Mexico is famous for its delicious and varied desserts that are an integral part of the country’s cuisine and culture. Mexican desserts utilize local ingredients like cinnamon, vanilla, chocolate, fruits, nuts, and native grains to create sweet treats with unique flavors. Many traditional Mexican desserts have influences from Spain, France, and Native American cultures. Let’s explore some of the most popular and beloved Mexican desserts!
What are some quintessential Mexican desserts?
Some of the most iconic and well-known Mexican desserts include:
- Churros – Fried dough pastry rolled in cinnamon sugar. Churros are a popular street food.
- Tres Leches Cake – Sponge cake soaked in three types of milk – evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The cake is moist and sweet.
- Flan – A crème caramel or custard dessert with a layer of soft caramel on top. Flan is made with eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla.
- Arroz Con Leche – Rice pudding made with rice, milk, cinnamon, raisins or prunes, and sugar. It often has a caramelized layer on top.
- Buñuelos – Fried dough fritters coated in cinnamon sugar. Buñuelos are a holiday tradition.
- Coconut Cajeta – A caramel spread made with coconut and sugar. It’s used as a topping for fruits and pastries.
Other popular Mexican desserts are chongos zamoranos (fried custard), capirotada (Mexican bread pudding), palanquetas (milk candy), and alegrías (amaranth and honey bars).
What are some regional Mexican desserts?
Mexico has distinct regional cuisines and desserts that reflect local influences:
Northern Mexico
- Bunuelos de viento – Fried pastry with star-shaped patterns filled with fried cream and dusted with powdered sugar.
- Glorias – Puffypastries filled with cajeta (caramelized goat’s milk).
- Jericallas – A flan-like custard made with eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla.
Central Mexico
- Jamoncillo – Fudge-like milk candy made with milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.
- Charamuscas – Fried pastries flavored with orange zest and dusted with cinnamon and sugar.
- Quesillo – Flan-like custard often served in the bread bowl it was cooked in.
Southern Mexico
- Besos de Novia – Coconut macaroons made with shredded coconut, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and egg whites.
- Cocadas – Coconut candy made from caramelized coconut, brown sugar, eggs and vanilla.
- Pay de Queso – Cheesecake flavored with tropical fruits like mango, pineapple or guava.
What are some traditional Mexican ingredients used in desserts?
Some quintessential ingredients that give Mexican desserts their distinctive flavors:
- Cinnamon – Canela is used to add warmth and spice to desserts like churros, buñuelos and arroz con leche.
- Vanilla – Vainilla brings rich aroma and flavor. It’s used in flan, cajeta, and atole.
- Chocolate – Cacao was first cultivated by the Mayans and Aztecs. It flavors mole sauce and Oaxacan hot chocolate.
- Piloncillo – Unrefined cane sugar with a distinct molasses-like flavor. It sweetens atole and caramel candies.
- Guavas – Guayabas have a tropical tartness. They are made into jams, jellies and ate pasteles.
- Pumpkin – Calabaza is used in empanadas and buñuelos. It provides a rich, earthy sweetness.
- Nuts – Almonds, pecans and peanuts add crunch and texture. They are used in turrones and alfajores cookies.
What are some techniques used to make Mexican desserts?
Some signature techniques impart distinct textures and flavors:
- Frying – Churros, buñuelos and bocoles are fried for a crispy exterior.
- Caramelizing – Cajeta and piloncillo are cooked to a caramel consistency to concentrate sweetness.
- Steaming – Tamales dulces are steamed in corn husks and contain fruits or nuts as fillings.
- Candying – Fruits like mango, guava and pumpkin are candied by cooking in sugar syrup.
- Whipping Egg Whites – Beaten egg whites give besos de novia and glorias their airy, meringue-like texture.
- Layering – Ingredients like cream, jam and sponge cake are layered in capirotada and pastel tres leches.
- Molding – Flan and jericallas are cooked in molds to achieve their characteristic shape before unmolding.
What desserts are popular for holidays and special occasions?
Certain desserts are customary for holidays, birthdays and celebrations:
- Day of the Dead – Pan de muerto (bread with bone-shaped decor), calaveras de azúcar (sugar skulls)
- Christmas – Buñuelos,capirotada, ponche navideño (Mexican fruit punch)
- Independence Day (Sept 16) – Pastel tres leches, flan, gelatins
- Quinceañeras – Cake, flan, churros
- Weddings – Tres leches cake, wedding cookies
- Birthdays – Churros, donas rellenas (filled doughnuts), parfaits
Dessert tables with a variety of options are also popular for big celebrations and family gatherings.
What desserts are unique to certain regions of Mexico?
| Region | Unique Desserts |
|---|---|
| Oaxaca | Nieve de banano con lechecilla (banana, ice cream, cream), nieve de elote (corn ice cream), tejate (corn drink with cacao) |
| Michoacán | Uchepos (fresh corn tamales with milk candy), corundas (triangular pastries filled with fruit jam) |
| Jalisco | Jericallas, cajeta envinada (cajeta with wine), uchepos (fresh corn tamales with goat’s milk caramel) |
| Chiapas | Poton de elote (corn pudding), timbuch (ground rice with sugar, cinnamon and evaporated milk) |
The diversity of Mexican geography – from coastlines to mountains to deserts – contributes to each region’s unique take on desserts.
What are some easy Mexican dessert recipes to try at home?
You can recreate classic Mexican desserts in your home kitchen. Here are some easy recipes to try:
Easy Flan Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup white sugar
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. In a blender, mix condensed milk, evaporated milk, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
- Pour mixture into ungreased round cake pans or ramekins. Place pans in a roasting pan and pour boiling water into pan to come halfway up sides of cake pan.
- Bake 45-55 minutes until set. Remove pans from water and chill overnight in refrigerator.
- To unmold, run a knife around edges and invert onto plate. Sprinkle sugar on top of flan before serving.
Easy Mexican Churros
Ingredients:
- 1 cup water
- 8 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 3 eggs
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions:
- In a saucepot over medium heat, bring water, butter and salt to a rolling boil. Reduce heat to low and add flour. Stir vigorously until mixture forms a ball and pulls away from sides of pan.
- Transfer dough to bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Mix on low speed 1 minute to release steam. Add eggs 1 at a time, allowing each to incorporate before adding next. Continue mixing 3-5 minutes until dough is smooth.
- Transfer dough to piping bag fitted with large star tip. Pipe strips of dough into hot oil (375°F) in straight lines about 5 inches long. Fry 1-2 minutes per side until golden brown. Drain on paper towels.
- Mix cinnamon and sugar. Toss churros in cinnamon sugar while still warm. Enjoy!
What are some key tips for making great Mexican desserts?
Follow these tips for authentic Mexican dessert success:
- Use quality ingredients – Fresh eggs, whole milk, real vanilla, etc. make a difference.
- Allow time for flavors to develop – Make cajeta, tres leches and flan a day ahead.
- Master the techniques – Get the hang of frying and caramelizing.
- Embrace sweet and spice – A pinch of cinnamon balances rich sweetness.
- Stay light handed with butter and cream – Let other flavors shine besides fat.
- Make it your own – Feel free to add a twist with local fruits or nuts.
- Have fun! – Don’t stress, Mexican desserts are meant to be enjoyed in good company.
Conclusion
Mexican desserts offer a wide range of sweet treats with complex flavors and textures to explore. Classics like flan, churros and tres leches cake show off Mexican cooking creativity. With native ingredients like vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate and nuts, Mexican desserts balance sweetness with spices and textures. The delicious desserts are tied to holidays, special events and family recipes passed down through generations. With basic techniques and quality ingredients, beloved Mexican desserts can be recreated anywhere there is a craving for the sweet tastes of Mexico!