You heard it here first: no-bake mango floats are in vogue this season. Here’s what to know about the internet’s favourite no-bake dessert.
What is a mango float?
A mango float – also known as mango royale, crema de mangga, mango graham and mango icebox cake – is a popular Filipino dessert made with biscuits (usually graham crackers), mangoes, heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk. There are variations (for example, some people use ladyfingers or Biscoff cookies in place of graham crackers) but the dessert generally consists of layers of cookie crumbs, whipped cream and mangoes. It’s then chilled until set in a fridge or freezer.
What kind of mangoes are best for a mango float?
The Carabao mango (also known as the Filipino mango or Manila mango) is the traditional variety recommended by chefs for this dessert. If you can’t find it, many Filipino food writers suggest using Ataulfo or Champagne mangoes, which are extra-sweet and tender.
10 best Mango Float recipes
1. Bake With Zoha’s Easy Mango Float Recipe
Zoha Malik specializes in “simple and indulgent bakes” on her blog Bake With Zoha. Her mango float comes together in under 20 minutes and makes a Biscoff cookie crust in place of a traditional graham cracker crust (though you can use graham crackers if you prefer).
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2. Tasha’s Artisan Foods’ Mango Float Recipe
“No oven? No problem! Mango icebox cake is the perfect summer, no-bake dessert,” writes Natasha Minocha on her blog, Tasha’s Artisan Foods. Minocha uses swirls of mango purée and mango cubes to decorate the top.
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3. Catherine Zhang’s Mango Float Recipe
Catherine Zhang makes her mango float by alternating extra-thin layers of graham crackers, heavy cream and mangoes, making the 4-ingredient dessert look much more intricate.
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4. Hot Thai Kitchen’s No-Bake Icebox Mango Pie (Filipino Mango Royale)
Pailin Chongchitnant is known for her easy, authentic Thai dishes, but her blog Hot Thai Kitchen branches out. According to her, “If you love mangoes, and you love mango desserts, [this dish] is an absolute must-try; right after mango and sticky rice, of course!”
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5. Floured Frame’s Vegan Mango Float Recipe
To make the mango float vegan, Keisha of The Floured Frame uses dairy-free heavy whipping cream and sweetened coconut condensed milk. She also shares a hack: soak the graham crackers in the plant-based milk before layering them, to make sure they stay soft and cake-like when eaten.
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6. The Little Epicurean’s Mango Royale Recipe
Maryanne Cabrera includes a lesson in on the history of the mango royale recipe on her blog, The Little Epicurean. The ‘Filipino Food 101’ blurb explains the dish’s evolution from crema de fruta, the no-bake dessert that started it all.
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7. The Unlikely Baker’s Mango Graham Cake Recipe
“Whatever you decide to call this dessert, it’s very easy to make,” writes Jolina of The Unlikely Baker. “It’s all about the layers.” This in-depth tutorial includes instructions for slicing mangoes perfectly – a skill you’ll use for life.
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8. The Maya Kitchen’s Mango Graham Float Recipe
The Maya Kitchen Culinary Arts Centre in Makati, Philippines, is known for their in-person cooking school – but you can pick up some of their know-how on their blog. They suggest preparing mango floats parfait-style, in drinking glasses, and they add toasted cashews for added crunch.
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9. Foxy Folksy’s Mango Float Recipe
Foxy Folksy, the food blog run by Bebs Manaloto-Lott, specializes in Filipino recipes – so it’s no surprise they have a mango float recipe (as well as an avocado float).
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10. Kitchen Confidante’s “Crema de Mangga” Mango Float Recipe
Liren Baker of Kitchen Confidante created this “Crema de Mangga” mango float recipe after her daughter saw “reels upon reels” of the popular no-bake dessert online. She recommends using Ataulfo mangoes (also known as Champagne or Honey mangoes), which are particularly sweet and tender for this mango ice-box cake.
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More great mango recipe ideas
Palin Chongchitnant's recipe for a sweet tapioca pudding, inspired by mango sticky rice.
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Palin Chongchitnant's recipe for a sweet tapioca pudding, inspired by mango sticky rice.
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Rosa Cienfuegos' recipe for Mexican-style chicken wings tossed in a spicy habanero and mango salsa.
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Rosa Cienfuegos' recipe for Mexican-style chicken wings tossed in a spicy habanero and mango salsa.
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These popsicles are made with mango, coconut or guava purée, and are offered to guests upon arrival at the Ritz-Carlton Dorado Beach resort in Puerto Rico.
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These popsicles are made with mango, coconut or guava purée, and are offered to guests upon arrival at the Ritz-Carlton Dorado Beach resort in Puerto Rico.
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