5 from 3 votes
Karioka with Ube Vanilla Bean Glaze
Crispy, golden-brown rice balls with a chewy interior, covered in a rich ube vanilla glaze. Quick to make, with simple ingredients, this vegan and gluten-free Filipino treat is perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings in under thirty minutes!
Prep Time
7 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Glaze Setting Time
8 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings:
24
individual balls (8 servings)
Calories:
108 kcal
Course:
Dessert
Cuisine:
Filipino
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ cups glutinous rice flour
- 2 tablespoons tapioca starch
- 1 ¼ cups coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup young coconut optional, strings or shredded coconut
- canola oil vegetable oil, or sunflower oil for deep frying
Glaze:
- 1 cup palm sugar coconut sugar or brown sugar
- ⅓ cup coconut milk
- ½ teaspoon ube extract
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla powder or vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the glutinous rice flour, tapioca starch, coconut milk, baking powder, and salt. If desired, mix in the shredded coconut. Knead the mixture until it forms a smooth dough.
- Shape the dough into smooth balls, about one inch (2.5 cm.) in diameter.
- Prick the balls with a toothpick or metal pin which has been dipped in rice flour to help prevent the karioka from bursting while they cook.
- Heat oil in a Dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350°F (175°C). Use a frying thermometer, or make in a tabletop deep fryer or an air-fryer.
- Carefully add the dough balls to the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan. Fry until the karioka balls are golden brown and crispy, approximately 4-6 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cooked balls to a wire rack suspended over a baking pan to let the balls drain and cool.
- In a small saucepan, combine the palm sugar, coconut milk, ube extract, and vanilla powder. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the sugar is fully dissolved and the mixture thickens slightly, around 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Skewer the fried balls onto a Woden skewer or reusable metal skewer. A typical serving is to place 3 balls on each skewer, but I 100% trust you to control the portion size as you like.
- Allow the glaze to cool slightly before dipping the skewered karioka balls. Ensure each ball is evenly coated on all sides with the glaze. Return the dipped skewers to the wire rack to set for a few minutes.
- Serve the karioka warm, optionally garnished with additional shredded coconut.
Cup of Yum
Notes
- Keep your hands and work surface dry when shaping the dough balls to prevent sticking. Dust your hands with a bit of glutinous rice flour or lightly oil your hands—just don't do both!
- 🌡️ Control the Heat
- 🌡️
- Maintain the oil at 350°F (175°C) for even frying. If you’re not using an air fryer or thermostatic deep fryer, use a frying thermometer and monitor the temperature to prevent fluctuations.
- ’
- 🔪 Stabby Stabby
- 🔪
- Poke a small hole in each dough ball before frying to prevent them from exploding and reduce splattering, ensuring a safer and cleaner process.
- ❄️ Cool and Set
- ❄️
- After glazing, let the karioka balls set on a wire rack for a few minutes. This allows the glaze to firm up, ensuring a perfect finish without any sticky mess.
Nutrition Information
Calories
108kcal
(5%)
Carbohydrates
19g
(6%)
Protein
1g
(2%)
Fat
3g
(5%)
Saturated Fat
3g
(15%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
0.1g
(1%)
Monounsaturated Fat
0.2g
(1%)
Sodium
48mg
(2%)
Potassium
44mg
(1%)
Fiber
0.4g
(2%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin C
0.1mg
(0%)
Calcium
9mg
(1%)
Iron
1mg
(6%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 24 individual balls (8 servings)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 108
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 108kcal | 5% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 1g | 2% |
| Fat | 3g | 5% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.1g | 1% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 0.2g | 1% |
| Sodium | 48mg | 2% |
| Potassium | 44mg | 1% |
| Fiber | 0.4g | 2% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin C | 0.1mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 9mg | 1% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.