Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (2024)

BY :Bebs | Published: | Updated: | 183 Comments

RECIPE VIDEO PRINT

4.95 from 113 votes

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Get that perfect sticky chewiness all the time with this easy Biko recipe. Topped with delicious coconut caramel sauce or latik that will make you want for more.
Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (1)

  • What is Biko?
  • What do you need to make Biko Kalamay?
  • How to make Biko?
  • Printable Recipe
  • Biko Recipe (Filipino Rice Cake)

What is Biko?

Biko (pronounced bee-koh), a rice cake, is a native Filipino delicacy or 'kakanin' where glutinous rice is cooked withcoconut milk and brown sugar then topped Latik. The latik can be either in curd form or syrup. Traditionally, biko isserved ona bilao, a round wooden bamboo tray, linedwith coconut-oiled banana leaves, and is a popular dessert for every special occasion like birthdays, reunions and fiestas.

It is well-loved throughout the country and known different names. Bibingkang malagkit is one and it isSinukmani to the Southern Tagalog regions. We grew up calling it simply kalamay.

Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (2)

What do you need to make Biko Kalamay?

You will need only 4 basic ingredients to make this delicacy: glutinous rice, coconut milk, water, and brown sugar. You can either top it with latik curds or latik syrup, that is made by combining coconut and brown sugar.

The color of your biko will depend mainly on the brown sugar used. If you are trying to get that rich brown color then use a really dark brown sugar or muscovado. Brown sugar also varies in sweetness so you might have to adjust according to your preference.

Adding pandan leaves while cooking the rice will give it nice aroma and flavor. I also added a bit of vanilla extract to the latik syrup to make it extra delicious. Believe me, it is spoon-licking good, I could eat it on its own.

Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (3)

How to make Biko?

I found that there are several ways to cook it. The most common way is bycooking the glutinous rice first like you do regular rice. Then it will be added to the coconut caramel later.

There is also another way that an old friend taught me. He simply put the ingredients for the biko together in a rice cooker and that is it. Practical if you do not have time and just want a quick snack.

For this recipe I went with the more traditional way. But instead of just boiling the sticky rice in water, I boiled it in coconut milk with water and pandan leaves so it can absorb the flavors right from the beginning.

Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (4)

Here are some tips to make a perfectly chewy biko with perfect latik topping

Making this sticky rice cake is really very easy. But one simple mistake and it can turn mushy or uncooked.

  • When you steam the rice make sure that you do not add too much water. It is not supposed to be completely cooked at this point. Doing so may result in the grains to break when cooked later which will give you a paste-like consistency instead of chewy whole grains.
  • It is fine to give it a stir or two in the first part of cooking the rice to prevent the bottom from burning. However, avoid over stirring because, again, it will result in mushy rice.
  • When the rice is added to the latik syrup, gently fold the rice to coat them completely. Let the rice absorb the liquid while stirring from time to time. Do this until all grains are cooked and have expanded and very sticky.
  • The length of time to bake the biko depends on how thick the latik caramel topping is, it might take more than 20-30 minutes if it is a thick layer. Just wait that it turns bubbly and no longer gooey.

Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (5)

Printable Recipe

Biko Recipe (Filipino Rice Cake)

4.95 from 113 votes

Get this easy Biko recipe, a Filipino rice cake made from glutinous rice cooked in coconut milk and brown sugar topped with caramelized coconut milk.

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course :Dessert, Snack

Servings =9 squares

Print Recipe Rate this Recipe

Ingredients

TO COOK RICE

  • 2 cups glutinous rice - washed and drained
  • 1 cup canned coconut milk
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 pieces pandan leaves

LATIK SYRUP

  • 2 cups canned coconut milk
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla (optional)
  • vegetable or coconut oil - for greasing the pan

Instructions

  • Generously grease an 8x8-inch square baking pan and set aside.

  • In a large pot over medium heat, mix together the 1 cup coconut milk and 1cup water. Add the glutinous rice and pandan leaves. Bring to a simmer then turn heat to low and cover. Let it cook until all liquids are absorbed. The rice should only be almost cooked at this point.

  • While waiting, prepare the latik syrup by combining the 2 cups coconut milk and 1 cup dark brown sugar on a large pan or pot. Cook over medium heat while constantly stirring until the liquid thickens into a camarel.

  • Scoop and reserve ½ cup of the latik syrup for the topping later. Add the cooked rice without the pandan leaves to tha pan with the remaining latik syrup. Gently fold the sticky rice and the syrup until completely coated. Cook while stirring from time to time until the rice completely absorbs the syrup and the rice is fully cooked.

  • Transfer the rice into the greased pan and spread out evenly. Pour the reserved latik syrup on spread evenly on top of the rice. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F/180°C for 20-30 minutes or until the latik is reduced and becomes bubbly.

  • Remove from oven and let it cool down. Cut into squares and serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 455kcalCarbohydrates: 66gProtein: 5gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 18gSodium: 24mgPotassium: 291mgFiber: 3gSugar: 28gVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 41mgIron: 2mg

Have you tried this recipe?Mention @foxyfolksy or tag #FoxyFolksyRecipes!

This biko recipe was originally published on August 2016. Updated on May 2020 to include new photos and recipe video and improve the recipe itself.

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Comments

    What do you think?

  1. Tami Fox Sherman says

    Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (19)
    Delicious! I also used coconut sugar.

    Reply

  2. Mimosa Mey says

    Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (20)
    The sweetness and consistency were just right. My family finished Biko in one sitting ☺️

    Reply

  3. Eve Santiago says

    Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (21)
    I think the recipe is great! The taste is there but I will make some modifications my next batch. Definitely using dark brown sugar, cook Latik longer, use more latik sauce on top and maybe even add a little more sugar for extra sweetness, and use quality coconut milk (mine must’ve been in the cabinet for too long- solidified and super oily). Overall, the taste sure brought my husband back to his childhood and helped us remember how Lola’s tasted.

    Reply

  4. Aurora Lozada says

    Can I make the Biko the day before store in the fridge and bake it the day I want to serve it

    Reply

    • Bebs says

      I am not a big fan of refrigerating cooked rice, because it tends to dry up and harden but if covered properly and only overnight, I think it should be fine.

      Reply

  5. Anacleta Milani says

    Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (22)
    I almost make the same,going to try the Carmel version ‼️ We call this Kakanen 😋🤙😇

    Reply

  6. Yuu says

    Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (23)
    I always follow your recipes and try to make use of what I can access here in Germany. Thank you. I grew up in the Philippines and it takes me back home to make kakanin.

    Reply

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Biko Recipe (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake) - Foxy Folksy (2024)

FAQs

What is the English of biko? ›

Biko (Filipino Sticky Rice Cake)

How to make sticky rice? ›

Using a microwave-safe container, add your soaked, rinsed rice and cover with an equal amount of boiling water. Cover your container with cling film or a plate, and microwave for three-four minutes on high. Stir your rice and then cook for another two-three minutes.

What is Philippines rice cake called? ›

Bibingka (/bɪˈbiːŋkɑː/; bi-BEENG-kah) commonly refers to a type of baked rice cake from the Philippines that is traditionally cooked in a terracotta oven lined with banana leaves and is usually eaten for breakfast or as merienda (mid-afternoon snack) especially during the Christmas season.

What is a famous Filipino merienda made of sticky rice cooked in sugar? ›

Biko is made of mainly of three main ingredients namely; glutinous rice, coconut milk, and brown sugar. It is the ultimate mid-afternoon snack that is sweet, delicious and chewy. A slice of biko together with a cup of coffee would surely go well.

What does biko mean in Tagalog? ›

Biko is a sweet rice cake from the Philippines.

What is another name for biko? ›

A mainstay at town fiestas, weddings, and funerals, biko is what usually comes to mind when you hear the word “kakanin.” These rice cakes are made with malagkit rice and coconut milk, with a dark brown topping.

What makes a good sticky rice? ›

How to Make Sticky Rice. Soak rice for 15 minutes prior to cooking it for an additional 10 minutes. This rice requires a ratio of 1:1, meaning 1 cup of rice to every cup of 1 cup of water. It's as easy as that!

Do you have to soak sticky rice before cooking? ›

To ensure the grains cook and absorb moisture evenly, sticky rice first needs to be soaked and rinsed in water before cooking. Once steamed, the grains of glutinous rice become tender but maintain a distinct chewiness.

How long to soak sticky rice before cooking? ›

This is the traditional way Thai and other Southeast Asian people cook sticky rice. You simply soak the rice in room temp water for an absolute minimum of 3 hours and upto overnight. Then drain and steam it using various steaming implements.

Where did Biko originated in the Philippines? ›

Biko appears everywhere in the Philippines and no one seems to question its origins—but it's probably from China, where rice is believed to have been first cultivated as a domestic crop.

What country invented rice cakes? ›

Rice cakes the soft kind were invented in Japan between 710 and 794 when the Chinese had great influence over japanese food culture. A rice cake is very common throughout Asia it is any type of rice combined into one object.

What is sticky rice called in the Philippines? ›

In the Philippines, glutinous rice is known as malagkit in Tagalog or pilit in Visayan, among other names such as diket in Ilocano. Both mean "sticky".

What country eats the most sticky rice? ›

The staple food of the Lao is sticky rice (Lao: ເຂົ້າໜຽວ, khao niao, pronounced [kʰȁw. nǐa̯w]). Laos has the highest sticky rice consumption per-capita in the world with an average of 171 kilograms (377 lb) of sticky rice consumed annually per person.

What is sticky rice called in English? ›

Also known as “sweet rice” or glutinous rice (though it's gluten free), sticky rice is a large white grain that becomes translucent, shiny and extremely sticky when steamed. Sticky rice is a staple in Laos, where it is especially beloved, but it has ardent fans throughout Asia.

What is the English of hanging rice? ›

Pusô or tamu, sometimes known in Philippine English as "hanging rice", is a Filipino rice cake made by boiling rice in a woven pouch of palm leaves.

Is biko and Suman the same? ›

Suman is to the Ilonggos as what biko is to Tagalogs and other places. So don't be surprised if you're given this malagkit rice specialty instead of the one wrapped in coconut leaves which is commonly called ibos in this part of the country. Here's a simple recipe for Suman or Biko.

Is sticky rice and sweet rice the same? ›

Also known as “sweet rice” or glutinous rice (though it's gluten free), sticky rice is a large white grain that becomes translucent, shiny and extremely sticky when steamed. Sticky rice is a staple in Laos, where it is especially beloved, but it has ardent fans throughout Asia.

What is the English name for black glutinous rice? ›

Thai Black Glutinous Rice, also known as sticky black rice, is the whole, unpolished grain of traditional sticky white rice. It has a sweet nutty and earthy taste and is commonly used in Asian, and especially Thai cuisine.

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