Explore a variety of delicious and mouth-watering traditional Sundanese cakes, from classic serabi to sweet papais that are perfect for your casual companion.
Sundanese, which is one of the major ethnic groups in Indonesia, is famous for its culinary specialties that are rich in flavor and tradition. Sundanese specialties are very diverse, but traditional cakes that are local snacks are always interesting to try.
These cakes not only offer delicious flavors, but also stories and long histories contained within them. From the legendary serabi to the sweet papais, here are 10 traditional Sundanese cakes that you must try if you visit West Java or are looking for an authentic culinary experience.
1. Serabi
Serabi is a snack that has been around for a long time in West Java and remains a favorite of many people. Made from rice flour mixed with coconut milk, serabi is baked using a small pan that produces a soft and chewy texture on the inside, with a brownish outer surface.
In the past, serabi was only served with fried oncom topping, but now, there are more variations, ranging from grated coconut, kinca (brown sugar syrup), to various modern toppings such as chocolate and durian.
Even though it has been around since ancient times, serabi remains a favorite food for many people in Bandung and other areas. One of the quite famous serabi places in Bandung is Serabi Enhai, which offers a variety of interesting and appetizing toppings.
The uniqueness of its taste makes serabi popular not only among local people, but also tourists from various regions, making it a must-try Typical Bandung Food for anyone visiting the city.
2. Meatballs
Cilok, short for “Aci Dicolok”, is a typical Bandung street snack that is famous for its chewy texture and savory taste.
Made from tapioca flour, cilok is shaped into balls and boiled until cooked, then served on bamboo skewers, similar to satay. Cilok is usually filled with shredded meat, chicken, or meat, and given a spicy and sweet peanut sauce.
Cilok is often found on the streets of Bandung, especially in markets or traditional snack stalls. Apart from its chewy texture, the delicious taste of peanut sauce is the reason why cilok is loved by many people.
3. Awug
Awug is one of Bandung’s traditional cakes that may not be found much today, but is very legendary for those who have tasted it.
This cake is made from a mixture of sticky rice flour, rice flour, and palm sugar, which produces a sweet and savory taste. Awug is cooked by steaming, so the texture is soft and chewy.
In the past, awug was often sold in markets or by street vendors. Although it is now increasingly rare, its distinctive taste and reminder of the past still make awug an unforgettable snack for many people.
4. Odading
Odading is a fried bread that went viral because of the “Odading Mang Oleh” phenomenon that was popular on social media. This cake is made from wheat flour dough that is fried until brown and has a sweet taste.
Its light and slightly savory taste makes odading the perfect companion to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea in the morning.
sweet cake lovers. This cake is very popular, especially among tourists who want to taste unique traditional Sundanese snacks.
5. Colenak
Colenak is a traditional Bandung cake made from grilled sticky rice doused with sweet sauce from brown sugar water. This grilled sticky rice has a chewy texture and fragrant aroma, while the sweet sauce gives a delicious touch of taste.
Colenak is often found in tourist spots in Bandung, especially in cold mountainous areas such as Lembang and Ciwidey.
Colenak is perfect to enjoy during cold weather because of its sweet and savory taste that can provide warmth. In addition, grilled sticky rice combined with brown sugar is a delicious combination of flavors, making colenak one of the favorite snacks in Bandung.
6. Onde-Onde
Onde-onde is a market cake that is often found in traditional markets in Bandung. It is round with sesame seeds sprinkled on the outside and filled with sweet green beans on the inside.
This cake is made from glutinous rice flour, which gives it a chewy texture, and its savory and slightly sweet taste is very popular with many people. Onde-onde is often served as a snack on various occasions or as a souvenir.
As one of the legendary market snacks, onde-onde never loses its fans. This cake can also be found in almost all traditional markets in Bandung and other areas in West Java.
7. Bandros
Bandros is a traditional cake that has a dry texture on the outside but is soft on the inside. This cake is made from a mixture of rice flour, grated coconut, pandan leaves, and coconut milk, then baked using a semicircular mold.
Bandros is often served with a sprinkling of white sugar or chili sauce to give it a distinctive sweet and spicy taste.
Similar to pukis, bandros has a light savory taste and is perfect as a snack or tea accompaniment. This cake is still often found in various markets and snack vendors in Bandung and other cities in West Java.
8. Ali Garem
Ali Garem is a traditional Sundanese cake that is shaped like a large ring and is brown in color with a layer of brown sugar that gives it a sweet and savory taste.
This cake has a chewy and slightly hard texture, so it is often considered similar to a donut, although the ingredients and manufacturing process are different.
Ali Garem is very popular among Sundanese people and although it is rarely found in traditional markets now, this cake remains a favorite for many people. With its sweet and slightly savory taste, Ali Garem is a snack that is loved by many people.
9. Bugis
Bugis is a traditional Sundanese cake made from sticky rice with grated coconut and sugar filling, which is then steamed in banana leaves.
This cake has a distinctive sweet and savory taste, with a chewy texture from the sticky rice that is very delicious. Bugis is perfect to accompany a cup of tea or coffee in the afternoon, and this cake is widely found in traditional markets in Bandung.
Apart from its delicious taste, Bugis is also often a souvenir brought home by tourists who visit Bandung or the surrounding areas.
10. Papaya
Papais is a traditional cake from Kuningan, West Java, made from grated cassava and coconut mixed with brown sugar, then steamed until cooked.
Papais has a natural sweetness from the brown sugar and a chewy texture that makes it very tasty as a snack. This cake is similar to nagasari, but uses cassava as the main ingredient.
Papaya is often served as a dessert or snack when gathering with family. This cake is very popular among people around Kuningan and its surroundings, and is one of the traditional snacks that has a distinctive taste.
Traditional Sundanese cakes offer a rich, unique taste and are full of cultural history. Each cake has its own story and tradition, and tasting them is a delightful and mouth-watering experience.
If you have the opportunity to visit West Java, don’t forget to try these traditional snacks at local markets or culinary tourism spots, as they make for perfect Typical Bandung Souvenirs to bring home and share with loved ones.
The diversity of flavors and ingredients used in each cake reflects the richness of Sundanese cuisine that should be preserved and enjoyed.