats. Its bibingka creations come in three varieties, Bibingkang Galapong of Salted Egg, Bibingkang Ube, and Bibingka de Leche. While its puto bumbong remains true to the classic with a generous serving of muscovado butter.
Puto Bumbong and Bibingka Cheesecake
Max’s Restaurant brings back its cheesecake varieties of the puto bumbong and bibingka. Its bibingka cheesecake is made with soft and fluffy vanilla chiffon, smooth and silky cheesecake, and topped with salted egg slices. While its puto bumbong cheesecake has all its traditional components but made better with ube flavor.
Chika Cheesecake
Dubbed as the Chika, this dessert creation of Deli by Chele merges the flavors of a Christmas bibingka and the creamy texture and smokey notes of a Basque burnt cheesecake. The brand’s co-executive chef Carlos Villaflor elevates the humble rice cake with the inclusion of cream cheese and cashew, promising a unique and satisfying dining experience.
Bibingka Pancake
Pancake House recreates the Filipino holiday favorite bibingka or puto kawali as small wonders that pack big flavors with its newest offerings, the Bibingka Pancake Bites and Holiday Pancakes. A deconstructed version of the Simbang Gabi treat, the desserts incorporate everything Flipinos’ love about bibingka. They have slices of queso de bola, salted egg topped with butter, and served with muscovado sugar and grated coconut on the side.
Suman Latik Bibingka
Hyping up the Filipino flavor is Bibingka Manila with its bibingka and suman hybrid. Soft and buttery salted egg bibingka becomes the Suman Latik Bibingka with chewy suman filling, lusciously sweet latik sauce, toasted coconut curds, queso de bola topping.
Bibingka Ice Cream Cake
Bring in the chill with Sebastian's Ice Cream’s Bibingka Supreme Ice Cream Cake. Layers of queso de bola ice cream and salted egg yolk ice cream are sandwiched by two freshly-baked bibingka. Its top layer is brushed with melted butter and garnished with salted duck egg and lots of grated cheese.
Puto Bumbong and Bibingka Champorado
Last is this champorado take on puto bumbong and bibingka. Judy Ann Santos’ Angrydobo serves its Yin Yang Champorado with a holiday twist by incorporating elements from the Christmas treats to its truly comforting and sweet rice porridge.
Check out more ways to enjoy your holiday favorites here.