This is a list of the Best Cuban Desserts that we grew up eating and will give you the recipes so you can make them right at home.
Cuban desserts offer a diverse array of treats, but most have common ground. Typically featuring tropical fruits, rich custards, and flaky pastries, reflecting both Spanish influences and the island’s abundance of sugar and other fresh ingredients. Desserts and sugar are central to the Cuban diet.
The 8 Best Cuban Desserts
When you grow up Cuban in Miami, Cuban desserts are really the only desserts we know. Every birthday party had a Carvel or Publix cake (iykyk) and an array of tres leches, flan and pastelitos. We also would be remiss if we did not mention the famous Miami bakery and local legend, Edda, that made the Cuban Rum Cake famous.
Flan:
This is probably what you think of when you think Cuban dessert. Flan is a creamy, caramelized custard that’s a cornerstone in Cuban tradition. This is especially true during holidays like Christmas Eve (Noche Buena). As you will notice in Cuban dessert, flan is made with ingredients like eggs, sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and vanilla. The biggest trick when making a Flan is the “baño maria” which is a process where you bake the flan in a water bath to achieve its silky texture. Find our Full Recipe HERE with all the tips
Pastelitos:
This is something that you are going to find in any Cuban ventanita (window). If you are wondering, yes sugar is one of Cuba’s major food groups. These baked puff pastries are filled with various sweet fillings like guava paste, cream cheese, coconut, or mango. However it can also be filled with Carne, and some people we know call it breakfast. The guava and cheese combination (pastelito de guayaba y queso) is probably the one to try if you are looking to dabble. However we have an amazing Mango Pastelitos Recipe that you can try if you are feeling frisky!
Arroz con Leche:
This is the Cuban spin on rice pudding. It is made with leche condensada and leche evaporada with a beautiful undertone of cinnamon, vanilla and lemon. Arroz con Leche is another testament to the Cuban spirit and love of sugar. It is something that you can make with leftover rice, and is something that really yields a lot with very little ingredients. It’s a personal family favorite. Our Arroz con Leche Recipe is tried and true and guaranteed to give you one of the creamiest rice puddings you have ever had!
Tres Leches Cake:
Tres Leches Cake is another cornerstone of the Cuban dessert list. It is a sponge cake soaked in three kinds of milk (evaporated, condensed, and heavy cream). It can be topped with whipped cream (our preference) or we have even seen it done with an extra layer of Caramel sauce. We love this dessert because it is delicious, but it is also a great recipe to make for a party. Our amazing Tres Leches Cake Recipe can be assembled and made the night before. While we know that making a cake from scratch can be a little intimidating, we do have a Quick Tres Leches Hack Recipe that you can do if you want something a little easier.
Cuban Rum Cake
A Cuban Rum Cake is something that was featured at big life events. There was not a communion or wedding you could attend where you would not find a rum cake with Merengue Frosting. There is a reason for this. A Cuban Rum Cake is absolutely delicious! There is an amazing Rum Cake Recipe on our site that you are going to love. You should pair it with our Favorite Merengue Frosting that you should definitely try.
Merengue
Merengue, or “merenguitos” their Cuban household name, are a Cuban staple. They are commonly found around holidays and special events. Our Abuelas would make them every Noche Buena without fail. They are actually one of the harder things to make on this list. While they appear cute and fluffy, they are actually a dessert that requires precision. However do not let this stop you from trying. We have an amazing recipe that features all the tips to help you achieve Merengue Success right at home! Give Our Merengue Recipe a try and let us know how it goes!
Torticas de Morón:
These Cuban cookies are the definition of short and sweet. Essentially they are traditional Cuban shortbread cookies originating from the city of Morón. They are traditionally made with flour, sugar, lard or shortening, and lime zest. We love making this recipe with our kids, because it allows so much room for creativity. It is an easy to follow recipe, and the kids can decorate it with different sprinkles, jams, nutella or other ideas. You can find our Torticas de Moron Recipe HERE
Pound Cake Panetela
The Pound Cake, or Panetela, is something that was always available at Abuela’s house. The truth is, Abuela always had a Sara Lee Poundcake ready on the counter for “medienda” (or snack). It was always a favorite, because pound cake is as close to perfect as it gets. It’s fluffy, light and just the right sweet note. We made THIS POUNDCAKE RECIPE because we wanted a way to honor this tradition, and make it our own. Give it a try! If not no one would judge you for grabbing a Sara Lee to have in the freezer!
Natilla
We saved the best for last. Natilla, is and always will be, one of the top Cuban desserts of all time. These are fighting words. We have just laid out for you 7 pretty amazing Cuban desserts. However, Natilla is a magical pudding that can cure almost any bad day. As some of the other amazing desserts on this list, Natilla, is a custard made from all the milks. But there is something about the way it all comes together in the pot that just feels like a hug when you eat it. Find our Abuela’s Natilla Recipe HERE and find our easy to follow Recipe Video on Our You Tube Channel NOW!
Our personal favorite thing about Natilla is that you can make it with different flavors. It’s almost too good to be true! Try some of our other delicious Natilla flavors:
