Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Some of the Most Popular Mexican Desserts

By KC Kudra


When it comes to Mexican deserts there are many to choose from and you will not be disappointed by any. Flan is a common and popular dessert. It is caramel custard. The dessert includes rich custard with a layer of soft caramel on top. The dish is known as flan in most of the world, even though it is a French word. Flan is simple to make and usually consists of vanilla flavored custard. You may be able to find them made in other flavors such as coconut, lemon, and other fruits.

Empanadas are another dessert found in Mexico. It is a stuffed pastry that contains different sweetened fillings depending on the country. Some fillings you can find in Mexico are cream, pumpkin, and a variety of fruits. In some states in Mexico, the empanadas are filled with different meats. Empanadas can be served as a dessert and also a breakfast food.

Chocolate has been popular in Mexico for centuries. First, the Mayas enjoyed it and then the Aztecs did. Chocolate was very important to the Aztec because they used it for currency as well as a food. The Spanish acquired chocolate from the Aztecs and returned with it to Spain. It then became the main ingredient in the king's official drink.

The Aztecs made a variety of drinks with the chocolate, which also included nuts, seeds, and honey. Champurrado is a chocolate drink that is very popular at breakfast time in Mexico. It is warm and thick. You can find people in the morning buying a cup by street vendors. It is also considered a dessert, which can be served with Churros.

A dessert found in the Yucatan is called sapotes dulces. Sapotes are a fruit grown in Mexico. It is very rare to find the fruit in the United States. Sapotes have an orange flesh that has a unique flavor of being juicy, creamy and can often be said similar to the flavor of coconuts, and vanilla. Sapotes dulces is a dessert using the fruit, mixing it with orange juice, rum, and sugar, and served chilled. It is easy to make and has a great flavor.

Cajeta is another common Mexican recipe. It is also called crema de cajeta, dulce de leche, or leche quemada in some Mexican communities. The main ingredient is caramelized milk. To make cajeta, you need to slowly cook the syrup until it thickens. Sweetened milk is the most common ingredient in cajeta and you can use cow's milk or goat's milk, or a mixture of the two. Cajeta is eaten alone, on pastries or grilled bananas or as an ice cream topping. The Hershey Company has its own variety of cajeta for Mexican food fans who otherwise would not be able to find it easily in the United States.

There are so many different Mexican desserts to please your sweet tooth. There is a wide variety of chocolates, cakes, cookies, and candies, just to name a few. Recipes can allow you to experiment and discover new sweets. If you would like to sample them before making your own, some local authentic Mexican restaurants include these desserts. You may also have luck finding them at a Mexican grocer in your area. It will be easy for you to get hooked on these tasty and enjoyable treats.

About the Author:

No comments: