Have a candy tooth? These Colombian desserts make visiting this South American nation a deal with.
Whereas I typically go on dessert Colombia has an incredible meals tradition – and desserts and candy treats are not any totally different right here.
Whereas there’s a lot to be stated about desserts from different nations from world wide reminiscent of Italy and France, desserts in Colombia are comparatively unknown to the remainder of the world.
Colombia has typical Latin American desserts and sweets you’ll see in different nations, but in addition many which are uniquely Colombian.
They’re scrumptious and plenty of of them of region-specific. However in case you have a candy tooth, they’re sure to offer you a cause to journey extra of Colombia.
Colombian Meals Influences
Colombian delicacies has a moderately fascinating and eclectic historical past. The Spanish colonized Colombia and because of this, there’s a sturdy Spanish affect within the delicacies.
There have been additionally numerous slaves that have been introduced into the nation, primarily from Africa. Because of this, there’s additionally an African affect on the delicacies.
This Spanish African fusion is the additional mixed with a powerful Indigenous delicacies affect to create an fascinating mixture that surprisingly works.
Moreover, Colombian delicacies varies all through the areas throughout the nation and there’s what we name a geographical affect.
The decrease components of the west coast lie throughout the Pacific Ocean whereas the northern stretches fall throughout the Caribbean Sea.
The delicacies is due to this fact, largely influenced by the ocean and really a lot based mostly on Caribbean flavors and contemporary seafood.
In distinction to the coastal stretches, a part of Colombia additionally falls throughout the Andes mountain vary. It’s right here that the dishes are so much heartier and packed filled with daring flavors.
The espresso triangle additionally boasts its personal distinctive dishes and the Antioquian delicacies can be filled with taste, is extremely filling, and hearty all on the identical time.
Colombian Desserts
1. Arequipe
Arequipe is Colombia’s model of the Argentinian candy deal with, dulce de leche.
Though totally different in title, the bottom components are basically the identical. Sugar and milk make up the predominant components, whereas a splash of baking soda and salt are added, too.
A pleasant extra contact is so as to add in some cinnamon and vanilla seeds. Whereas these aren’t fully conventional, they undoubtedly take it to the subsequent stage.
Arequipe is the prefect topping to ice cream, cookies, and muffins however it may be loved simply by itself – by the spoonful!
It’s additionally referred to as manjar de leche in Ecuadorian desserts.
2. Aborrajados
First on the checklist of Colombian sweets are aborrajados – a crispy fritter made utilizing ripe plantains.
The ripe plantains are minimize into giant items, flattened, after which fried – however wait, there’s extra. They’re then stuffed with cheese, battered, after which fried once more till golden brown and crispy.
Aborrajados are the proper on-the-go snack but in addition make for an awesome aspect dish to different most important meals.
There are a number of totally different regional variations however the model from the Valle del Cauca area are among the most scrumptious.
Guava paste is added to offer a bit extra sweetness that offsets the savory component of the cheese.
3. Arroz con Leche
Arroz con leche is the Colombian model of rice pudding. It’s deliciously wealthy and creamy however can be comparatively simple to make.
It’s not just one o the preferred Peruvian desserts but in addition one of the crucial common Colombian desserts. Additionally it is loved equally scorching as it’s chilly, and like many meals gadgets, is best the subsequent day.
This rice-based dessert begins with, no apart from, uncooked or pre-cooked rice. The rice is cooked in both water or milk and is then sweetened with condensed milk.
Lastly, cinnamon and vanilla are added for a luscious contact.
4. Buñuelos
Whereas buñuelos are a conventional Colombian Christmas candy, they are often loved all year long.
They’re finest served alongside a espresso or scorching chocolate and are a beautiful mixture of candy and salty.
Not like different the Honduran desserts referred to as buñuelos in Latin America, they aren’t candy and like doughnuts in Colombia.
The bottom of the fritters is made out of yuca flour, corn starch, and cheese. They’re then fried to offer them a crispy outer shell whereas staying smooth on the within.
They’re historically made with queso costeño which is barely saltier than queso fresco.
This yuca cheese mixture can be one of many tastiest Nicaraguan desserts.
6. Cholado or Raspado / Raspao
Colombian cholado is among the considerably hybrid Colombian desserts – a mixture of a drink, a fruit cocktail, and a frozen dessert.
It’s basically a raspado, which is a shaved ice dessert, that’s topped with contemporary fruit and juice.
Cholados are extremely refreshing and the mix of contemporary fruit and shaved ice is nice for a scorching day.
There’s typically condensed milk thrown into the combination for a little bit of added sweetness and decadence.
Widespread fruit mixtures to prime off the cholados embody mango, pineapple, strawberry, and bananas. However the sky is the restrict.
Any fruit mixture will work, and it relies on private desire.
7. Cocadas
Cocadas are one of the crucial well-known Colombian sweets – a dessert made up primarily of coconut and sugar.
You can find cocadas being bought by road distributors and across the seashores on the Colombian shoreline
There are additionally plenty of totally different variations, relying on the area you end up in alongside the coast.
Cocadas de arequipe is a well-liked model of the candy, sticky dessert – it’s combined with the Colombian model of dulce de leche, arequipe and shaped into little bars or balls.
8. Cuajada con Melao
Cuajada con melao dates again to the Spanish colonial days in Colombia – a dessert made out of curdled milk as the bottom.
The model we’re speaking about right here originates from the Altiplano Cundiboyacense area in Colombia and makes use of melao.
Melao is a deliciously candy syrup made with brown sugar, cinnamon, and water that compliments the flavors of the curdled milk.
Whereas the dish itself is moderately easy, made up of slices of curdled milk and the syrup, it scrumptious. The curdled milk taste is offset by the sweetness and delicate spiciness of the syrup – a match made in heaven.
9. Flan
You’ve most likely heard of the time period flan in your life – a dessert that has its roots firmly positioned in Europe.
The Colombian model, referred to as flan de leche, is comparable in look to the European relative. It’s a kind of egg-based custard dessert and the title itself interprets roughly to “flat cake”.
The Colombians have many various variations of the flan together with espresso (in fact), mango, and pineapple.
These are only some of the commonest variations – they are often mixed with nearly something, because the Colombians do.
10. Leche Asada
Leche asada is among the Colombian desserts that individuals are obsessive about – and rightly so.
It’s a kind of milk custard that’s, in actual fact, much like a flan – the distinction is available in within the cooking course of.
Whereas a flan is mostly baked in a water tub contained in the oven to offer it a easy texture, leche asada is just not.
It’s baked immediately within the oven.
Whereas the leche asada has two milk merchandise in it, milk and condensed milk, some Colombians like so as to add a 3rd milk product to the dish.
When heavy cream is added, the title is modified to tres leches.
The cream offers the dessert a richer and creamier texture and helps to thicken it up a bit.
11. Merengón
Merengón is basically the Colombian model of a pavlova.
It’s made up of layers of meringue which are stuffed with whipped cream and fruit. The commonest fruit being guanabana, or soursop because it is called within the west.
Strawberries are one other widespread fruit that’s added to the merengón, giving it the title merengón de fresas.
Peaches and Colombian blackberries, or mora as they’re recognized domestically, are additionally recurrently used within the dish.
Salpicon de frutas is a sort of fruit cocktail that’s made utilizing contemporary fruit that’s topped with ice cream or condensed milk.
12. Salpicon de Frutas
Like lots of the Colombian sweets and desserts, there are various variations that every one use a distinct fruit.
There isn’t a proper or fallacious method to make the refreshing fruit cocktail dessert.
A preferred variation of the fruit cocktail is called Salpicon de frutas Colombiano.
This model makes use of quite a lot of contemporary fruit and it then topped off utilizing Colombina, which is a conventional Colombian soda.
13. Milhojas
Milhojas is among the favourite Colombian desserts however can be extremely common in the remainder of Latin America.
The title itself translate to “thousand leaves” which makes full sense – it’s made utilizing layered puff pastry.
The layers of puff pastry are stuffed with whipped cream and topped with arequipe.
It’s possible you’ll understand it because the French dessert referred to as millefeuille.
14. Natilla
Initially from Spain, most Latin America nations have some form of custard dessert made with milk and eggs.
It’s a kind of candy, set custard that’s flavored with panela and a touch of cinnamon. And whereas most nations use egg, what makes this Colombia dessert so particular is that it doesn’t.
Once more, there are various variations of the dish all through the nation, however a typical methodology of preparation is so as to add a little bit of aguardiente.
This provides a heat, anise taste to the dish and compliments the cinnamon fantastically.
Whereas natilla is among the desserts in Colombia that’s historically served round Christmas in Colombia it’s not restricted to the December interval solely.
15. Polvorosas
Polvorosas are scrumptious little sugar and butter-based cookies. They’re easy to make and a agency favourite amongst the youngsters – each to make and to eat, in fact.
They’re fairly rustic in a way as they don’t require a cookie cutter.
Polvorosas are historically served with a glass of milk for the youngsters however the adults typically get pleasure from a cup of espresso to go together with them.
They ae additionally one of the crucial common Guatemalan desserts.
16. Postre de Natas
Postre de natas are to not be confused with the Portuguese egg custard referred to as pasteis de nata. They’re two very totally different dishes.
The Colombian dessert is made by boiling milk a number of time and eradicating the cream layer that outcomes.
This cream is collected in a separate pot till there’s adequate to combine with raisins, syrup, and eggs.
The combination is then simmered on the stovetop till thickened after which transferred to separate particular person plates to chill.
Some Colombians additionally add a little bit of rum to the dish for an extra kick.
17. Torta Negra
Torta Negra is basically a sort of fruit cake made with raisins and figs, that’s then soaked with a wine and rum combination.
It might seem much like a fruit cake, however is definitely extra much like a Jamaican black cake as the entire dried fruit aren’t left in tact however as a substitute macerated and pulverized.
After the bottom cake has been baked, it’s dosed with the alcohols after which wrapped and left to sit down for at the least a number of days to infuse.
They’re one of many conventional Colombian desserts which are served at particular events reminiscent of weddings, anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas.
18. Enyucado
Enyucado is among the Colombian desserts that makes use of shredded cassava or yuca as the bottom ingredient.
It’s combined with coconut, star anise, and cheese and is then baked within the oven.
Enyucado is historically a candy deal with, it’s widespread so as to add a drizzle of condensed milk to take it to the subsequent stage.
It’s generally served on the Atlantic shoreline of Colombia.
19. Torta Maria Luisa
Torta Maria Luisa is a conventional Colombian sponge cake that’s much like a Victorian sponge cake
.The cake base is soaked in orange juice and stuffed with a berry marmalade.
It may be stuffed with any jam or marmalade and there are various variations of the cake.
It’s even generally stuffed with the Colombian arequipe caramel which provides it a sure decadence.
20. Obleas
Obleas are one of many Colombian sweets that you’ll find being bought by road distributors.
These giant, spherical, and crispy wafers are good candy snack they often include arequipe unfold on them.
They will additionally include quite a lot of different toppings reminiscent of fruit, jam, or cheese.
21. Tres Leches
Torta de tres leches, or three milk cake because it’s immediately translated, will get its title from the three milk merchandise used to make it.
Recipes use condensed milk, common evaporated milk, and heavy cream as a part of the bottom.
On account of the three milks used to soak the cake, it’s deliciously moist.
It’s often iced afterwards utilizing a whipped cream frosting to complete off the standard Colombian dessert.
Additionally it is one of the crucial common Cinco de Mayo desserts in Mexico.
22. Roscón
Roscón is a ring-shaped dessert that’s historically stuffed with a sort of guava paste referred to as bocadillo or arequipe.
Colombian candy rolls are used as a base and stuffed with the bocadillo.
They’re then positioned end-to-end and formed into a hoop formation. This base is then baked till crispy and golden brown.
It’s similar to the Mexican roscón de reyes or King’s Cake celebrated in Latin America as they’re each candy bread rings with fillings.
23. Solteritas
Solteritas, which might be roughly translated as “younger single women,” are a sort of cookie that may be present in Colombia.
Also called rosettes, they’re candy and crunchy and are nearly at all times served with a candy cream to accompany them.
This candy cream is similar coloration because the cookies – a considerably off-orange coloration.
Whereas solteritas may be discovered all through Colombia, they’re generally bought exterior faculties and within the neighborhood parks by road distributors.
A small, iron mildew is used to make the rosettes and be sure that the shapes are saved constant.
As soon as cooked, the rosettes are topped with the cream and the drizzled with condensed milk.
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