In Zamboanga, a dessert called the knickerbocker is giving halo-halo a run for its money. In lieu of sugary fruit preserves, this tall glass is filled with fresh in-season fruits, nuts, jelly, fruit syrup, ice cream, and whipped cream.
READ: Food origins: The halo-halo’s macapuno, nata de coco and kaong and how they’re made
Watermelon is usually favored but you can also experiment with melon, dragon fruit, honeydew, and even papaya as we did in this recipe. Just stack everything together in a tall glass, top with ice cream and nuts and a ruby red piece of cherry.
Summer may be over but in this perpetually humid land, any sweet cool dessert—other than halo-halo—is welcome.
Knickerbocker recipe
Ingredients
½ cup each assorted fruits (watermelon, dragon fruit, honeydew, papaya)
¼ cup ube nata de coco
2 scoops ice cream/frozen yogurt
1 scoop whipped cream (chilled)
1 tbsp nuts of choice
2 tbsp fruit syrup
Cherries, optional
Preparation
- Peel and chop fruits into small cubes. Set aside.
- Whip chilled cream until medium peaks are achieved.
- In a chilled tall glass, layer fruits and nata de coco followed by whipped cream, scoops of ice cream or yogurt, syrup, nuts, and cherry.
