https://www.chefspencil.com
  • Login
  • Register
  • Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Dressings, Dips, Spreads
    • Dessert
    • Pork Recipes
    • Side Dish
  • Chefs
  • Food News
    • News
    • Guides
      • Product Reviews
      • Gifts & Product Guides
      • Food Substitutes
        • Cheese Substitutes
  • Food Atlas
    • Asian Cuisines
    • African Cuisines
    • European Cuisines
      • Central European Cuisine
      • Northern European Cuisine
      • Eastern European Cuisine
      • Southern European Cuisine
    • Middle East Cuisine
    • South American Cuisine
    • North American Cuisine
    • Central American Foods
    • Caribbean Cuisine
  • Culinary Schools
  • About Us
  • Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Dressings, Dips, Spreads
    • Dessert
    • Pork Recipes
    • Side Dish
  • Chefs
  • Food News
    • News
    • Guides
      • Product Reviews
      • Gifts & Product Guides
      • Food Substitutes
        • Cheese Substitutes
  • Food Atlas
    • Asian Cuisines
    • African Cuisines
    • European Cuisines
      • Central European Cuisine
      • Northern European Cuisine
      • Eastern European Cuisine
      • Southern European Cuisine
    • Middle East Cuisine
    • South American Cuisine
    • North American Cuisine
    • Central American Foods
    • Caribbean Cuisine
  • Culinary Schools
  • About Us
  • Home
  • Central American Foods
  • 16 Delectable Nicaraguan Desserts

16 Delectable Nicaraguan Desserts

Posted on Jul 24th, 2022
by Noel Bermudez
Categories:
  • Central American Foods
16 Nicaraguan Desserts

Nicaragua is a small country located in the center of Central America, on one side the Pacific Ocean and on the other side the Atlantic. It is a country of beautiful landscapes and great culinary tradition.

Although there are many similarities with other dishes of the region, the flavors, textures, aromas, and colors are very different, providing new experiences for the palate.

Nicaraguan desserts deserve a special mention for being gastronomically varied, and more so for involving natural, local ingredients and being rather easy to prepare. Some Nicaraguan desserts are highly popular in certain regions such as cajetas – popular in Masaya and Diriomo – or cosas de horno and perrerreques, which are very popular in the City of León.

Without further ado, let’s round-up the most popular Nicaraguan desserts.

1. Picos

Picos
Photo Credit: elpiconica

This is a typical pastry prepared in Nicaraguan homes, served as a quick breakfast or as an afternoon dessert.

It is a triangle-shaped pastry that is filled with cheese, cinnamon, and sugar. There are two varieties of picos: soft and toasted. The latter are addictive!

2. Cosa de Horno

Cosa de Horno
Photo Credit: tianguehugochavez

La cosa de horno is a popular appetizer or snack often accompanied by a delicious, freshly brewed cup of coffee.

It is the most delicious thing you will ever taste. Its name comes from the way it is made: corn dough baked with a touch of cinnamon, milk, and sugar.

3. BuƱuelos

BuƱuelos

This is a favorite dessert, especially at Easter and national holidays. They are found on street stalls and are usually very cheap and, above all, are very nutritious (at least, that’s what they say).

The base is cassava and cheese, which, when fried, gets a crispy outer layer and stays soft inside. Flavored with cheese and cassava, topped with a honey syrup, you’ll be licking your fingers.

4. Sopa de Leche

This is a dessert originally from the City of León. Made with milk and bread, its texture is a cross between a flan and a pudding. Flavored with milk or cheese, it is an absolute delight when combined with a freshly brewed cup of coffee.

5. Arroz de Leche

Arroz de Leche

Arroz de leche is a world-famous dessert with European roots. But in Nicaragua, this delicious creamy recipe is full of the flavor of vanilla. Other ingredients such as raisins can be added if you like.

6. Atol

Atolillo
Photo Credit: otitos_cuisine

This is one of the most representative desserts of our land. Atol is typically served in the afternoons and at traditional festivals. This one can be found in Tiangue de Monimbo, Masaya.

Like most of the dishes of the region, its base is corn and sugar. It tastes similar to a sweet cream, making it a must-try dessert. Atol is usually added to other desserts for extra flavor.

7. Tres Leches

Tres Leches

Tres Leches is a traditional rich dessert. The milk, an essential ingredient, and rich meringue make it impossible to resist. This moist, sweet cake will melt any palate.

It is made with three types of milk: condensed milk, evaporated milk, and heavy cream – imagine that!

8. Cajetas

Cajetas
Photo Credit: dulces.mama.nina

There is a wide variety of cajetas in Nicaragua, but the most popular are the Cajeta de Leche (milk caramel). The base is milk, sugar, and cinnamon and it can either be a liquid, which is known as manjar de leche, or a solid, cajeta de leche.

There are also coconut cajetas with a base of coconut and milk, resulting in a slightly more solid and crunchy texture. A wide variety of fruits and other ingredients are used to make cajeta, creating amazing colors and flavors.

9. Yoltamal Rellenos

Yoltamal Rellenos
Photo Credit: minicaraguita

This is a dessert that has evolved over time. Part of the pre-Colombian diet, its base is corn or, as our ancestors knew it, tlaolli. Inside the corn dough is a good portion of cheese, sugar, and cinnamon, resulting in a sweet but salty dessert.

This is a Nicaraguan dessert that you should definitely try. Is one of my favorites, since it texture is soft and it has a sweet and cheesy flavor. You can add a spoon of sour cream for extra flavor, too.

10. Pio V

Pio Quinto
Photo Credit: beccalta

This is a common dessert in Nicaragua that everyone knows how to make and can be found in all restaurants. And it’s one for the grown ups.

The base is a porous bread, also known as marquesote, which is submerged in a syrup of honey, cinnamon, lemon juice, and white rum (if it’s Nicaraguan, all the better!). Atol is spread over the cake, creating a moist cake with a viscous layer of atol adorned with raisins

11. Perrerreque

Perrerreque
Photo Credit: nicaraguitas

Perrerreque is “a sweet bread with all the power of cheese”. Its base is sweet corn and cheese, and it is made with mixed corn, curd, sugar, milk, and cinnamon.

It is usually baked in traditional wood-fired ovens, toasting the outside and leaving the inside soft. It is a mix of sweet and salty flavors and goes very well with a cup of coffee.

12. Rosquillas

Rosquillas

There is a wide variety of rosquillas, but here we give you the two most popular, traditional rosquillas and hojaldras, otherwise known as viejitas. These are cookies made with cheese and corn, giving them a crunchy texture and a salty, cheesy flavor. They are a popular snack and can be quite addictive!

Viejitas are similar to rosquillas but have an additional touch of sugar and cinnamon, adding a sweetness to the salty flavors of the rosquillas. In Nicaragua they are eaten alongside a cup of good coffee.

13. AlmĆ­bar

AlmĆ­bar
Photo Credit: conociendoanicaragua

This traditional Easter dessert is a combination of all the fruits of the region cooked in wood for many hours with cinnamon, cloves, and lots and lots of honey or raspado de dulce (solidified sugar cane juice).

In Nicaragua, almibar is made at home and shared with visitors or anyone who didn’t get round to making it. It is commonly made with mango, jocote, coconut, and papaya, and raspado or atado de dulce, which gives it its dark color. It is a dessert that is not served often due to the complexity of making it.

If you are wondering what raspado or atado de dulce is, it is raw brown sugar made from crushed sugar cane. The juice is collected, boiled, and poured into molds, where it hardens.

14. Bienmesabe

Bienmesabe
Photo Credit: Canal 4 Nicaragua

This is a traditional Nicaraguan dessert. Green banana is cut lengthwise, or julienned, and fried. Portions the size of a fist are bathed in a syrup of atado de dulce, and it is left to cool to room temperature.

You now have a mass of caramel-glazed banana! Easy and delicious.

15. Maduro en Gloria

Maduro en Gloria
Photo Credit: utiron

The Nicaraguan climate means banana plants grow in most backyards. Together with a little Nicaraguan ingenuity, banana-based desserts are varied and the thing of childhood memories.

Traditionally, the sweet plantain is sliced or cut lengthwise, fried in oil until golden brown, then arranged in a baking pan. Over the first layer, and grated cheese and ground cinnamon are added, another layer of fried sweet plantain and then sugar and cinnamon.

Milk and sour cream or butter are poured over the top and it is baked in the oven until golden. Delicious!

16. Manuelitas

Manuelitas
Photo Credit: marge281995

This is a very versatile dish eaten for breakfast or even as a dessert. Otherwise known as a crepe, manuelitas are sweet and filled with cheese, sugar, and ground cinnamon. They are easy to make, but nonetheless delicious.


Related: Most Popular Foods in Nicaragua

Best 25 Nicaraguan Foods

Noel Bermudez

My name is Noel Bermudez, I was born in the center of Nicaragua, Chontales. I think this is the main reason to love all the things my country has to offer: beaches, mountains, volcanoes, history, culture, and food. I’m very passionate about cooking and the history behind of the local traditions to get those special flavours I grew up loving. I hope you like this selection I made to share a little bit of what we have to offer to the culinary world.

Add Your Comment Cancel reply

Recipe Rating




Best Gift Ideas For Chefs

Gifts for Professional Chefs
Gifts for Professional Chefs

Best 23 Grilling Gifts for BBQ Fanatics

Best Grilling Gifts

World Cuisines

African Recipes by Professional Chefs

African Recipes by Professional Chefs

American Recipes by Professional Chefs

American Recipes by Professional Chefs

Asian Food Recipes by Professional Chefs

Asian Food Recipes by Professional Chefs

Australian Recipes by Professional Chefs

Australian Recipes by Professional Chefs

Austrian Recipes

Austrian Recipes

Belgian Recipes

Belgian Recipes

Brazilian Recipes

Brazilian Recipes

British Recipes

British Recipes

Bulgarian Recipes

Bulgarian Recipes

Canadian Recipes

Canadian Recipes

Caribbean Recipes

Caribbean Recipes

Chinese Recipes

Chinese Recipes

Colombian Recipes

Colombian Recipes

Continental

Continental

Croatian Recipes

Croatian Recipes

Cuban Recipes

Cuban Recipes

Czech Republic Cuisine

Czech Republic Cuisine

Danish Recipes

Danish Recipes

Dominican Recipes

Dominican Recipes

Dutch Recipes

Dutch Recipes

2022 Ā© Chef's Pencil   Privacy Policy & Terms of Service  Contact us

Chef's Pencil is part of the Amazon Associate Program and earns from qualifying purchases.