15 Mexican Pastry Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth (2024)

Flan Mexicano (Mexican Flan)

One of the most famous Mexican desserts, flan is a light, cool, jiggly-meets-creamy delicacy with a sweet vanilla flavor and a soft caramelized sugar top layer. "This recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law, who is from Durango, Mexico," says recipe creator Amy Shurts. "I had to beg her for years to give the recipe to me. Finally, she gave it to me for Christmas."

• 12 Traditional Mexican Dessert Recipes

Pastel de Tres Leches (Three Milk Cake)

Pastel de Tres Leches, meaning "Three Milk Cake," is a light, spongy cake soaked in three kinds of milk: evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The sweet, rich three-milk mixture soaks in as the cake refrigerates for a cold, sweet dessert that earns its fame. This recipe tops the cake with whipped cream and fresh strawberries.

Sopapilla Cheesecake Pie

Sopapilla is a homemade dough fried to crispy perfection and often topped with a cinnamon-sugar mixture or honey and powdered sugar. This variation uses the sopapilla as a crispy topping for a creamy cheesecake pie. Home chef CandelB says: "I make this to take to potluck dinners and get rave reviews!"

Polvorones de Canele (Cinnamon Cookies)

Often enjoyed for Christmas Day or weddings, this traditional Mexican cookie is rolled in a cinnamon-sugar and baked so that the exterior has a lovely crispy crunch. They are the perfect afternoon snack to enjoy with a coffee, tea, or authentic Mexican-style hot chocolate!

Anise Seed Borrachio Cookies

Rum gives these little shortbread-style cookies a boozy kick, while anise seed lends them a nice licorice nose. It's a one-of-a-kind taste that will dazzle your taste buds. "You must find some time to make these cookies because they are simply delicious—one of my best friend's favorites," says recipe creator Ruben Jerez. "They are classic sugar cookies with the blended flavors of vanilla, anise, and rum."

Mexican Wedding Cookies

Rich, buttery, nutty, and simply to-die-for, these famous Mexican morsels are so special that they are, as the name suggests, worthy of a wedding celebration. Butter, sugar, vanilla, and almonds come together in perfect harmony with a lovely dusting of confectioner's sugar to finish them off. You may not be the one getting hitched, but you'll certainly fall in love … with these cookies!

Conchas (Mexican Sweet Bread)

This is an extremely popular traditional Mexican sweet bread, so named for its conch-shell-like appearance. The inside is sweet and fluffy, while the crunchy topping is made of sugar, butter, and flour. "I got this recipe from my friend's mom who owns a Mexican bakery," chef MelissaAmador says. "Although they are a little time-consuming, it is well worth it at the end!"

Pastel de Elote (Mexican Corn Cake)

"A delicious and moist Mexican cake made with fresh sweet corn kernels and sweetened with condensed milk," says Elva_Adriana of this traditional recipe from the state of Jalisco. Top this classic Mexican dessert with a glaze or powdered sugar and serve a la mode for a treat you won't soon forget.

Mexican Pumpkin Empanadas

Most people, at least most Americans, associate empanadas with the savory meat mixtures that come inside the handheld pastry pies. But sweet versions are just as popular in Mexico with jam, chocolate, or sweet pumpkin fillings like this one!

Marranitos (Mexican Pig-Shaped Cookies)

"Marranitos are often called 'Gingerbread Pigs,' although they don't actually have ginger in them. In fact, traditional marranitos get their delicious spicy-brown goodness from molasses," says creator Mayson about this classic recipe from the Trans-Pecos region.

Pan Dulce

This version of the traditional Mexican sweet buns features a sweet streusel filling, as well as a chocolate streusel variation.

Mexican Brownies

This chocolaty brownie incorporates canela, or ground Mexican cinnamon, with pequin chile pepper for a spicy kick. "This type of brownie is not too sweet nor too dense," says recipe creator caroliney_. "I would definitely say this is a mature brownie."

Pan de Muertos (Mexican Bread of the Dead)

Pan de Muertos, meaning "Bread of the Dead," is a classic pan dulce with the addition of anise seeds, orange zest, and orange flower water or orange juice. It's made in the months leading up to Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and eaten is remembrance of passed loved ones. The bread is often molded into certain animals or angels or adorned with skulls, crossbones, or teardrop shapes.

• How to Make Pan De Muerto for Día de Muertos

Empanadas

This dessert empanada is filled with a fruit jam of your choice and covered in a generous dusting of cinnamon sugar. The dough incorporates cream cheese for an ultra-rich flavor. "Better make plenty," says creator Rosina. "These disappear fast."

Rosca de Reyes

Rosca de Reyes is a traditional Mexican yeasted sweet bread shaped into an oval adorned with candied citrus peels and sugar paste. It is eaten to celebrate the Epiphany on Jan. 6. Similar to a King Cake, a baby Jesus figurine is hidden in the cake, and the person to discover it is expected to host a dinner of tamales and atole, traditional Christmas Day dishes, on Candlemas Day each Feb. 2.

More Inspiration

Hungry for more? Explore our entire collection of Mexican Desserts.

• Watermelon-Mint Paletas
• Capirotada
• Mexican Chocolate Chile Cake

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