Guatemalan Desserts – 30 Traditional Desserts in Guatemala to Try

Guatemalan Desserts – Guatemala has a rich culinary heritage which extends to their desserts and in this post we talk about torrejas, tres leches, cocadas and more traditional desserts in Guatemala.

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Read here best Guatemalan fruits, food in Guatemala, vegetarian food in Guatemala and drinks in Guatemala

Read here what to wear in Guatemala and Guatemala travel tips

Guatemalan Desserts Influences

Yes, Guatemalan desserts have been influenced by a variety of cultural and historical factors, including the country’s indigenous Maya culture, Spanish colonial rule, and African and Caribbean influences.

Many traditional Guatemalan desserts incorporate ingredients that were native to the region, such as corn, beans, and cacao, which were important foods in the Maya diet. The Maya also used honey and other sweeteners to flavor their foods, which has influenced the development of Guatemalan desserts.

During the Spanish colonial period, the introduction of dairy products and wheat flour resulted in the development of new desserts, such as quesadilla, which is similar to a cheesecake, and rosquillas, which are similar to a donut.

African and Caribbean influences can be seen in Guatemalan desserts such as atoles, which are thick, sweet drinks made with corn, rice, or other grains and often flavored with cinnamon or vanilla. These drinks are similar to porridges or hot cereals found in many African and Caribbean cultures.

Overall, Guatemalan desserts have been shaped by a mix of indigenous, Spanish, and African and Caribbean influences, resulting in a rich and diverse culinary tradition.

Getting your Sim Card at Guatemala Airport- Desserts in Guatemala

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Where to Stay in Guatemala

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Best Desserts in Guatemala And Traditional Guatemalan Desserts to Try

Rellenitos de plátano

Rellenitos de plátano are a popular dessert in Guatemala made with ripe plantains and refried black beans. The name “rellenitos” means “little stuffed ones” in Spanish, referring to the fact that the mashed plantains are stuffed with black beans before being fried.

To make rellenitos de plátano, start by boiling ripe plantains until they are soft. Mash the plantains with a fork, then add in some sugar and a pinch of cinnamon. Next, take some cooked and mashed refried black beans and mix them with a little sugar and cinnamon.

To assemble the rellenitos, take a golf ball-sized amount of mashed plantains and form it into a ball. Make a small well in the center and fill it with the black bean mixture. Carefully reshape the ball and fry it in hot oil until golden brown.

Rellenitos de plátano are a sweet and savory treat that are often served as a dessert or snack in Guatemala. They are typically enjoyed with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Tres leches cake

Tres leches cake is a classic dessert in many Latin American countries, including Guatemala. It is a moist sponge cake that is soaked in a mixture of three different types of milk: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream.

To make tres leches cake, start by baking a sponge cake in a 9×13 inch pan. Once the cake has cooled, poke holes all over the top with a fork. In a mixing bowl, combine one can of evaporated milk, one can of sweetened condensed milk, and one cup of heavy cream. Pour the mixture over the cake, making sure it seeps into all the holes. Cover the cake with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

Tres leches cake is a rich and creamy dessert that is popular for special occasions in Guatemala. It can be decorated with fresh fruit or whipped cream for an extra touch of sweetness.

Chancletas de coco

Chancletas de coco are a traditional Guatemalan dessert made with coconut and sugar. The name “chancletas” means “little sandals” in Spanish, referring to the shape of the dessert.

To make chancletas de coco, start by mixing shredded coconut with sugar and a pinch of salt. Add in some egg yolks and mix until a dough forms. Form the dough into small sandal-shaped pieces, then dip them in beaten egg whites and roll them in more shredded coconut. Fry the chancletas in hot oil until golden brown.

Chancletas de coco are a sweet and crispy dessert that are often served during the Christmas season in Guatemala. They are also popular for special occasions like weddings and baptisms.

Atol de elote

Atol de elote is a sweet corn drink that is a popular dessert in Guatemala. To make atol de elote, start by blending fresh corn kernels with water and sugar. Strain the mixture and then cook it over low heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens into a creamy consistency. Add in some cinnamon and vanilla extract, and serve it hot.

Atol de elote is a warm and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed during the cooler months in Guatemala. It is also sometimes served as a breakfast drink.

Torrejas

Torrejas are a type of bread pudding that is a popular dessert in Guatemala. To make torrejas, start by cutting slices of day-old bread and soaking them in a mixture of milk, cinnamon, and sugar. Dip the bread slices in beaten eggs and fry them in hot oil until they are golden brown. Serve the torrejas with a sweet syrup made from panela (unrefined cane sugar) and cinnamon.

Torrejas are a sweet and hearty dessert that is often enjoyed during the Christmas season in Guatemala. They are also sometimes served for breakfast or as a snack.

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are a type of fried dough that is a popular dessert in Guatemala. To make buñuelos, start by mixing flour, sugar, and baking powder together. Add in some eggs, milk, and butter, and knead the dough until it is smooth. Form the dough into small balls and flatten them into discs. Fry the buñuelos in hot oil until they are golden brown, and then sprinkle them with a mixture of sugar and cinnamon.

Buñuelos are a sweet and crispy dessert that is often served during the Christmas season in Guatemala. They are also sometimes served as a snack or appetizer.

Chocobananos

Chocobananos are a simple and delicious dessert that are popular in Guatemala. They are made by dipping peeled bananas into melted chocolate and freezing them until the chocolate hardens.

To make chocobananos, start by peeling bananas and cutting them in half. Melt some chocolate in a double boiler or in the microwave. Dip the banana halves into the melted chocolate, making sure to coat them completely. Place the chocolate-covered bananas on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until the chocolate hardens.

Chocobananos are a sweet and refreshing treat that are perfect for hot summer days in Guatemala. They can be enjoyed as a dessert or as a snack.

Dulce de Leche

Dulce de leche is a popular dessert in many Latin American countries, including Guatemala. It is a caramel-like sauce that is made by cooking sweetened condensed milk until it thickens and turns a deep brown color.

To make dulce de leche, start by pouring one can of sweetened condensed milk into a double boiler or a heatproof bowl set over a pot of simmering water. Cook the milk, stirring occasionally, for 1-2 hours, until it thickens and turns a deep caramel color. Add in some vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, and let the dulce de leche cool before serving.

Dulce de leche is a rich and creamy dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or as a topping for ice cream, cakes, or other desserts.

Nicuatole

Nicuatole is a traditional corn-based dessert that is popular in Guatemala. It is a smooth and creamy pudding-like dessert that is made with ground corn, milk, sugar, and cinnamon.

To make nicuatole, start by grinding fresh corn kernels in a blender or food processor until they are finely ground. Mix the ground corn with milk, sugar, and cinnamon in a pot and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens into a pudding-like consistency. Pour the mixture into a greased dish and let it cool until it sets.

Nicuatole is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed during the cooler months in Guatemala. It can be served as a dessert or as a snack.

Arroz con leche

Arroz con leche, which translates to “rice with milk,” is a sweet and creamy dessert that is popular in Guatemala. It is made by cooking rice with milk, sugar, and cinnamon until it thickens and becomes a porridge-like consistency.

To make arroz con leche, start by rinsing one cup of rice and cooking it in a pot with four cups of milk, one cup of sugar, and a cinnamon stick. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the mixture has thickened to a porridge-like consistency. Add in a little bit of vanilla extract, and serve the arroz con leche warm or cold.

Arroz con leche is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guatemala.

Empanadas de leche

Empanadas de leche are a sweet pastry that is popular in Guatemala. They are made by filling a pastry dough with a sweet milk custard and baking them until they are golden brown.

To make empanadas de leche, start by making a pastry dough using flour, sugar, butter, and milk. Roll the dough out and cut it into circles. Make a sweet milk custard by heating milk, sugar, cornstarch, and a cinnamon stick in a pot. Let the custard cool, then spoon it onto the pastry circles. Fold the circles in half and seal the edges. Bake the empanadas in a preheated oven until they are golden brown.

Empanadas de leche are a sweet and flaky pastry that is often enjoyed as a dessert or snack in Guatemala.

Cocadas

Cocadas are a traditional Guatemalan dessert made with shredded coconut and sugar. They are similar to macaroons and are baked until they are crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside.

To make cocadas, start by mixing shredded coconut with sugar, a pinch of salt, and a little bit of flour. Add in egg whites and mix until a dough forms. Form the dough into small balls and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake the cocadas in a preheated oven until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Cocadas are a sweet and crispy dessert that is often enjoyed as a snack or as a dessert in Guatemala. They can be flavored with vanilla extract, cinnamon, or other spices to add extra flavor.

Platanos en mole

Platanos en mole, which translates to “plantains in mole,” is a sweet and savory dessert that is popular in Guatemala. It is made by cooking ripe plantains in a rich mole sauce made with chiles, chocolate, and spices.

To make platanos en mole, start by peeling and slicing ripe plantains. Fry the plantain slices in hot oil until they are golden brown. In a separate pot, make a rich mole sauce by toasting chiles, spices, and sesame seeds, then grinding them into a paste with chocolate and chicken stock. Simmer the plantains in the mole sauce until they are tender and the flavors have melded together.

Platanos en mole is a complex and flavorful dessert that is often enjoyed during special occasions in Guatemala.

Chuchitos

Chuchitos are a traditional Guatemalan dish that is often served as a snack or appetizer, but can also be enjoyed as a dessert. They are similar to tamales and are made by filling masa dough with a savory or sweet filling and steaming them in banana leaves.

To make sweet chuchitos, start by making a masa dough using masa harina, water, and a little bit of sugar. Flatten the masa dough into a circle and spoon a sweet filling, such as fruit or sweetened condensed milk, into the center. Fold the masa dough around the filling and wrap it in a banana leaf. Steam the chuchitos until they are cooked through.

Chuchitos are a versatile and flavorful snack that can be enjoyed in many different ways in Guatemala.

Raspados

Raspados are a popular dessert in Guatemala that are similar to snow cones. They are made by shaving ice and adding sweet syrups, fruit, or condensed milk.

To make raspados, start by shaving ice using a special ice shaver or a food processor. Pour the shaved ice into a cup and add your desired sweet syrups, such as fruit syrups, condensed milk, or sweetened condensed milk. Top the raspados with fresh fruit, such as strawberries or mangoes, and enjoy.

Raspados are a refreshing and customizable dessert that is perfect for hot summer days in Guatemala. They can be found at street vendors throughout the country.

Rosquillas

Rosquillas are a type of donut that is popular in Guatemala. They are made by mixing flour, sugar, baking powder, butter, and eggs together to form a dough. The dough is then formed into rings and deep-fried until golden brown.

To make rosquillas, start by mixing together flour, sugar, and baking powder in a bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, and then add in eggs and knead the dough until it forms a ball. Form the dough into rings, and deep-fry the rings in hot oil until they are golden brown.

Rosquillas are a sweet and crispy dessert that is often enjoyed as a snack or as a dessert in Guatemala. They can be flavored with anise, cinnamon, or other spices.

Tortitas de Santa Clara

Tortitas de Santa Clara are a traditional Guatemalan cookie that is often enjoyed during the Christmas season. They are made by mixing together flour, sugar, butter, and egg yolks, and then baking them until they are lightly golden.

To make tortitas de Santa Clara, start by mixing together flour and sugar in a bowl. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs, and then add in egg yolks and knead the dough until it forms a ball. Roll the dough into small balls and place them on a baking sheet. Flatten the balls with a fork, and then bake the cookies in a preheated oven until they are lightly golden.

Tortitas de Santa Clara are a sweet and crumbly cookie that is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate during the Christmas season in Guatemala.

Arroz con coco – also need to check this out

Arroz con coco, which translates to “coconut rice,” is a sweet and creamy dessert that is popular in Guatemala. It is made by cooking rice with coconut milk, sugar, and cinnamon until it thickens and becomes a porridge-like consistency.

To make arroz con coco, start by rinsing one cup of rice and cooking it in a pot with two cups of coconut milk, one cup of water, one cup of sugar, and a cinnamon stick. Cook the mixture over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the rice is tender and the mixture has thickened to a porridge-like consistency. Add in a little bit of vanilla extract, and serve the arroz con coco warm or cold.

Arroz con coco is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guatemala.

Camote en dulce

Camote en dulce is a traditional Guatemalan dessert made from sweet potatoes, cinnamon, and panela (unrefined cane sugar). To make camote en dulce, start by boiling peeled and sliced sweet potatoes until they are tender. In a separate pot, dissolve panela in water and add cinnamon sticks. Simmer the mixture for a few minutes and then add the cooked sweet potatoes. Let the mixture simmer for 30-40 minutes, until the sweet potatoes have absorbed the flavors of the panela and cinnamon.

Camote en dulce is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed during the Christmas season in Guatemala.

Canillitas de leche

Canillitas de leche are a type of sweet and creamy candy that is popular in Guatemala. They are made by cooking milk and sugar together until the mixture thickens and becomes a creamy caramel-like consistency.

To make canillitas de leche, start by mixing milk and sugar in a pot and cooking the mixture over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until it thickens and becomes a caramel-like consistency. Pour the mixture into small molds or muffin cups and let it cool until it sets.

Canillitas de leche are a rich and creamy candy that is often enjoyed as a treat in Guatemala.

Leche poleada

Leche poleada is a sweet and creamy dessert that is similar to rice pudding. It is made by cooking milk, sugar, and cinnamon together until the mixture thickens and becomes a creamy custard-like consistency.

To make leche poleada, start by mixing milk, sugar, and cinnamon in a pot and cooking the mixture over low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until it thickens and becomes a custard-like consistency. Add in a little bit of cornstarch to thicken the mixture further, if needed. Serve the leche poleada warm or chilled.

Leche poleada is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guatemala.

Nicoyas

Nicoyas are a type of sweet, crispy cookie that is popular in Guatemala. They are made by mixing together flour, butter, sugar, and eggs, and then rolling the dough into thin circles. The circles are then cut into wedges and baked until they are crispy and golden brown.

To make nicoyas, start by mixing together flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Add in eggs and knead the dough until it forms a ball. Roll the dough out into thin circles and cut them into wedges. Place the wedges on a baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven until they are crispy and golden brown.

Nicoyas are a sweet and crispy cookie that is often enjoyed as a snack or as a dessert in Guatemala.

Champurradas

Champurradas are a traditional Guatemalan cookie that is similar to a Mexican concha. They are made by mixing together flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, and then shaping the dough into circles. The circles are then pressed with a patterned mold and baked until they are golden brown.

To make champurradas, start by mixing together flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Add in eggs and knead the dough until it forms a ball. Shape the dough into circles and press them with a patterned mold. Place the circles on a baking sheet and bake them in a preheated oven until they are golden brown.

Champurradas are a sweet and crumbly cookie that is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or hot chocolate in Guatemala.

Tostadas de Santa María

Tostadas de Santa María are a type of crispy, sweet cracker that is popular in Guatemala. They are made by mixing together flour, sugar, and butter, and then rolling the dough out into thin circles. The circles are then baked until they are crispy and golden brown.

To make tostadas de Santa María, start by mixing together flour, sugar, and butter in a bowl. Add in water and knead the dough until it forms a ball. Roll the dough out into thin circles and place them on a baking sheet. Bake the circles in a preheated oven until they are crispy and golden brown.

Tostadas de Santa María are a sweet and crispy snack that is often enjoyed with a cup of coffee or tea in Guatemala.

Quesadilla

Quesadilla is a popular dessert in Guatemala that is similar to a cheesecake. It is made by mixing together queso fresco (a fresh cheese), sugar, eggs, and cinnamon, and then baking it in a pie crust.

To make quesadilla, start by mixing together queso fresco, sugar, eggs, and cinnamon in a bowl. Pour the mixture into a pie crust and bake it in a preheated oven until it is golden brown and set.

Quesadilla is a sweet and creamy dessert that is often enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guatemala.

Budín de pan

Budín de pan, which translates to “bread pudding,” is a classic dessert that is popular in Guatemala. It is made by soaking stale bread in a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, and spices, and then baking it until it is set.

To make budín de pan, start by tearing stale bread into small pieces and soaking them in a mixture of milk, eggs, sugar, and spices. Pour the mixture into a baking dish and bake it in a preheated oven until it is set and golden brown.

Budín de pan is a sweet and comforting dessert that is often enjoyed as a midday or evening snack in Guatemala.

Cacao beans

Cacao beans are a traditional and important food in Guatemala, and they are often eaten as a dessert. They are the raw ingredient used to make chocolate and are known for their rich, nutty flavor.

To eat cacao beans, start by roasting them in a pan until they are fragrant and lightly browned. Then, crack open the beans to reveal the cocoa nibs inside. Eat the nibs as they are or grind them into a paste to make homemade chocolate.

Cacao beans are a flavorful and nutritious dessert that is enjoyed throughout Guatemala.

Jocotes en miel

Jocotes en miel is a sweet and tangy dessert made with jocote fruit (a type of tropical fruit), sugar, and water. To make jocotes en miel, start by boiling jocotes in a pot of water until they are tender. In a separate pot, dissolve sugar in water to make syrup. Add the jocotes to the syrup and simmer until the syrup has thickened and the fruit is coated in the sticky, sweet liquid.

Jocotes en miel is a delicious dessert that is often enjoyed during the summer months in Guatemala.

Rellenitos de guayaba

Rellenitos de guayaba are a variation of the popular Guatemalan dessert, rellenitos de plátano. In this version, ripe plantains are mashed and filled with a sweet guava paste. The filled plantains are then rolled into balls and fried until crispy and golden brown.

To make rellenitos de guayaba, start by mashing ripe plantains in a bowl. Spoon a dollop of guava paste onto the mashed plantains and roll the mixture into balls. Fry the balls in hot oil until they are crispy and golden brown.

Rellenitos de guayaba are a sweet and flavorful dessert that is popular in Guatemala.

Tascalate

Tascalate is a sweet and spicy drink that is popular in the highlands of Guatemala. It is made by blending together a mixture of corn masa (dough), cocoa powder, cinnamon, sugar, and achiote (a type of spice). The mixture is then mixed with water or milk and served cold.

To make tascalate, start by blending together corn masa, cocoa powder, cinnamon, sugar, and achiote in a blender until the mixture is fine and powdery. Mix the powder with water or milk until it forms a smooth and creamy drink.

Tascalate is a unique and flavorful drink that is enjoyed throughout the highlands of Guatemala.

Happy Travels!