Filipino barquillos: how to make this recipe to go with your polvoron

We may earn a commission on qualified purchases made through one of our links. Learn more

Roll in the deep tangy flavor of the all-time Filipino favorite: barquillos.

Barquillos are crunchy rolled sticks that can simply be eaten as snacks or desserts.

The barquillos recipe is actually from the Spaniards! These wafer and biscuit rolls became widespread around the world, and the Filipinos made their own variety of them.

With their wavering flavors and crispiness, they’ll surely become one of your beloved treats, without question.

Filipino Style Barquillos

Despite the use of traditional tools and equipment back then, the Filipinos already succeeded in making one of the best snacks we know today. Since barquillos became famous, the western part of Visayas became the center for selling these delicious rolls.

There are a lot of variations of barquillos: in flavor, color, or form. Buko, pandan, ube, mango, banana; flavors are unlimited with barquillos!

Just like biscuits, they’re crispy. Barquillos can be easily made if you have the expertise and tools. Usually, it’s made on a barquillera, an iron plate for making wafers.

But if you don’t have it, then continue reading to find out how else you can make your very own barquillos.

Also read: this is how you make the best polvoron to go with it

Barquillos

Stick-O? No. Biskotto? No. It’s barquillos!

Barquillos Recipe

Check out our new cookbook

Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:

Read for free

Filipino style barquillos recipe

Joost Nusselder
Barquillos are crunchy rolled sticks that can simply be eaten as snacks or desserts. With their wavering flavors and crispiness, barquillos are sure to become one of your beloved treats.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Course Snack
Cuisine Filipino
Servings 5 people
Calories 108 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ¼ cup flour sifted
  • ¾ cup fresh milk
  • 5 egg yolks lightly beaten
  • Sugar to taste
  • Lemon rind finely crushed

Instructions
 

  • Prepare and grease both sides of the barquillera mold.
  • Put sifted flour in a bowl and set aside. In another bowl, combine milk and egg yolks.
  • Pour mixture on flour and mix until the batter is smooth. Add sugar and lemon rind, and set aside.
  • Put the greased mold over medium heat. Drop a teaspoon of the batter into the middle of the mold. Put the 2 sides of the mold together so that the batter is wedged in the middle.
  • Continue cooking the batter on both sides until brown.
  • Using a greased, cone-shaped wooden stick, shape the barquillos while still warm and soft.

Nutrition

Calories: 108kcal
Keyword Barquillos
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Check out YouTube user Savor’s video on how to make barquillos:

Cooking tips

Did you find my barquillos cooking procedure too simple? Well, of course, that’s all you need to get started!

But if you really want to impress your family and friends with your cooking, simply follow some of my pro cooking tips below:

  • After you’ve shaped the barquillos, immediately put polvoron in the hollow parts of the barquillos to improve the overall flavor.
  • You can also add chocolate syrup or caramel, which the kids will surely enjoy.
  • Adding ground peanuts to polvoron in the hollow bits also makes the whole recipe taste better and almost addictive. So be careful!

There you have my classified cooking tips pulled out from the top of the dusty shelf! To make your barquillos even better, all you need to do is own them and let your creative juices lead the recipe.

Barquillos Filipino style

Substitutions and variations

What if you don’t have all the ingredients to make Filipino barquillos? There’s no need to worry because you can make use of the following recipe substitutions and variations.

Using powdered or evaporated milk instead of fresh milk

If you don’t have fresh milk available in your kitchen, you can use powdered milk or evaporated milk instead. In my case, I’m using Nestle’s all-purpose cream.

Using an ordinary pan and wooden spoon instead of a barquillera

Yes, if you don’t have a barquillera to cook your barquillos, an ordinary pan will do, together with a wooden spoon to flatten the dough. Just make sure that both sides are cooked as indicated in their light brown color.

What are Filipino barquillos?

Barquillos Recipe

Filipino barquillos are an all-time favorite made of rolled wafers filled with caramel or polvoron, and are often served at parties and celebrations.

Barquillos are made by rolling a thin sheet of dough around a metal rod and then baking it. The resulting rolled wafers are crispy, and if filled with polvoron, can become really tasty, especially when served with ice cream or fruits!

Sounds tempting, right? Is it really that good? Well, why don’t you give it a try?

Origin

When talking about the old days in the Philippines, barquillos are originally from Spain. The term “barquillos” isn’t a Filipino word but Spanish, which means “wafers.”

Spain invaded and colonized the Philippines from the 1500s to the late 1800s, and it’s not surprising how most of their words have a lot of similarities with Spanish. Traditions and norms are also adapted, and food is no exception!

In present times, Iloilo City, known as the “City of Love”, is now known for its variety of barquillos, which are loved not only by the natives, but also tourists.

If you’re tempted by this Filipino delicacy, you’ll never be disappointed! You can buy barquillos in many Philippine malls, markets, pasalubong centers, or even online.

Usually, a pack of barquillos only costs you around ₱50.00 to ₱150.00, or $1.00 to $3.00.

But if you want to make your own, simply prepare the ingredients and follow the cooking procedure above. Now let me show you how to serve and eat these delicious Filipino barquillos!

How to serve and eat

There’s no need to sweat it! You can eat this delicious treat whenever and whatever you want. Barquillos alone can be made as a snack for the afternoon or as a dessert for an after-meal delight.

But they can also be added as extras to different dishes and recipes. With barquillos paired with polvoron, or powdered milk candies, we call it “barquiron.” You can put them into the whole hollow part of the barquillos.

Pairing it with ice cream and caramel will also work well and can satisfy your cravings on just about any day.

Simply take one barquillos dipped in caramel or ice cream and eat it the same way as Stick-O. It’s that simple!

Similar dishes

Now, if you’ve been eating barquillos excessively and you want something a bit different, then check out some of these treats!

Piyaya

Piyaya, or muscovado-filled unleavened flatbread, is a type of Filipino pastry that’s made of flour, water, and yeast.

It’s similar to Spanish barquillos in terms of its ingredients and method of preparation. The dough is rolled into a thin sheet and then cut into strips.

Piyaya is a popular snack in the Philippines and is often eaten during celebrations and festivities. It can be served as an appetizer or dessert.

It’s a popular street food that can be bought from stalls or vendors.

Like barquillos, piyaya also has a variety of flavors, which can be ube or chocolate.

Biscocho

Biscocho is a type of biscuit or cookie that’s popular in the Philippines. It’s made from flour, sugar, eggs, and butter, and is often flavored with aniseed.

Biscocho is similar to barquillos, as they’re made from almost the same ingredients. However, biscocho is usually denser and sweeter than barquillos.

Biscocho is usually best paired with coffee!

Salvaro

Salvaro is a Filipino treat that’s made from glutinous rice and coconut milk. It’s typically served on special occasions and festivals.

Salvaro can be enjoyed plain or with toppings such as fruits, nuts, and chocolate.

Are you finding it difficult to choose a treat? Just go and try them all!

FAQs

How’s our barquillos journey going so far with you? Are you excited to make your own Filipino barquillos recipe?

Well, not yet! Let me answer some of your questions first.

How many calories do Filipino barquillos have?

The number of calories in Filipino barquillos is 120 per stick.

Can I pair my barquillos with coffee?

Yes, you can!

Like I’ve said, barquillos are pretty flexible treats. They can be desserts, served at festivities or birthday occasions, and especially with your morning and afternoon coffee.

Where can I buy polvoron?

Polvoron isn’t difficult to find. You can buy it in malls, retail markets, and delicacy centers.

Still have questions? Let me know in the comments!

Try the Filipino rolled wafers called barquillos

The next time you encounter a rolled wafer that tastes so good, it’s not Stick-O, but Filipino barquillos! These treats reign in both taste and convenience; not to mention, they’re also easy to make. There’s no wonder why it’s an all-time favorite among many Filipinos, especially children!

Again, Filipino barquillos are a type of wafer cookie that’s made from flour, water, and sugar rolled into thin cylinders. They’re often served with ice cream or dipped in chocolate.

Fancy a delightful morning? Why don’t you start your next day with barquillos?

Interestingly delicious, right? Salamat po!

Want more sweets? Check out this mais con yelorecipe (mais con hielo)

Check out our new cookbook

Bitemybun's family recipes with complete meal planner and recipe guide.

Try it out for free with Kindle Unlimited:

Read for free

Joost Nusselder, the founder of Bite My Bun is a content marketer, dad and loves trying out new food with Japanese food at the heart of his passion, and together with his team he's been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with recipes and cooking tips.