If you have a sweet tooth or even an occasional sweet craving, this 12 Must Try Traditional Colombian Desserts post is for you!
There are many variations of these desserts throughout Latin America, and you can even add your own special twist to them. I find most Colombian desserts to be quite delicious and addictive, but today I am sharing my top 12.
Let me know what's your favorite Colombian dessert!
Buen provecho!
1. Salpicón de Frutas: This simple and delicious fruit cocktail is the perfect dessert on a summer day. {See recipe}
2. Arequipe: I grew up eating arequipe or dulce de leche and it’s one of my favorite desserts. In Colombia we serve arequipe with obleas or saltine crackers or sometimes as a base for other desserts.{See recipe}
3.Cholados Colombianos: This dessert is a cross between a frozen dessert, fruit cocktail, and a drink, and derives from El Valle region of Colombia. It is made with crushed ice, fresh fruit, condensed milk, passion fruit (maracuyá) and Colombian blackberry (mora) syrup and is topped with shredded coconut and a maraschino cherry. It makes a wonderful summer dessert!{See recipe}
4.Cocadas Blancas: This is a traditional and popular dessert in Colombia. There are different variations of this wonderfully sweet treat, however, the main ingredient is always shredded coconut(coco), while other ingredients are dependent on region and family.{See recipe}
5. Flan de Coco: Coconut Flan is very popular on the Coast of Colombia.{See recipe}
6. Enyucado: This is a traditional recipe from The Atlantic coast of Colombia. It is a cake made with shredded yuca, cheese, coconut and star anis seeds and is sweet with a wonderful texture.{See recipe}
7. Arroz con Leche: This Colombian-Style Rice Pudding version is sweet, creamy and delicious. There are different variations of Arroz con Leche in Latin America and this is my family recipe, which is very easy to make.{See recipe}
8. Torta Negra: Growing up in Colombia, it wasn't a birthday party, wedding, anniversary or any other special event without Torta Negra (Black cake).{See recipe}
9. Natilla: This is a sweet custard that is traditionally served during Colombian Christmas gatherings. There are many variations of this dish throughout the country but this Natilla is my grandmother’s recipe and is very special to me.{See recipe}
10. Merengón de Fresas: This a traditional Colombian based meringue dessert. The classic Merengón is filled with whipped cream and guanabana, a popular Colombian fruit. There are other variations of this dessert as well that are filled with various fresh fruits, such as strawberries, peaches and Colombian blackberries (mora).{See recipe}
11. Dulce de Brevas: Also know as “Brevas Caladas", is simply figs cooked in a sugarcane (panela) syrup and served with white fresh cheese on the side and it is absolutely delicious.{See recipe}
12. Postre de Natas: I am not sure how to best translate Postre de Natas in English, but I can tell you how to make it! Basically, it is a dessert made by boiling milk several times and taking off the foam or cream that forms every time it’s boiled. The foam is placed in a different pot and then mixed with a sugary syrup, eggs, raisins, while some also add rum to it.{See recipe}
Alan Bowman
I really liked the Salpicón but with cheese grated in with the fruit (excellent fruiteria on Cra 9 acerca de 71 ó 72 in Bogotá). Arequipe and Dulce de brevas are just too, too sweet for me. Flan, Natas, and Natilla are common here in Spain, as well, as is Arroz con leche (my favourite). Figs here are so sweet and delicious, they get eaten just as they are so are not served much any other way. Since the climate is much more seasonal, we tend to dry fruit surpluses (grapes, apples, pears, peaches) and these, of course re-constituted for the basis for many other "dishes".
Elida
Hola, quería aclararte algo. El salpicón de frutas no lleva queso rallado, tal vez lo q combustible en Bogotá así fue una ensalada de frutas. Igual las 2 son deliciosas....pero el salpicón con queso ... imposible Xque lleva mucho líquido gaseoso
Platanos Mangoes and Me
Omg I want one of each.
ela@GrayApron
All looking fantastic! I would love to try a Natilla with custard filling ...mhhh
🙂 ela
grace
boy, colombians sure know how to treat themselves. 🙂
Anonymous
Yes they do and take it from me that i am colombian
Soursop
Dulce de leche...my beautiful Uruguayan wife swears by it! 🙂
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
Oh my where to star. Glad to say some I have had but my no 1 to try would be the Dulce de Brevas.
Wayra
I love your site. It's been some hours ago I've just found it when looking for the best buñuelos recipe. Like every colombian living abroad, we just wait for the time to taste again our traidtional dishes. Now, I have many of them to try out.
Thanks!
larry
trying the rice pudding as i'm writing this . Cannot wait for it to cool to enjoy with my beautiful wife . I have bookmarked numerous recipes this evening and will be trying many different new levels of flavors found in columbian cooking . Traditionally i cook mostly italian , but diversity is the very best for the foodie in me !
Jennifer
So I'm going to try making one or two of these desserts for my Colombian co-workers birthday tomorrow. Everything sounds soooo delicious so I think I'll have to make extra portions so I can leave some at home!
georgia
do you have anything thats cake related for me to do
Anonymous
Arequipe and arroz con leche.... ushhhhh the best.
Natis
My favorite is Merengón con Fresas!!
I made it at school for a project and everyone wanted extra also Ponque Tres Leches con Café, 3 milk cake with coffee delicioso
Lulu
Traditional cocadas are made with panela, therefore, they're not white.