These Colombian Hojuelas are also known as Hojaldras in some regions of the country. These pastries are a must to serve during the Christmas season.
I want to share another traditional Colombian Christmas treat with you. These Hojuelas or Hojaldras are a delicious pastry that we eat with Natilla and Buñuelos at Christmas gatherings and they are made with simple ingredients.
What are Colombian Hojuelas?
These Hojuelas are light and crispy. They are the perfect Christmas dessert, or a great snack with a cup of coffee. These Hojuelas are easy to make with a quick dough, then rolled and cut into strips. Fry them up and sprinkle with sugar.
Just writing this post made me homesick and I began missing the holidays in Colombia with my family. Growing up in a big Colombian family like mine was a lot of fun and the holidays were very special. My mother has 3 sisters and 5 brothers, so my grandmother usually had all nine children with their families for the holidays. It was a full house, but we always had a wonderful time and delicious food. If you are curious about what Colombians do around the Christmas season, here are some of our traditions:
El pesebre: The manger
Arbol de Navidad: Christmas tree
Novenas: December 16 to 24, we get together with family and friends every night to pray and sing Christmas songs to baby Jesus. And, of course, we eat our Christmas treats (Natilla, Buñuelos y Hojuelas).
El niño Jesus: Baby Jesus is the one who brings presents to Colombian kids, not Santa Claus, maybe it’s too far for him 🙂 . On December 24 baby Jesus comes at 12:00 am and leaves presents around the kid’s beds and the next day the kids find them.
Noche Buena: On December 24th, families get together for Noche Buena, our Christmas Eve gathering. There is a lot of food, dancing and presents.
Fiesta de Fin de Año: On December 31st families get together to celebrate the end of the year, with food, dancing and fireworks. In my family it was a special day because it was also my grandmother’s birthday.
Ingredients You'll Need
The printable recipe car with exact amounts and cooking directions is below.
Flour: You need all purpose flour to make this recipe.
Butter: I recommend using unsalted butter.
Sugar: Granulated sugar
Orange: You need fresh orange juice and zest.
Oil: You can use vegetable or canola oil for frying.
How to Make Hojuelas
- Place the flour and sugar in a medium bowl and using an electric hand mixer, mix well. Add the butter and continue mixing at low speed for about 20 seconds.
- Add the orange zest and start adding the orange juice. Keep mixing at low speed while you are adding the juice.
- Once the mixture has pulled together, mix at a slightly higher speed to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Roll the dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for about 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle some flour onto your work surface and roll the dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut into 1 x 3 ½ inches strips. Add more flour to the work surface if necessary and again roll each strip to about ⅛ inch thick.
- Place a heavy pot over medium heat and fill it about one-third of the way with vegetable oil. Heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340°F.
- Add the pieces and fry until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Sprinkle with sugar and serve warm.
NOTES
Make sure your oil stays at 375℉ for best results. Watch the hojuelas closely, because they cook very fast.
Make sure to drain the hojuelas on paper towel after frying to remove excess oil.
Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar and serve with honey or syrup if you want.
You can make the dough one day before , wrap it in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Bring back to room temperature before rolling out to cut the dough.
More Colombian Christmas Recipes
Sabajón (Colombian Style Eggnog)
Natilla de Panela (Sweet Custard)
Colombian Hojuelas or Hojaldras Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup all purpose flour plus more for rolling
- 1 tablespoon softened butter
- 2 tablespoons sugar plus more for garnish
- ½ cup orange juice
- 1 teaspoon orange zest
- Vegetable oil for deep frying
Instructions
- Place the flour and sugar in a medium bowl and using an electric hand mixer, mix well. Add the butter and continue mixing at low speed for about 20 seconds.
- Add the orange zest and start adding the orange juice. Keep mixing at low speed while you are adding the juice.
- Once the mixture has pulled together, mix at a slightly higher speed to fully incorporate the ingredients.
- Roll the dough into ball, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for about 20 minutes.
- Sprinkle some flour onto your work surface and roll the dough to ¼-inch thick. Cut into 1 x 3 ½ inches strips. Add more flour to the work surface if necessary and again roll each strip to about ⅛ inch thick.
- Place a heavy pot over medium heat and fill it about one-third of the way with vegetable oil. Heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 340°F.
- Add the pieces and fry until golden brown. Using a slotted spoon transfer to a plate lined with paper towel. Sprinkle with sugar and serve warm.
Erica
Thank you all for the comments!
Barbara
Such fun to hear about all the Christmas traditions! These cookies look delicious!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
These look truly delicious!
Velva
There would be no way that I could eat just a few of these-I would eat them all. Fried pastry is just so darn good. Love it.
rebecca subbiah
oh wow i love that Jesus brings the gifts thats spot on, send me a few of these babies!!
monicajane
there is an italian christmas treat that is exactly the same and the name escapes me right now but I grew up eating them...since then I found out there are varieties of the same in other european countries as well...shoot...it bums me out the name isn't coming to me...I'm gonna wait to send this for a minute.
ah! got it with the help of google...Crustole...yum! brings back lots of memories
danielle
doesnt that look yummy!
Nidia
I'm from Tunja, Colombia in the Boyaca department. I still remember that the one that was bringing presents to us was Papá Noel, not baby Jesus. Maybe that is another part of Colombia. After “El Dia de las Velitas” family and neighbors get together for the Novena that Erica already explained up above.
Sook
I'd be popular if I made this on Christmas morning.... I should save the recipe!
Sarah Naveen
Lovely post..great to know about christams time in Colombia :)..
I miss my home too..We also used to have this family gathering in my moms house..but now everybdy is in different continents 🙁
This snack looks so wonderful...I am dfntly gonna make this...
Soo yummy...
Adriana
In Colombia we start on December 7th with "El Dia de las Velitas" prior to Dec. 8th The Inmaculate Conception catholic holiday.
Erica
Thank you guys for the comments!
Ivy
It's great learning some of your traditions. Sometimes these simple desserts are the best.
Ben
In our countries this time of the year is a big party! In Mexico they start on the 12th with el día de la virgen de Guadalupe and then come the posadas with piñatas and a lot of food. I do miss this time of the year there, too. But the good thing is that we can remember them with delicious food like these hojuelas 😀
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen
These look great! One of my great aunts used to make something similar during holiday time. I know in Italian they are called zeppole! Whatever they are called in any language, they are GOOD!
Kim
Sounds like you have wonderful memories of Christmas in Colombia. It can be hard at the holidays when you miss all your family. I feel the same way. These treats look delicious 😀