Dulce de Tomate de Arbol is a simple and delicious traditional Colombian dessert.
What is Dulce de Tomate de Arbol?
It is a traditional dessert made with tree tomatoes, sugar, cinnamon and water. It's served in Colombian homes with cheese on the side.
What is tomate de árbol?
It's also known as tamarillo, is a South American exotic fruit that is shaped like an egg and is either dark yellow-orange or red. The red ones are more tart than the yellow-orange tree tomatoes. We use this fruit to make drinks, sauces and desserts in Colombia. One of my favorite ways to use them is to make this Dulce de Tomate de Arbol (Tree Tomato in Syrup).
Where Can I Find it?
It is very difficult to find fresh tomate de árbol here in the United States. You can find fresh ones at some Latin markets. But frozen pulp or frozen tree tomatoes are easier to find at many supermarkets or online.
This Dulce de Tomate de Arbol (Tree Tomato in Syrup) recipe can be made with frozen or fresh tomatoes.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe card with exact amounts and cooking directions is below.
Tomate de Arbol: You can use fresh or frozen to make this recipe.
Sugar: I like using granulated sugar to make it sweet and thicken the dulce de tomate.
Water: To cook the fruit.
Cinnamon: You nee cinnamon sticks to give extra flavor to the dessert.
This simple dessert was one of my grandmother’s favorites. She loved homemade fresh fruit desserts, dulcesitos caseros as she called them, and usually served them with a slice of cheese on the side.
How to Make this Dessert?
- Place the water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the tree tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes.
You can storage this dessert in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks in a glass container.
Desserts to Try Next
Coffee Mousse (Esponjado de Café)
Traditional Flan (Flan de Leche)
Dulce de Leche or Manjar Blanco
Dulce de Tomate de Arbol Recipe (Tree Tomato in Syrup)
Ingredients
- 12 tree tomatoes or tomate de árbol peeled
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ cup of sugar
- 4 cups of water
Instructions
- Place the water, sugar and cinnamon sticks in a medium pot. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Reduce heat to low and cook for about 5 minutes.
- Add the tree tomatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes.
Evelyne@cheapethniceatz
I was very confused at first thinking is was actual tomatoes 🙂 But now I really would love to discover these tamarillo and give this recipe a taste, looks wonderful and great with the cheese.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A very interesting dessert. Those wine tree tomatoes are so gorgeous.
grace
i don't know much about tree tomatoes, but if i see a stick of cinnamon in something, i'm likely to give it a try. 🙂
Juliana
This is such an interesting recipe Erica...but I like the idea of sugar and cinnamon...
Hope you having a great week 🙂
C from SA
I can recommend this. Very tasteful and easy to prepare. 10 out of 10!!!
Perelei zing
Wow! M going to try this recipe. I have plenty of fresh Tamarillo. What is the price of this 5 frozen Tomato?
Denise Dhein
Where can you get frozen wine tree tomatos
Erica Dinho
I find them at my local market.
Paul Gates
I seem to remember them seeing them growing in Colombian gardens but being dark purple . Am I confusing it with another garden plant? It was not an egg plant.