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.
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 😀
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!
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 😀
Ivy
It's great learning some of your traditions. Sometimes these simple desserts are the best.
Erica
Thank you guys for the comments!
Adriana
In Colombia we start on December 7th with "El Dia de las Velitas" prior to Dec. 8th The Inmaculate Conception catholic holiday.
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...
Sook
I'd be popular if I made this on Christmas morning.... I should save the recipe!
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.
danielle
doesnt that look yummy!
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
rebecca subbiah
oh wow i love that Jesus brings the gifts thats spot on, send me a few of these babies!!
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.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
These look truly delicious!
Barbara
Such fun to hear about all the Christmas traditions! These cookies look delicious!
Erica
Thank you all for the comments!
Oysterculture
Oh this sounds so tasty, and I really love learning about the Christmas traditions. What a special post
Clauida
I was also born in Colombia. However, I came to the U.S at the age of 7. I do remember all these wonderful traditions and I'm very fortunate to have my entire family here in the States. Actually, I was remembering that they were my favorite and yes, my Mamita made them for me as well. WONDERFUL BLOG!
Chris
I enjoyed not only the recipe but the back ground on your cultural and family traditions as well.
Natasha - 5 Star Foodie
Thanks for sharing your wonderful traditions with us! And the hojuelas look scrumptious, I would love to try those!
caulin
these are great i made some for foods day in spanish class and the country of origen was coombia and i made alot th are the best thanks for posting them up. and i might make some for christmas just to eat because they are so delicious!!!!! 🙂
Felisha
Love the holiday recipes. Keep them coming! 🙂
Faith
I loved reading about your traditions! These look like a delicious treat!
Diana
What beautiful family traditions Erica! I especially love the novenas, what a beautiful time that must be 🙂 Thanks for sharing!!
Divina
It's great to know your family traditions in Columbia. I agree with Baby Jesus more than Santa Claus. Thanks Erica.
MaryMoh
These would be so great with coffee. Thanks for sharing. I'm missing my family back home too this Christmas 🙁
Erica
Thank you everyone for visiting my site 🙂
Devon
My apartment is freezing. Please pass me a plate of hojuelas and hot chocolate.
Katy
It is great to find these recipes with background of traditions; novenas were a beautiful time, and yes! These are great with "cafecito". All this is just about baby Jesus, Let’s rejoice and shine the love of Jesus! Thank you, Erica.
Soma
This has to be soooo good with the orange zest and deep fried and all. Thanks for sharing your memories Erica, I know how it feels to stay far away from home during festivities. Did not know that it would be too far for Santa to go 🙂
Nats
I found this post while I was looking for an Hojulas recipe. I also grew up in Colombia and miss all of those Christmas traditions... I teared up just reminiscing as I read your post. =)
Erica
Thank you guys for all the wonderful comments! Happy holidays!
Matthew
i am very much interested in south american food that when i saw these recipes i got all excited,for sure before the season is over i am going to make Hojuelas ans the others. please send more
Jackie
How many hojuelas does this recipe make?
Erica
Jackie- About 24 hojuelas.
jackie
Hi Erica! These look so great!!! Thanks for posting this, I will give them a try and let you know how they turned out. I also just started my own blog and would love it if you could visit it worldof-jackie.blogspot. Thanks!
Happy Holidays
Jackie
corinne
i am truely grateful that you put these recipies up here . my husband is colombian and i want to try to make it a little more like home this year....thank you
corinne
well, i tried them and they r great, but he says they dont taste like they do over there so i must have failed...it was sticky tho so i dont kbow what i did wrong....and i failed with natilla too, it didnt thicken up....idk what happened 🙁
Claudia
I made this 4 times last year for Christmas! Everyone I served it to adored it...but none more that my family. Easy to make, pretty to serve and delicious!
Suzanne
My aunt used to make something called Hojaldras. They seem similar, but I feel like she put cheese in them and did not top with powdered sugar. In fact I used to put butter on them! Know anything about this?? She was from Cali.
Trish
I was born in Colombia and grew up in Bogota, we also had our presents delivered by Baby Jesus... but we also did the novenas in front of the manger until January 6th or 7th, when the three kings reached the baby. Some wonderful days. I am very happy to see this recipe, at home we called them arepuelas.
Eli
Que rico se ve! Se parecen a lo que en Chile llamamos "calzones rotos" (nombre extraño, jaja). Definitivamente los voy a hacer para probarlos, se ven deliciosos 🙂
Anonymous
While made from scratch are ALWAYS the best, my mom would use flour tortillas and fry them as a shortcut.
Ana María garcia
Nostalgia. Siento mucha nostalgia en este tiempo, más de 24 años que no pasó fiestas de fin de año en mi tierra. Gracias por tus deliciosas recetas, muy fáciles de seguir!
janneth
I just made my Natilla it came out so good, I'm happy, tomorrow I will try to make the hojaldras, will let you know, Feliz
Navidad!
Melody
Hi I'm making this recipe for my Spanish project and I wanted to know how many it made.
Erica Dinho
About 20 hojuelas.
Sarah
Me morí! Por fin una receta sin huevo! Mil gracias! Soy de Medellín y vivo en Alemania hace unos eternos 13 años, y cada diciembre me carcome la nostalgia y me pongo a hacer natilla, bandeja paisa, y ahora POR FIN HOJUELAS! Soy vegana, y por eso es difícil encontrar recetas veganas de comida tradicional colombiana... Aún no he intentado hacer buñuelos con queso falso, pero lo intentaré este año! Mil gracias por compartir la receta!
Lili
Do you think I can make them with gluten free flour?
Erica Dinho
I don't know! I always use regular flour.