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–+ servings
Razon’s Halo-Halo

Razon's Halo-Halo Copycat Recipe

Razon's Halo-Halo is a streamlined reinvention of the traditional Filipino shaved ice dessert, crafted by layering caramelized saba bananas and macapuno strings beneath a mound of fine shaved ice drenched in evaporated milk, crowned with silky leche flan - a masterclass in minimalist dessert-making that originated from Pampanga in the 1970s and revolutionized the typically ingredient-heavy halo-halo by proving that thoughtful simplicity can create more memorable flavors than complexity.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 4
Calories 385 kcal
Difficulty Easy

Equipment

  • Shave ice machine (Yelo machine) For creating fine, snow-like ice texture
  • Heavy-bottom saucepan (Kaserola) For caramelizing bananas
  • Glass bowls or tall glasses (10-16 oz) Traditional serving vessels
  • Ice cream scoop or spoon (Kutsara) For portioning ingredients
  • Measuring cups and spoons (Panukat) For precise measurements
  • Sharp knife (kutsilyo) For slicing bananas and leche flan
  • Cutting board (Tablas) For preparation work

Ingredients
 

  • 2 cups coco jam Coconut jam/Matamis na bao
  • ⅓ cup water Tubig
  • 2 ripe saba bananas or regular bananas Saging na saba, diced small
  • 8 tablespoons macapuno coconut sport strings/Bukayo
  • 8 cups shaved ice Yelong durog
  • 1 cup evaporated milk
  • 1 llanera leche flan
  • Optional: Calamansi rind for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Start by making your caramelized bananas. Pour 2 cups of coco jam and ⅓ cup water into a saucepan. Heat this mixture over medium heat (katamtamang init, 180°C/350°F) until it starts to bubble, which takes about 3 minutes. Once bubbling, turn off the heat and add your diced bananas. Stir everything together gently, then pour this mixture into a bowl and let it cool completely.
  • While waiting for your banana mixture to cool, slice your leche flan into portions and prepare your shaved ice. Once your bananas have cooled to room temperature, you can start building your halo-halo.
  • Take your serving glass and spoon 2 tablespoons of the cooled caramelized bananas into the bottom. Add a tablespoon of macapuno strings on top of the bananas. Now fill your glass with about 2 cups of finely shaved ice, packing it down gently. Pour evaporated milk generously over the ice until it seeps through to the bottom. Place three slices of leche flan on top of the ice. If you'd like, grate some fresh calamansi rind over the flan for extra flavor.
  • Serve your halo-halo right away while the ice is still frozen. When you're ready to eat, mix everything together to combine all the flavors (Haluin ang lahat ng sangkap).

Tips from Lola's Kitchen

Razon’s Halo-Halo
  • Use extremely ripe saba bananas for natural sweetness
  • Chill serving glasses beforehand for slower ice melting
  • Shave ice as finely as possible for the authentic texture
  • Don't skimp on the evaporated milk
  • Keep components cold until assembly
  • Make leche flan a day ahead for better texture
 

Traditional Serving Suggestions

  • Serve immediately after assembly
  • Provide long spoons for proper mixing
  • Traditional serving time: merienda (afternoon snack) or dessert
  • Pair with traditional Filipino butter cookies (polvoron) or bibingka
  • Best enjoyed in the afternoon heat
 

Troubleshooting Common Issues

  1. Ice melting too quickly:
    • Use pre-chilled components
    • Serve in chilled glasses
    • Add extra ice if needed
  2. Banana mixture too thick:
    • Add small amounts of hot water while cooking
    • Stir constantly while heating
  3. Leche flan breaking:
    • Slice when cold
    • Use a hot knife for clean cuts
    • Handle gently during transfer
 

Ingredient Alternatives

  • Saba Bananas → Regular ripe bananas or plantains
  • Coco jam → Brown sugar syrup with coconut milk
  • Macapuno → Young coconut strips
  • Evaporated milk → Fresh milk or coconut milk
  • Leche flan → Custard pudding or crème caramel
 

Storage & Reheating

  • Store components separately
  • Caramelized bananas: Refrigerate up to 5 days
  • Leche flan: Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Macapuno: Keep refrigerated in syrup
  • Assembly: Best fresh, not recommended for storage
 

Variations

  1. Modern Twist:
    • Add grass jelly
    • Use ube leche flan
    • Include nata de coco
  2. Healthier Version:
    • Use coconut milk instead of evaporated milk
    • Reduce sugar in banana caramel
    • Add fresh fruit toppings
  3. Special Occasion:
    • Gold leaf on leche flan
    • Brulee the flan top
    • Add edible flowers
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I make this without a shave ice machine? A: While not ideal, you can use a blender to crush ice finely. However, the texture won't be as authentic.
Q: How ripe should the saba bananas be? A: They should be very ripe with black spots on the skin (Dapat lubos na hinog na may itim na batik ang balat).
Q: Can I prepare components ahead of time? A: Yes, all components except the shaved ice can be prepared 1-2 days ahead and stored separately.
Q: Why is my leche flan breaking apart? A: Ensure it's properly chilled and use a sharp, hot knife for cutting.
Q: Is this the exact Razon's recipe? A: This is a close homage to their famous recipe, adapted for home cooking while maintaining the essence of their minimalist approach.
 
Razon’s Halo-Halo
Razon’s Halo-Halo

Nutrition

Calories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 72gProtein: 7gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 120mgPotassium: 191mgFiber: 2gSugar: 65gVitamin A: 151IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 180mgIron: 1mg
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