• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Unlikely Baker®
  • Home
  • Ice Cream
  • Recipes
    • Cakes
    • Cupcakes and Muffins
    • Cookies
    • Brownies and Bars
    • Pies and Tarts
    • Bread and Biscuits
    • Breakfast and Brunch
    • No Bake Desserts
    • Ice Cream and Frozen Treats
    • Filipino Desserts and Kakanin
    • Filipino Cuisine
    • Other Sweet Treats
    • Video Recipes
    • Ube Recipes
    • Lemon and Citrus Recipes
    • Savoury Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Recipe Collections
  • Contact
  • About Me
    • Hello
    • Terms of Use
  • Recipe Index
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Berry Desserts
  • Recipes
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Berry Desserts
    • Recipes
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Filipino Desserts and Kakanin

    Easy Filipino Yema Balls Recipe

    by Jolina | Published: March 26, 2024 | Last Updated: March 26, 2024 | 4 Comments
    This site contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See Terms of Use for more information.

    • Share
    • Flip
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Send
    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video
    Pin for Easy Filipino Yema Balls Recipe.
    Pin for Filipino Yema Balls.
    Pin for Easy Filipino Yema Balls Recipe.

    Yema balls or yema candy are delicious Filipino treats made of condensed milk and egg yolks. They’re wonderfully soft and chewy, delightfully sweet, and so easy to make. Check out the recipe with lots of tips, FAQs and step-by-step photos for perfect yema balls every time.

    (Looking for more Filipino desserts? Check out this list of must-try Filipino desserts. This recipe for yema cake is particularly delicious!)

    Filipino yema balls in a bowl.
    Jump To hide
    Why you’ll love making Filipino yema
    How to make
    Expert tips
    Recipe FAQs
    Other traditional Filipino treats
    Filipino Yema Balls

    Filipinos love making desserts with condensed milk. I even have a whole recipe category dedicated to condensed milk desserts.

    From everybody’s favorite creamy leche flan to my personal favorite brazo de mercedes, condensed milk is an integral part in a lot of Filipino treats.

    Now you can add yema balls (or, simply, Filipino yema) to your dessert arsenal. No baking involved! 

    Let’s get to it. 

    Why you’ll love making Filipino yema

    Yema balls in cupcake liners.

    Yema is a childhood favorite among many Filipinos.

    There are different kinds — soft and chewy like what we have today, covered in hard caramel (see FAQs), filled with nuts like pili or cashews, or flavored like ube yema.

    Making them is quite addicting because it’s so easy and the outcome is always a delicious trip down memory lane. This has become one of my favorite things to make.

    • No baking. You won’t need the oven here. You simply need to stir everything in a pan, roll and enjoy!
    • Simple ingredients. The recipe also calls for just 5 very simple ingredients — condensed milk and egg yolks for the custard, plus butter and salt, and sugar for the coating.
    • Makes a big batch. I can make up to 30 yema balls from this recipe using a melon baller. Perfect for giving away as gifts during the holidays, selling at bake sales or as a small business, picnics, and more.
    • Keeps fresh. They also keep for a long time. They don’t last very long in our house lol but properly stored in the fridge, they should remain fresh and soft for up to 4 weeks.

    How to make

    Yema ingredients with text overlay.
    (Featured products are not sponsored.)

    This Filipinos-style custard candy is very easy to make with very few ingredients and steps.

    Ingredients

    You’ll only need 5 ingredients. Two things to note:

    • Butter — I always use unsalted butter in my desserts but if you only have salted butter, you can use that. Just omit the pinch of salt called for in the recipe.
    • Condensed milk — for best results, use full-fat sweetened condensed milk.

    (Check out this collection of egg white recipes for ideas on what to do with your leftover egg whites!)

    Cooking tools

    You’ll also only need simple tools.

    • A large pan or wok
    • Something to scoop your yema balls with — I like using my melon baller for evenly sized candy but you can also use a cookie scoop or a teaspoon.

    Step-by-step photos

    Melted butter in a pan.

    Melt butter in a pan on low heat.

    Condensed milk added to melted butter.

    Add condensed milk and stir until combined.

    Egg yolks added to condensed milk.

    Add egg yolks and a pinch of salt.

    Thickened mixture in a pan.

    Stir until the mixture thickens considerably (about 20 minutes).

    Yema mixture cooling on a plate.

    Transfer mixture into a slightly greased plate or clean surface. Allow to cool completely.

    Yema mixture rolled in sugar.

    Scoop a teaspoon of the yema mixture and form into a ball. Coat with sugar and serve.

    Expert tips

    Easy and simple, right? Here are more tips for perfect yema balls every time.

    • Don’t stop stirring. Don’t leave the mixture unattended. You’ll want to keep stirring to prevent the mixture from getting burnt.
    • Stay on low-medium heat. It does take a while to get the mixture to thicken but don’t be tempted to crank up the heat. It’s best to stay on low-medium heat.
    • You control the texture. If you like a softer yema like we do, stop stirring as soon as the mixture forms into a ball and gets difficult to stir. If you want a firmer candy, stir some more.
    • Grease your hands and tools. Yema is very sticky so it’s best to grease your hands and tools to make rolling them easier.

    Recipe FAQs

    Yema candy on a plate.
    How do I make yema balls with caramel?


    If you want to coat your yema balls with caramel, follow these steps:

    1. Prepare the caramel by combining 1 cup sugar and ½ cup water. Cook on low-medium heat until it turns golden brown. Swirl don’t stir.

    2. Carefully dip each yema ball (completely cooled, preferably chilled) in the caramel and place on a lightly greased plate or pan. Allow to set.

    That’s it! 

    How do I make special yema with nuts?


    To make special yema, add about 1 cup of chopped nuts (usually cashew or pili nuts) in your mixture after you’ve added the egg yolks.

    What are the different kinds of yema balls packaging?


    Yema is usually wrapped in food-grade cellophane.

    You can also find them unwrapped and sold in little plastic containers.

    I like putting them in mini cupcake liners and placing them in a cookie, pastry or bakery box if I’m giving them out as gifts.

    How do I store yema and how long do they keep?


    Because yema is a custard, it’s best to keep them in a covered container in the fridge. 

    They should keep up to 4 weeks.

    Other traditional Filipino treats

    • Soft and chewy espasol on a plate.
      Filipino Espasol — Easy Authentic Recipe
    • Palitaw Recipe Easy Authentic
      Palitaw Recipe (Filipino Rice Cakes with Coconut and Sesame Seeds)
    • Bowl of freshly made pichi pichi
      Easy Pichi Pichi Recipe
    • Suman with sweet mango dessert.
      Suman Malagkit

    Happy cooking!

    Did you make this easy yema recipe? I’d love to hear all about it! Leave a comment or a star rating below. You can also tag me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to see your creations!

    You can also find me on Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube.

    Close up shot of yema balls in a bowl.

    Filipino Yema Balls

    Author: Jolina
    Yema balls or yema candy are delicious Filipino treats made of condensed milk and egg yolks. They’re wonderfully soft and chewy, delightfully sweet, and easy to make.
    4 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 20 minutes mins
    Assembly 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine Filipino
    Servings 30 balls
    Calories 7 kcal

    Equipment

    • Wok
    • Cookie Scoop

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 2 tbsp unsalted butter
    • 1 10-oz can condensed milk
    • 3 pieces egg yolks from large eggs
    • pinch salt
    • sugar for coating
    • oil or baking spray for greasing

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a pan on low heat.
      2 tbsp unsalted butter
      Melted butter in a pan.
    • Add condensed milk and stir until combined.
      1 10-oz can condensed milk
      Condensed milk added to melted butter.
    • Add egg yolks and a pinch of salt. Stir until the mixture thickens considerably (about 20 minutes).
      3 pieces egg yolks, pinch salt
      Thickened mixture in a pan.
    • Transfer mixture into a slightly greased plate or clean surface. Allow to cool completely.
      oil or baking spray
      Yema mixture cooling on a plate.
    • Scoop a teaspoon of the yema mixture and form into a ball. Coat with sugar and serve.
      sugar
      Yema mixture rolled in sugar.

    Video

    Notes

    1. The yield depends on how big you scoop your yema balls. The estimated nutrition information is based on 30 balls.
    2. To make special yema, you can add chopped nuts into the mixture.
    3. When forming the yema into balls, grease your hands and tools so they don’t stick as much.
    4. See post for more tips, FAQs and step-by-step photos.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 7kcalCarbohydrates: 0.02gProtein: 0.03gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0.5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.2gTrans Fat: 0.03gCholesterol: 3mgSodium: 0.2mgPotassium: 0.5mgSugar: 0.02gVitamin A: 25IUVitamin C: 0.001mgCalcium: 0.4mgIron: 0.003mg

    Nutritional information are estimates only.

    Tried this recipe? Leave a star rating today!Also tag @iamtheunlikelybaker I’d love to see your creations.

    More Filipino Desserts and Kakanin

    • A slice of ube tres leches cake.
      Ube Tres Leches Cake
    • A slice of pistachio sans rival on a plate.
      The Best Pistachio Sans Rival
    • Fried Filipino tikoy.
      Tikoy (Nian Gao Filipino Style)
    • A slice of ube cake flan on a plate.
      Ube Cake Flan
    • Share
    • Flip
    • Tweet
    • Share
    • Send

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Ke

      November 07, 2024 at 3:56 pm

      3 stars
      I have followed the recipe 4 times and keep getting caramel instead, or it doesn’t set up at all one time I stirred exactly 20min, which didn’t set up, it was still soupy. The next try I stirred until it was like caramel, and then put it onto the plate, and the other two times I cooked it 35min and 45min and it still didn’t turn into a solid. The caramel is delicious, but I am trying to surprise my Filipina church aunties with this candy.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        November 11, 2024 at 8:40 am

        Hi Ke, I share expert tips in the post. Check it out 🙂

        Reply
    2. Niese

      April 20, 2024 at 5:51 pm

      5 stars
      I grew up eating yema and this brought me back. This was very easy to make and so delicious.

      Reply
      • Jolina

        April 22, 2024 at 1:59 pm

        Glad you liked it Niese!

        Reply
    4.34 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate the Recipe




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Jolina! And I'm definitely a late bloomer, a thoroughly unexpected baker.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Pecan Bars Recipe
      Bourbon Pecan Pie Bars with Shortbread Crust

    • Ube Cake (Filipino Purple Yam Cake)
      Ube Cake (Filipino Purple Yam Cake)

    • Best Lemon Cheesecake
      The Best Lemon Cheesecake. Ever.

    • Classic Buttermilk Scones
      Classic Buttermilk Scones – Easy, Delicious, Done in 15 Minutes

    Spring Desserts

    • Strawberry Rhubarb Galette
      Strawberry Rhubarb Galette

    • A stack of raspberry white chocolate cookies on a plate.
      Raspberry White Chocolate Cookies

    • Photo of ricotta cake showing juicy blueberries within.
      Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Cake

    • Slice of strawberry ricotta cake with whipped cream and strawberries.
      Strawberry Ricotta Cake (Easy No-Fail Recipe)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • About
    • Terms of Use

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2016-2025 The Unlikely Baker ™

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.