With Hispanic Heritage Month just around the corner (it starts on September 15th every year), there’s no better time to dive into the tasty world of Hispanic desserts. Whether you’re in need of a birthday cake idea to celebrate another trip around the sun or just hankering for something sweet on a Tuesday (been there, done that…), there are so many delicious options to choose from. To make it easier for you, we’ve rounded up our favorite Hispanic desserts — both classic and with a twist — for your baking pleasure, including recipes from Mexico, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and beyond.
Crunchy churros and creamy, caramel-topped flan may already be on your radar (they’re definitely on ours), but there’s a huge variety of Hispanic desserts to explore. If you love fruit desserts, try your hand at flaky, apple-filled empanadas or guava and cream cheese puff pastries (seriously one of our favorite flavor combos!). For a cookie recipe you’ll make again and again, look no further than alfajores, a scrumptious Argentinian sandwich cookie filled with decadent dulce de leche. Craving a no-bake summer dessert? Refreshing Mexican paletas (popsicles) will do just the trick. You’ll also find less traditional but just-as-yummy recipes that draw inspiration from existing ingredients and flavors in creative ways (crispy tortilla dessert bowls, anyone?!).
Whatever you’re in the mood for, we’ve got you covered with these delectable Hispanic desserts. They’re a great way to cap off an amazing spread of Hispanic dishes, celebrate an occasion or simply expand your baking repertoire. Read on, then give one — or all — of these sweet treats a whirl!
1
Tres Leches Cake
A soak of “three milks” (whole milk, sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk) ensures that each swoon-worthy bite is creamy, luscious and never, ever dry. Swoops of lightly sweetened whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon take the cake over the top.
Get the Tres Leches Cake recipe.
RELATED: The 40 Best Cake Recipes for Literally Any Occasion
2
Buñuelos
Traditionally enjoyed around Christmas and New Year’s in Latin American countries, these crispy, cinnamon sugar-showered fried tortillas are sure to be a hit no matter the season. Up the wow factor with homemade tortillas (they’re easier to make than you think!).
Get the Buñuelos recipe.
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3
Spiced Chocolate Bark
This fun, snackable treat riffs off the flavors of Mexican hot chocolate by pairing warm cinnamon with a spicy kick from an unexpected ingredient: Sriracha!
Get the Spiced Chocolate Bark recipe.
RELATED: Our 52 Best Chocolate Dessert Recipes
4
Alfajores (Dulce de Leche Sandwich Cookies)
A coffee shop staple in Argentina, these dulce de leche-filled cookies are a true delight.
Get the Alfajores recipe.
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5
Crispy Tortilla Bowls with Strawberries and Cream
Tortillas aren’t just for tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas: Give ‘em the sweet treatment by baking them up into crispy shells using an inverted muffin pan. Then fill with juicy strawberries and mascarpone whipped cream for a dreamy dessert.
Get the Crispy Tortilla Bowls with Strawberries and Cream recipe.
6
Mexican Wedding Cookies
Transform our Basic Cookie Dough into wonderfully crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth crowd-pleasers by stirring ground pecans into the flour mixture and rolling the baked cookies (twice!) in confectioners’ sugar.
Get the Mexican Wedding Cookies recipe.
RELATED: What Is Confectioners' Sugar? Everything You Need to Know
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7
Cinnamon Churros
This crunchy, cinnamon sugar-dusted fried dough only gets better dipped in a finger-licking chocolate-caramel sauce.
Get the Cinnamon Churros recipe.
RELATED: 25 Best Cinco de Mayo Desserts to Get the Fiesta Started
8
Arroz Con Leche
Literally translated as "rice with milk," this Spanish dessert can be made a number of ways but generally features creamy rice with sugar and cinnamon. Try this coconutty version in the slow cooker!
Get the Arroz Con Leche recipe from Woman's Day.
RELATED: 17 Amazing Latin American Comfort Food Recipes That Are a Must to Make
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9
Best-Ever Flan
Grab a spoon and dig into this dreamy caramel-topped custard, a popular dessert in Spain and Latin America.
Get the Best-Ever Flan recipe from Delish.
10
Baked Apple Empanadas
Empanadas don't always have to be savory. Try this apple-filled version for a tasty fall dessert.
Get the Baked Apple Empanadas recipe from Isabel Eats.
RELATED: 50 Best Apple Desserts Perfect to Bake for Fall
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11
Pastel De Elote (Sweet Corn Cake)
Also known as Mexican Sweet Corn Cake, this not-too-sweet dessert is best served with cajeta, a type of caramel topping.
Get the Pastel De Elote recipe from Muy Delish.
RELATED: 48 Creative Corn Recipes to Make All Summer Long
12
Pastelitos De Guayaba (Guava Pastelitos)
Enjoy these tropical fruit-filled Cuban pastries as a crazy-good dessert or sweet breakfast.
Get the Pastelitos De Guayaba recipe from A Cozy Kitchen.
RELATED: 51 Best Brunch Recipes to Host a Weekend Feast Everyone Will Love
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13
Paletas de Fresa (Strawberries and Cream Popsicles)
Made with fresh strawberries, cream, milk and sugar, these frozen treats are perfect for a hot day.
Get the Paletas de Fresa recipe from Isabel Eats.
RELATED: How to Store Strawberries So They Stay Fresher Longer
14
Milhojas (Chilean Thousand Layers Cake)
This dessert, made with layers of thin, crisp pastry filled with dulce de leche, can be made a day in advance!
Get the Milhojas recipe from Chilean Food and Garden.
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15
Habichuelas Con Dulce
In the Dominican Republic, you'll find this confection of creamed pinto beans, milk and sugar served around Lent. Enjoy with a spoon...or straight from a cup!
Get the Habichuelas Con Dulce recipe from My Dominican Kitchen.
16
Sopaipillas
Serve these deliciously deep-fried pastries with a dusting of cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of honey.
Get the Sopaipillas recipe from Muy Bueno.
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17
Rosca De Reyes (Three Kings Bread)
Celebrate Three Kings Day with this sweet bread, which is decorated with candied dried fruit to resemble a crown.
Get the Rosca De Reyes recipe from Muy Bueno.
Samantha MacAvoy
Assistant Editor
Samantha (she/her) is an Assistant Editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she writes about tasty recipes, must-try food products and top-tested secrets for home cooking success. She has taste-tasted hundreds of products and recipes since joining GH in 2020 (tough job!). A graduate of Fordham University, she considers the kitchen to be her happiest place.
Joy Cho
Assistant Food Editor
Joy (she/her) is an assistant food editor in the Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, where she develops and tests recipes to ensure both deliciousness and accuracy before they appear in titles like Good Housekeeping, Women’s Health, Woman’s Day, Prevention and Country Living. After graduating from UChicago with a major in political science, she made the (best) decision to pursue her passion for food by enrolling in pastry school and working at her dream restaurant, Gramercy Tavern. Before joining the GH team, Joy assisted on cookbook and editorial shoots, ran an Instagram micro bakery, and worked as a freelance writer and developer with bylines appearing in Eater, Food52, Simply Recipes, Food Network and more. Joy has a special place in her heart for croissants and tiramisu, and is always on the hunt for the next cafe to explore in the city (a journey that never ends!).
