One of my favorite Colombian desserts is Milhojas, a pastry delight. It is a popular dessert in Latin America and there are many different variations. It is made with simple ingredients, but it is absolutely delicious.
Milhojas translates to “thousand leaves cake”. It is basically puff pastry layers filled with pastry cream and topped with dulce de leche or arequipe.
The other night I was craving an arequipe dessert. Not just any dessert, mind you, I was craving Milhojas from a bakery in Medellin, Colombia called Astor. Too bad, because I live 6 hours away by airplane 🙂 So guys, I made it myself and it was fantastic.
Buen Provecho!
Ingredients
- 1 sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- Pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 egg yolks, beaten
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup arequipe or dulce de leche
Filling (Pastry Cream)
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400F.
- Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
- Cut pastry into 3 strips along fold marks. Place on a baking sheet and poke a few holes in the each pastry with a fork. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from baking sheets and let them cool on a rack.
- In a medium saucepan place the milk and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, in a small bowl stir together the sugar, cornstarch and salt.
- Gradually add the cornstarch mixture to the milk and cook stirring often about 6 minutes or until thickens. Whisk in the yolks and cook for about 2 minutes more stirring often.
- Stir in the butter and vanilla extract and remove from the heat.
- Let it cool at room temperature, cover and refrigerate until ready to use.
- Using a fork, split each pastry into 2 layers. Spread pastry cream on 1 pastry layer. Repeat layers. Top with arequipe or dulce de leche.
rebecca subbiah says
wow this looks divine would go so well with a cappuccino
Tangled Noodle says
I’m even further away from this Medellin bakery, Astor, so how wonderful of you to make this and share the recipe with us! I am already dreaming about the taste and texture of this dessert . . . so delicious!
Lote says
Que Delicia voy a intentar esta receta pues yo me muero por las milhojas ……
Felisha says
Thanks! I’ll def. have to try it. What other fillings can be used?
Erica says
Felisha- In Colombia is usually filled with arequipe and pastry cream, but you can use fresh fruit or jam.
Sarah Naveen says
Wow!!! Mouthwatering and delicious…
Miriam/El invitado de invierno says
Ay madre, milhojas con dulce de leche… esto tiene que ser la bomba!
Sandra G says
Se ve rico, will try to make this one, in Peru they call the arequipe “manjar blanco”.
Baking is my Zen says
Oooolala!! Divine!
Rachana Kothari says
Wow!!!! It will really go well with a cup of coffee:) yumm!!!!
ruth says
Oh my! Lost for words! Sheer perfection!!
Erica says
Thank you all for the comments!
grace says
pastry delight indeed! my goodness, i’ve never seen anything quite like this–it’s super tempting and completely decadent, erica–thanks!
Kim says
I’m glad that you were able to satisfy your craving:D
It looks flaky and delicious.
Sook @ My Fabulous Recipes says
Oh wow, Erica, I am amazed by this recipe! Looks so yummy! I am going to make your shrimp and orzo dish this week. So excited! 🙂
Erica says
Thank you guys for the comments! 🙂
Stella Ziegler says
How many does this recipe make?
Melanie says
Delicious–I want one now with my cafe.
Lyndsey says
What a gorgeous dessert! I don’t know, it looks mighty good, but don’t you hate it when you crave something that is so far away?
Jenn AKA The Leftover Queen says
This looks absolutely divine!!! These are some of my favorite desserts. I love pastry cream!
5 Star Foodie says
Wow, it sounds absolutely heavenly! I must make this very soon!
Memoria says
¡Qué rico! ¡Este poste parece mucho a una Napoleón!
Faith says
This recipe is new to me, and I’m glad you shared it, Erica! It looks incredible!
tasteofbeirut says
It looks delicious! I love mille-feuilles and it is my favorite cake and this reminds me of it!
Oysterculture says
Sheer perfection is right – I must find myself some puff pastry immediately!
Erica says
Thank you everyone 🙂
Angelina says
Thank you for sharing this scrumptious recipe! I am looking forward to making this for my family this weekend!
Jen @ My Kitchen Addiction says
Ooh… this looks incredible! I am definitely going to have to give this one a try. I am a fan of all things dulce de leche!
Norma says
Me la sirvo con una taza de chocolate caliente
Anonymous says
Erica, I made this dessert last week and it was wonderful. My husband missed the milhojas from Colombia and he loved yours. Thank you so much.
Memo says
Thank you, it is a very nice recipe. I love Colombian food specially Bandeja Paisa.
mmmm delicious!
martha says
thanks for sharing!! Is the puff pastry that you used the pillsbury kind??
Erica says
Martha- I used Pepperidge Farm
Diana Lopez says
Hola Erica. I made these last night for the second time now and they are absolutely wonderful. The only question I have is if you have any suggestions on how to cut it into individual pieces because when I do it, it just falls apart. =D
Thanks!!
Patrick says
Tomo español y tengo que preparar una receta. Tuvimos que dibujar una tarjeta para ver qué país nosotros tuvimos que escoger de y mi grupo consiguió Colombia. Mi profesora es de Colombia y yo quiero hacer un plato tan bueno.
¡Esto parece realmente delicioso!
Trisha says
Can this be made the day before or would the pastry become too moist?
Erica says
Trisha. You should eat it the same day!
Valerie says
Thanks, Erica! I’m making this today for Colombian Dinner night! A friend of mine is Colombian and I visited Medellin over the Christmas holiday with her. I tried to fit the entire Astor store in my suitcase. All the treats are decedent. I can’t wait to try this tonight. This is going to be a surprise for my friend!
Deborah says
I lived in South America for 10 years, and met people from all across the region, and this cake was always known as a Chilean speciality.
Brandy says
Just returned from a vacation in Colombia. Getting ready for an evening of sharing our photos with family & asked my hubby what to make for dessert. He said this dessert. I thought I’d never find the recipe & would have to wing it….but here it is! THANKS!
grace says
this is food porn at its finest, erica! this looks spectacular and i wish i had my own slab right now. 🙂
Bonnie K says
I made these and they were amazing!!!!!
Ari says
How many servings does this make? I’d like to make some for my spanish class.
Zoe says
These look amazing! I’d love to make them for culture week, as I am doing a report on Colombia. How many does this recipe make?
Erica Dinho says
6 to 8 servings