7 Flavourful Mexican Dessert Recipes to Attempt

Looking for a temporary distraction from lockdown? Well, look no further: these seven Mexican dessert recipes will kick your banana bread to the curb and have you traveling to Mexico without ever leaving the safety and comfort of your home!

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FLAN

One of the most popular Mexican desserts, flan is a physical manifestation of the country’s gastronomy culture. You’ve seen it before: it’s soft, circular, and usually drowned in caramel and rum. Flan only tastes delicious if it’s made the old-fashioned way. The flan became a Mexican staple after the Spanish conquistadors introduced the postre to Mexicans during the conquest and occupation after they copied the idea from the Romans. It’s popular in Mexico because the dish tends to be associated with home cooking, and the basic recipe of making flan remains the same as it has for centuries:

Ingredients

• 118.29 ml sugar (for heat source)
• 6 eggs
• 709.77 ml milk
• 118.29 ml sugar (for flan concoction)
• 7.39 ml pure vanilla extract
• Sliced strawberries (optional)
• Rum (optional)

Recipe

ARROZ CON LECHE

Arroz con Leche comes from the Muslim world and was imported into Spain when the Muslims conquered the South of the Iberian Peninsula. When the Spanish colonized Mexico, Mexicans gave this sweet dessert their own twist introduced it to the masses, and forged the start of Mexico’s sweet gastronomy.

Ingredients

• 1640 ml water
• 240 ml white rice
• One cinnamon stick
• 360 ml evaporated milk
• 420 ml condensed milk
• 240 ml whole milk
• Ground cinnamon (for dusting)

Recipe

CHURROS

Churros originate in Spain and Portugal, but made their way to Mexico and other former Spanish colonies. However, Spanish churros are coated in sugar and served with a cup of thick dipping chocolate, while Mexican churros are coated in cinnamon sugar mixture and filled with an array of delightful flavours, from cajeta and strawberry to tequila and mocha.

Ingredients

• 950 ml vegetable oil (for frying)
• 240 ml water
• 120 ml salted butter
• 5 ml pure vanilla extract
• 1.25 ml teaspoon salt
• 240 ml flour
• 3 large eggs
• 240 ml sugar

Recipe

TRES LECHES CAKE

In the 19th century, there was a recipe floating around Mexico for a moist bread cake that was soaked in wine and topped with custard. This gastronomical innovation was thought to be a spin of the Italian tiramisu or the English trifle, both alcohol-soaked sponge cakes with heavy cream and sugar. Lo and behold, the Tres Leches came into existence! But, sadly, our family recipe is devoid of alcohol.

Ingredients

• Cake 240 ml flour 12.5 ml baking powder 1.25 ml salt 5 eggs 240 ml sugar 5 ml pure vanilla extract 80 ml whole milk
• 240 ml flour
• 12.5 ml baking powder
• 1.25 ml salt
• 5 eggs
• 240 ml sugar
• 5 ml pure vanilla extract
• 80 ml whole milk

• Syrup 340.2 ml evaporated milk 255.15 ml sweetened condensed milk 78.86 ml heavy whipping cream
• 340.2 ml evaporated milk
• 255.15 ml sweetened condensed milk
• 78.86 ml heavy whipping cream

• Frosting

• 478.18 ml heavy whipping cream 30 ml granulated sugar
• 478.18 ml heavy whipping cream
• 30 ml granulated sugar

Recipe

• Cake

• Syrup

• Frosting

BUÑUELOS

Buñuelos, or Mexican fritters, are a cinnamon sugar-sprinkled dessert item best served with warm honey during the holidays. They were introduced in Europe’s Iberian Peninsula, and, during the Spanish inquisition, explorers brought the buñuelo tradition with them.

Ingredients

• 475 ml flour
• 5 ml baking powder
• 15 ml sugar
• 2.5 ml salt
• 1 egg
• 15 ml butter (melted and cool)
• 180 ml warm water
• 5 ml pure vanilla extract
• Sugar for sprinkling

Recipe

FRESAS CON CREMA

Fresas con crema directly translates to “strawberries with cream.” Using two types of sweetened milk, the recipe glazes strawberries with a syrup so sweet it perfectly pairs with the contrasting nature of sour cream.

Ingredients

• 475 ml sour cream
• 120 ml evaporated milk
• 180 ml sweetened condensed milk
• 5 ml pure vanilla extract
• Fresh strawberries

Recipe

PLÁTANOS FRITOS

Ripened plantains retain a sweet, creamy center and become caramelized around the edges when fried. They are served hot from the saucepan, and they make a good accompaniment to rice and beans. But, if you want the perfect dessert, pair the fried plantain slices with a delicious milk syrup that gives it the sweetest kick!

Ingredients

• 2 plantains ripened
• 2 plantains with brown spots
• 80 ml vegetable oil
• Condensed milk
• Strawberries

Recipe

I hope you learned a delightful amount of information about Mexico’s beloved culture, most specifically its cuisine of traditional Mexican desserts. So, jump at the chance to consider making these delicious Mexican dessert recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth…and teach others a thing or two about Mexico’s gastronomy!