One ingredient, two wildly popular treats: The little secret behind HowToTrip’s signature desserts

▲HowToTrip’s Strawberry Cronuts and Bubble Tea Mini Cronuts actually use the same ingredients. (Photos / Reporter Zhou Chen’gen, Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Reported by Hua Shaofu / Taipei

Have you been to HowToTrip? If you’ve tried their desserts, you’re likely familiar with their two signature items—the “Bubble Tea Mini Cronuts” and the “Strawberry Cronuts.” In fact, these two bestsellers come from the same creative idea and ingredient: the hollow part of the doughnut in the “Strawberry Cronut” is repurposed, rolled out again, and made into a mini version—thus creating the “Bubble Tea Mini Cronut.”

▲The Bubble Tea Mini Cronut contains milk ice cream, giving it a sweet taste. (Photo / Reporter Zhou Chen’gen)

HowToTrip is quite particular about ingredient freshness. A staff member explained that the “Bubble Tea Mini Cronut” includes black tea custard and Meiji milk ice cream, paired with freshly made tapioca pearls daily. The texture is delightfully crispy. “Our pearls and mousse are all made fresh every day, and it doesn’t take long—just about five minutes—for this popular item to be ready.”

▲The Strawberry Cronut contains custard and fresh strawberries, making it look very appetizing. (Photo / Reporter Hua Shaofu)

Compared to the “Bubble Tea Mini Cronut,” the “Strawberry Cronut” has a slightly more complex preparation process. First, the cronut is deep-fried until fragrant and crispy, achieving a texture that’s crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. The inside is hollowed out, then the sides are puffed up to make the appearance even more appealing. It’s paired with fresh imported strawberries, strawberry ice cream, and condensed milk—just the thought of it makes your mouth water.

Although the “Strawberry Cronut” and the “Bubble Tea Mini Cronut” share the same origin, they have key differences. A staff member said: “The Bubble Tea Mini Cronut is a bit moister because of the ice cream, so we recommend enjoying it right away. In contrast, the Strawberry Cronut can be kept longer, and its crispiness remains. It’s also not as sweet as the one with custard and ice cream.”

HowToTrip started in 2013 at its Songyan branch, then gradually expanded to Zhongxiao, and this year opened its Zhannian branch. In just three years, it has opened three stores in downtown Taipei. Beyond its great reputation and creativity, it keeps rotating its desserts to offer customers new experiences. The owner, Ou Jiaqi, mentioned that the next stop is Hsinchu, hoping to bring these delicious treats to even more people across Taiwan.

HowToTrip Zhannian Branch Info (Branch 3)
Address: 2F, No. 1 Nanyang St., Zhongzheng District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2388-8916
Business Hours: 11:30–22:00