Vietnamese Three-Color Iced Dessert

Step 1

Pour 1 cup of water into a small saucepan and set it over medium heat. Once it reaches a gentle boil, add 0.75 cup of granulated sugar and stir constantly until the sugar dissolves completely, about 2 minutes. You should see no grains of sugar remaining when you run a spoon across the bottom of the pan.

Step 2

Remove from heat and stir in 0.5 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Pour the syrup into a heatproof bowl and let it cool to room temperature, about 10 minutes. Once cooled, transfer it to the refrigerator to chill completely — you want this syrup cold before serving.

Step 3

While the syrup chills, prepare your serving glasses. You'll need four tall 8-ounce glasses or bowls. This is where the three-color magic happens, so choose clear vessels so the vibrant layers show through.

Step 4

Divide the drained grass jelly cubes evenly among the four glasses, placing them at the bottom — these dark green cubes form the first layer.

Step 5

Spoon the drained red beans evenly on top of the grass jelly in each glass, creating the second crimson layer. You want roughly equal portions in each glass.

Step 6

Pour 1 can (13.5 oz) of unsweetened coconut milk into a small pitcher. Add 1 cup of warm water to the coconut milk and stir gently until well combined — this lightens the coconut cream to a pale, creamy color and creates the third layer. Do not shake vigorously or it will become frothy.

Step 7

Slowly pour the diluted coconut mixture over the red beans in each glass until it reaches about three-quarters full. You should now see three distinct color layers: dark grass jelly at the bottom, crimson red beans in the middle, and creamy white coconut on top.

Step 8

Fill each glass with 2 cups of ice cubes total, dividing them evenly. The ice will chill everything quickly and keep it cold as you drink.

Step 9

Pour the chilled sugar syrup over the ice in each glass until full. Stir gently with a long spoon to combine the flavors while keeping the layers intact. Serve immediately with a long spoon and straw — sip and scoop together to get all three layers in each spoonful.