It’s not uncommon to crave dessert after a sumptuous meal, so why not add Colombian desserts to your rotation of sweets and treats?
If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, Colombian desserts are worth getting into!
A dessert is a must for many Colombians, and a meal wouldn’t be complete without it.
Colombian desserts are mostly made up of fruits, dairy, and sugar.
They have superb cakes and tasty pudding dishes that you can try if you are looking for something flavorful.
Make way for number 21! And of course Natilla, Meregon, and luscious Arequipe!
All are irresistibly luscious and mouthwatering!
So, if you are all set, let’s get to it!
Try the Bananos Calados if you’re looking to try a traditional Colombian dessert.
Bananos Calados is directly translated in English as “soaked bananas”.
Its main ingredients are melted butter, lime juice, sugar, lime zest, and bananas.
When shopping for ingredients, remember to opt for bananas without spots.
Those with spots are more likely too ripe and will taste too sweet or have a gooey mouthfeel for this recipe.
Instead of lime, you may also use freshly squeezed orange juice and its zest.
Before serving, top it with vanilla ice cream, cold milk, or yogurt.
Colombia’s very own pudding, Arroz con Leche, is the tastiest and easiest dessert to prepare!
Mix the cinnamon water, rice, salt, milk, butter, and vanilla extract in medium heat.
Give it 15 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Keep stirring and cook for an hour and 15 more minutes until the rice pudding thickens.
Turn the stove off as soon as you get your desired consistency.
Refrigerate it for at least an hour.
You can top it with a sprinkle of cinnamon and serve.
3. Natilla
Natilla is more commonly known as a Colombian Christmas dessert.
Making it carries a complex process of preparation.
It requires a lot of ingredients too!
But worry not, because you can find various mixes of Natilla in the supermarket nowadays.
Their exquisite taste is also to die for!
Its main ingredients are panela and cornflour, usually added with coffee, coconut, or arequipe and topped with fruity syrup.
Are you thinking about having a cold drink to ease the heat on a hot, summer day?
Try Cholados Colombianos to quench your thirst.
It’s a drink, dessert, and cocktail rolled into one!
It is a mixture of fresh fruits, Colombian blackberry syrup, condensed milk, passion fruit called maracuya, and crushed ice.
To make it an ultimate fruity refreshment, top it with a maraschino cherry and shredded coconut.
All you need is milk and a few other ingredients in your fridge to make one Columbian masterpiece dessert!
Go ahead, get them out and give Torta De Tres Leches, also known as “three milks cake” a try.
You will only need three kinds of milk to make this mouthwatering cake: table cream (aka heavy cream), condensed milk, and evaporated milk.
Mix them all together.
Cover your regular sponge cake with this mixture and top with whipped cream or meringue.
Refrigerate for a few hours.
To make it more special, add some fruits at the top like mango, cherry, figs, or strawberry!
You probably have tasted different kinds of meringue, and this one from Colombia is one for the books!
Made from powdered sugar and egg whites, Merengon brings delight and smiles from the first bite.
Traditionally, Merengón is covered with alternate layers of sweetened whipped cream, topped with fresh fruits or berries.
It is a perfect dessert, especially for the kids!
Who would have thought that spoiled milk could become a tasty and creamy dessert?
Yes, you’ve read it right.
Dulce de leche cortada smells like lime and cinnamon and offers a tangy, sweet, and milky taste.
Curdling the milk takes a lot of patience until the milk turns fudgy.
Crackers or cheese compliments this dish and should be served with chunks of white cheese.
8. Roscón
Roscon is in every bakery in Colombia.
It is a circular-shaped sugar cake with colorful candies and crushed almonds.
The sweetbread of Roscon is filled with overflowing cream or guava paste for some.
This cake will surely bring you good memories and feelings.
9. Milhojas
Bring Alpina Market, where the best Milhoja can be found, to your home by creating these layers of puff pastry.
This heavenly cake has cream, arequipe, white chocolate, or icing in between its layers.
It is easy to prepare and is only made with simple ingredients.
10. Postre De Milo
Who would have thought that the popular Milo powder, a household chocolate drink brand, would make a fantastic Colombian dessert?
Sounds like a game-changer.
Here is how it is done.
This dessert consists of layers of condensed milk pudding, salty crackers, and milo powder on top.
If you want to make the pudding creamier, you can use full-fat milk.
Best to consume it right after 4 hours of cooling in the fridge.
You can never go wrong with combining sweets with salt, chocolate, and cheese.
They complement each other.
This hot chocolate with cheese cubes is the real deal for most Colombians.
Mix the skim milk, hot chocolate bar, cinnamon, cloves, and honey in a bowl and bring to a boil with high heat.
Just until it gets frothy, pour each mug with cheese cubes and pour them with the hot chocolate while enjoying its sweet aroma.
12. Avena Colombiana
Have a cold bubbly drink to cool off during summer.
For one, you can try Avena Colombiana or Colombian oatmeal drink.
Though it is easy to prepare, it requires a little planning ahead.
It is a mixture of water, milk, salt, sugar, and cinnamon.
Chill the mixture for three hours or so.
You may also opt to chill it overnight to make it smoothly blended the next day and serve it with pastries for breakfast.
13. Pandebono
A puffy bread oozing with cheese would be a delightful dessert for breakfast or dinner.
Pandebono is a gluten-free Colombian cheese bread that you can make in 30 minutes.
Its main ingredients are tapioca flour, eggs, pre-cooked cornmeal, cheese, salt, and sugar.
Set all the ingredients in the food processor and shape them into small balls and bake.
That’s it!
You’ve got yourself a cheese bread that your family and friends will surely enjoy.
Arequipe or Dulce De Leche is a popular dessert around Latin America.
It is basically made of raw milk and panela, which gives a strong flavor.
A spoonful of Arequipe is sinful yet heartwarming.
You can savor its rich sweetness while it slowly melts in your mouth.
Making an arequipe can be time-consuming, hence requiring patience.
However, the process is easy and worth it after all.
Guayaba or guava is a common ingredient in Colombian dishes and desserts.
It can be used as a paste or spread for wafers, pastries, sauce, or used as tart jelly instead of jam.
It has a soft, deliciously creamy texture that you will surely enjoy.
When preparing, make sure that the guavas are peeled and rinsed well.
This sweetened fruit salad is a flavorful dish consisting of various tropical fruits in Colombia.
It is an appetizing full cup of fruits filled with Colombian soda, perfect for grabbing and quenching thirst in the morning!
To make this drink more special, it can be topped with whipped cream or condensed milk.
17. Arroz Con Coco
Caramelized shred of evaporated coconut cooked in raisins is a great dessert idea after a seafood meal.
Arroz Con Coco has an indistinct taste of sweetness, making it a perfect dish to serve to your guests.
It is a side dish that is made of sugar, raisins, salt, water, coconut milk, and rice.
18. Cocadas
Cocadas is a dessert that you can find in sweets and candy stores.
It is a coconut-based candy and can be made in different flavors and colors.
Cocadas’ main ingredients are freshly shredded coconut, sugar, and coconut water.
Remember to add cinnamon powder.
Presto!
You now have flavored Cocadas that your kids will surely enjoy!
19. Limonada De Coco
Lemonade with a twist that you will surely love!
Limonada De Coco is a thick and sweet refreshing drink that is easy to prepare.
Mix the crushed ice with sugar, coconut cream, and juice of fresh lemons.
Blender all the ingredients and serve cold.
You can make it with a little amount of rum for a twist.
20. Enyucado
Enyucado is Colombia’s cassava cake.
This decadently amazing dessert is coconut-based, mixed with yuca and grated cheese.
Mix the grated ingredients with sugar, coconut milk, and melted butter, and freely pour it with star anise- just how much you like!
Bake it for 50 minutes and enjoy its wonderful texture.
Colombian Churros offer the usual taste of donuts.
It is a small circular-shaped donut served with sprinkled sugar.
The three key ingredients of Colombian churros are flour, water, and salt.
It is easy to prepare, and you can even set it in different shapes just as you like.
Sprinkle it with sugar and cinnamon to add taste.
Colombian Buñuelos is a crispy crust fried doughnut ball with soft crumb white cheese inside.
This dessert is a perfect one for the morning as it is best enjoyed with a cup of strong coffee or hot chocolate.
23. Arepas
Are you looking for a breakfast or afternoon snack?
You can try Arepas, a dish that is popular in Colombia.
It comes with a variety of toppings and accompaniments such as butter, cheese, avocado, jelly, scrambled eggs, and even Colombian chorizo.
Arepas is a flat, Colombian round corn cake made of cooked flour, salt, and dough.
It is easy to make and can be fried, grilled, or baked.
24. Polvorosas
A cookie after a meal is sure to be a hit, especially with kids at home.
This Columbian sugar cookie is made of underworked dough and lots of butter.
Its main ingredients are typically wheat flour, sugar, shortening, cinnamon, and powdered sugar.
In a few minutes, you can make your family an extra special treat!
25. Alfajores
This tasty treat is an afternoon snack and is easy to make.
Alfajores are tender, buttery, sweet, and crispy cookies.
It oozes with dulce de leche, enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Sprinkle it with powdered sugar and devour it till the last bite.
Enjoy this delicious goodie with your friends and family!
The bottom line
If you have plans to go to Colombia, remember to try their never-ending list of sweets and desserts that you will surely never regret!
It is something to add up in your Colombia trip to tick off.
The more you discover something about Colombian culture, the more you’ll get to explore ingredients that you can use for a Colombian dessert when you hit home.
We do hope that this list helps you in inventing a new dessert recipe for your friends and family to enjoy.
Have you made anything from the list?
Which one is your favorite?
25 Ways To Enjoy Colombian Dessert
Why not add luscious alfajores and pan de bono to your rotation of sweets to make at home?
Ingredients
- Colombian Churros
- Colombian Buñuelos
- Arepas
- Polvorosas
- Alfajores
- Bananos Calados
- Arroz Con Leche
- Natilla
- Cholados Colombianos
- Torta De Tres Leches
- Merengón (Colombian Strawberry Meringue)
- Dulce De Leche Cortada
- Roscón
- Milhojas
- Postre De Milo
- Colombian Hot Chocolate With Cheese
- Avena Colombiana
- Pandebono
- Arequipe (Dulce De Leche)
- Cascos De Guayaba
- Salpicon De Frutas
- Arroz Con Coco
- Cocadas
- Limonada De Coco
- Enyucado
Instructions
- Find your favorite recipe from our Colombian Desserts list.
- Gather all the ingredients needed.
- Start cooking and make us proud!