Coconut Agar Jelly (Thach Dua)

This easy recipe for Coconut Agar Jelly (Thach Dua) makes a wonderful summertime treat your entire family will love. Slightly crunchy agar jelly is infused with creamy coconut milk to make a refreshing chilled dessert. The jelly is silky, creamy and so cooling on a hot summer day. The recipe is as simple as it gets with just 5 ingredients. There are no complicated layers to make with this dessert. Just cook the jelly mixture in a saucepan and then pour into a large dish. Once the jelly sets, refrigerate until cold. To enjoy, simply cut into bite-sized pieces or bars. This Coconut Agar Jelly is so simple yet so satisfying. Enjoy!

Watch the video for instructions.

Notes on the Coconut Agar Jelly (Thach Dua) Recipe, Tips and Tricks

Agar agar comes from red algae, is plant-based and 100% vegetarian. Unlike the softer texture of gelatin, agar agar is a firmer jelly with a slightly crunchy texture. One of the unique properties of agar agar is that it turns solid at room temperature.

For more festive treats, add your favorite food flavorings and colorings and use decorative molds, baking cups or any small bowls or cups to make single-serving sizes. In the video, I share some of my favorite flavors: Pandan, coffee, and ube. Continue reading below in Recipe Variations for more recipe notes.

Coconut Agar Jelly / Thach Dua

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Coconut Agar Jelly / Thach Dua

Course: Dessert, Snack

Cuisine: Asian, Vietnamese

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes

Servings: 28

Calories: 77 kcal

Author: Trang

This easy recipe for Coconut Agar Jelly (Thach Dua) makes a wonderful summertime treat your entire family will love. Slightly crunchy agar jelly is infused with creamy coconut milk to make a refreshing chilled dessert. The jelly is silky, creamy and so cooling on a hot summer day. The recipe is as simple as it gets with just 5 ingredients. There are no complicated layers to make with this dessert. Just cook the jelly mixture in a saucepan and then pour into a large dish. Once the jelly sets, refrigerate until cold. To enjoy, simply cut into bite-sized pieces or bars. This Coconut Agar Jelly is so simple yet so satisfying. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 5 1/2 cups water
• 3 Tbsp agar agar powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla sugar
• 14 oz can coconut milk

Standard - Metric

Instructions

1. In a medium saucepan, combine the water and agar agar powder. Let the mixture rest for 15 minutes.

2. Over Medium heat, bring the mixture to a gentle boil, stirring frequently to dissolve the powder. When the mixture comes to a gentle boil, add the sugar and vanilla sugar. Combine together until dissolved. Reduce the heat to Low if the mixture is boiling too vigorously. Add the coconut milk and combine well. Skim off any foam and discard. Remove the saucepan from the heat.

3. Pour the hot jelly mixture into a large dish or individual cups and bowls. Skim off any bubbles from the top using a spoon. Let rest at room temperature until the jelly is firm, approximately 1-2 hours. Transfer the dish into the refrigerator and chill for at least 2 hours.

4. To remove the jelly, run a knife around the dish. Invert the dish and tap on the counter to loosen the jelly. Using a wavy knife, cut the Coconut Agar Jelly into bite-sized pieces.

5. Refrigerate any remaining portions. Enjoy within the week.

Recipe Video

Notes, Tips & Tricks

• Use a whole packet of agar agar powder which is .88 oz (25 g). Bloom the agar agar powder by combining with room temperature water and letting rest for 15 minutes. You must bring the agar agar solution to a boil to activate the gelling properties. Also be sure to dissolve the agar agar powder completely otherwise the jelly will not set and be gritty. Bloom the agar agar powder by combining with room temperature water and letting rest for 15 minutes. You must bring the agar agar solution to a boil to activate the gelling properties. Also be sure to dissolve the agar agar powder completely otherwise the jelly will not set and be gritty.
• The sweetness level of this Coconut Agar Jelly is right in the middle. For a sweeter jelly, similar to what you'd find at a dessert shop, use 2 cups sugar. Use 1 cup sugar for a lightly sweet jelly.
• For more festive treats, add your favorite food flavorings and colorings and use decorative molds, baking cups or any small bowls or cups to make single-serving sizes.

Nutrition Facts

Coconut Agar Jelly / Thach Dua

Amount Per Serving

Calories 77 Calories from Fat 27

% Daily Value*

Fat 3g5%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Sodium 5mg0%

Potassium 43mg1%

Carbohydrates 12g4%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 11g12%

Protein 1g2%

Vitamin C 0.4mg0%

Calcium 7mg1%

Iron 0.3mg2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Flavor Variations

Coconut and Pandan Agar Jelly: For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 drops Pandan paste. Combine well and transfer into molds.

Coconut and Coffee Agar Jelly: For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 tsp instant coffee, like Starbucks Via. Combine well and transfer into molds. For a fun and refreshing beverage, cut the jelly into small pieces and add to iced coffee or tea.

Coconut and Ube Agar Jelly: For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 drops ube extract. Combine well and transfer into molds.

If you enjoy this Coconut Agar Jelly (Thach Dua) recipe, you may also like:

Coffee Flan Agar Jelly
(Thach Flan Ca Phe)

Agar Agar and Mock Pomegranate Seeds
(Che Suong Sa Hot Luu)

Coffee and Cream Agar Jelly
(Thach Ca Phe)

Taro and Coconut Agar Mooncakes
Banh Trung Thu Thach

Recipe Variations

Coconut and Pandan Agar Jelly

For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 drops Pandan paste. Combine well and transfer into molds.

Coconut and Coffee Agar Jelly

For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 tsp instant coffee, like Starbucks Via. Combine well and transfer into molds. For a fun and refreshing beverage, cut the jelly into small pieces and add to iced coffee or tea.

Coconut and Ube Agar Jelly

For every 1 cup hot jelly mixture, add 1-2 drops ube extract. Combine well and transfer into molds.

Piggy Agar Jelly

Enhance the Coconut Agar Jelly with your favorite food coloring to make fun and eye-catching desserts. I used Wilton's Gel Icing Color in Pink and a piggy mold to make the most adorable jellies. The kiddies would love these precious desserts!

Other Flavors

The next time I make this I’d like to try using chocolate and matcha. If you make this Coconut Agar Jelly recipe using other flavor variation, I’d love to hear about it!

Tools I Love and Use in My Kitchen