There’s no denying that pie—from apple to pumpkin, pecan to cherry—is delicious. At the same time, it’s also difficult to make, tricky to portion out, hard to transport, and predictable. Sticky rice desserts, on the other hand, bring excitement and a world of new flavors to your holiday table! Made with no measuring, no mess Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice, they’re also incredibly quick and easy to make! 

This year, refresh your holiday dessert table with easy sticky rice desserts. Treats that can take on classic fall flavors, they can also draw on traditional desserts from around the globe, with coconut, tropical fruits, and other tempting additions. Made with 12-minute Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice, they don’t require any fiddly steps (like soaking or steaming) or extra equipment.  

Want to wow everyone at your Thanksgiving get-together, Friendsgiving soiree, and holiday gatherings? Discover sticky rice in delectable desserts and revitalize your table! A fresh alternative to standard pies, they’re comforting, gooey finales fit for any feast.  

When cooked, sticky rice’s high percentage of amylopectin starch makes it irresistibly sticky and elastic, creating a deeply comforting texture that’s a must-try in a range of desserts. Delicately sweet, it’s also a neutral base that can be flavored in myriad ways. Sticky rice is best used in make-ahead desserts, freeing up time before events for other last-minute tasks.  

Sticky rice is often called sweet or glutinous rice. The first refers to sticky rice’s natural sweetness. The second describes the gluey, chewy texture that sticky rice achieves when it’s cooked, not gluten. Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice is a medium-grain sticky rice and is certified gluten-free. 

Learn the most popular methods for how to make sweet sticky rice.   

  • To make sweet sticky rice, the traditional method involves soaking the rice for a minimum of 4 hours, up to overnight. This helps to soften the rice and ensure that it becomes soft and chewy when cooked. The rice is then drained and placed in a cheesecloth-lined steamer over a pot of boiling water. In approximately 20-30 minutes, the rice will be steamed to perfection. It can then be combined with coconut sauce and served with ripe mango.  
  • Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice allows you to skip the soaking and steaming and still get restaurant-quality results on the stove. Simply place 1 bag of rice into a pot of water and bring to a boil. Then cook the rice, uncovered, for 12 minutes. Perfectly fluffy and flavorful, the sticky rice can then be mixed with warm, sweetened coconut milk. Before serving, allow the rice to rest to fully absorb the flavors of the coconut sauce.   

Craving something new for your holiday table? It’s time to try a Thai sticky rice dessert! Or perhaps a crowd-pleasing Filipino find. Time-honored classics, these pair sticky rice with creamy coconut milk for desserts that boast incredible textures and rich flavors.   

Mango sticky rice dessert, also called khao neeo mamuang, is considered the most popular sticky rice dessert in the world. And with good reason! With sweetened, coconut-scented sticky rice and ripe fruit, it’s fresh and fun but also luxurious. Made with Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice, it’s ready in just 17 minutes. 

sticky rice with mango

Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a range of desserts. This Filipino sticky rice dessert is one of our faves! Cooked with coconut milk, brown sugar, salt, and vanilla, sticky rice becomes fudgy, rich, and compellingly sweet. Once cooled, this dessert can be sliced into bars and served to a (very lucky!) crowd.  

Biko Filipino Sticky Rice Cake

This year, save yourself the headache of making pastry, cooking fillings, and waiting hours for pies to cook and cool by inviting sticky rice desserts to your holiday table. Focus on recipes with similar flavors as your go-to pies, and you won’t miss a thing! 

A sticky rice dessert recipe boasting the flavors of peach cobbler, this one is a year-round favorite. When peach season has come and gone, reach for frozen or canned peaches when making this sunny treat. 

Peach Sticky Rice

Rich with the flavors of toffee sauce and caramelized bananas, this gooey goodie feels like a cross between banana cream pie and sticky toffee pudding. Make this ahead of time and portion it into individual containers to add to a buffet or to serve at the table.

Sticky Toffee Pudding

No matter how you celebrate, pumpkin is likely to find its way onto your holiday menus! This year, swap ho-hum pie for these portable pumpkin bars made with fluffy Success® boil-in-bag white rice. Flavored with warm spices, coconut milk, and toasted pecans, these are topped with a showstopping swirl of sweetened whipped cream  

Want to surprise every guest with something new? Get in on the fusion trend with modern desserts featuring novel textures and flavors.   

A sticky rice dessert that draws on traditions from various destinations, this unique twist on tiramisu is flavored with coconut, matcha, mango, and pandan. Though this dessert should be chilled before it is served, it only takes 15 minutes to make, thanks to Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice.

Mango Matcha Tiramisu with Sticky Rice

Sweet coconut sticky rice takes a tropical vacation in this 15-minute, no-bake dessert. Popular with youngsters, thanks to a sprinkling of mini marshmallows, its coconut and pineapple also earn raves from adults.  

Polynesian Rice Dessert recipe with white rice and marshmallows

Sticky rice desserts are a boon to busy hosts. They can be made ahead and served chilled or simply rewarmed.  

  • If you know you’ll have plenty on your plate the day of your event, opt for a truly make-ahead dessert that you can completely prepare a day or two before your party. Biko, Pumpkin Pecan Rice Pudding Bars, and Mango Matcha Tiramisu can all be stored in the fridge and don’t require last-minute prep.  
  • These desserts are also ideal for buffets, as they can be portioned into individual servings.  
  • If you’re making Sticky Rice with Mango and Coconut or Peach Sticky Rice ahead of time, you’ll want to refrigerate the rice within 2 hours of making it and then gently reheat it before serving. These desserts can then be portioned into individual cups or served family-style in a larger dish.  

With the holiday season closing in, it’s time to invite your guests, decide on your menus, and go shopping! For a meal that feels fresh while paying homage to tradition, include classic and modern sticky rice desserts. Or blend old with new—one essential pie, such as an elegant Pumpkin Mousse Pie, served beside a sticky rice stunner.  

CTA – Ready in 12 minutes, with no soaking or steaming, Success® Sticky Rice helps you make quick, easy desserts that beautifully fit into your busy holiday season. 

Look no further for answers to some of the most common sticky rice questions.  

When you’re all out of Success® boil-in-bag sticky rice and those sweet sticky rice cravings hit, you can use jasmine rice. Fluffy and fragrant, jasmine rice is stickier than other long-grain varieties of rice. To enhance its chewy, soft texture, soak it before cooking and increase the rice-to-water ratio to 1: 1 1/2. To achieve the classic chewy texture in Asian desserts, sushi, rice bowls, and more, stick with sticky rice v.s. jasmine rice whenever possible. 

Many classic sticky rice desserts use coconut milk, which is dairy-free. However, dairy is often included in recipes, so check the ingredient list carefully if dairy is a concern. For example, our Sticky Toffee Pudding is made with butter and heavy cream. 

Traditionally, mango sticky rice is both warm and cold! For best results, the sweetened, coconut-flavored sticky rice should be served while it’s still warm. Garnish it with chilled slices of ripe mango.