Alright, so today I’m gonna tell you about my little adventure with Cuban desserts. I’ve always had a sweet tooth, and Cuban food? Don’t even get me started. But their desserts are a whole other level of delicious. I had to try making some myself.
First off, I went to the grocery store. I needed some basics like milk, sugar, eggs, and some stuff I’d never bought before, like guava paste. I also grabbed some puff pastry ’cause I saw a recipe that used it, and I figured, why not?
The first thing I tackled was Flan. I’d heard it’s like a custard, and who doesn’t love custard? I followed a recipe I found, and let me tell you, it wasn’t as easy as it looked. I whisked together eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla. It smelled amazing already! Then came the tricky part – making the caramel. I almost burned it, but I managed to get that nice golden brown color. Poured the caramel into a dish, then the custard mix on top. Baked it in a water bath, which was a first for me. The waiting was torture! But when it was done and cooled, I flipped it onto a plate, and bam! My very own flan. It was creamy, sweet, and oh-so-good.
Next up, Arroz con Leche. Basically, it’s rice pudding, but the Cuban version. I cooked rice in milk and sugar, which sounds weird, but trust me, it’s delicious. I added some cinnamon and let it simmer until it got all thick and creamy. I even toasted some of it in a pan with butter for a little extra flavor. Served it warm, and it was like a hug in a bowl. Perfect for a cozy night in.
- Then I tried Pastelitos de Guayaba. These are pastries filled with guava paste. I used store-bought puff pastry, cut it into squares, and put a dollop of guava paste in the center. Folded them over, crimped the edges, and baked them until they were golden and puffy. These were a hit with my friends – sweet, tangy, and flaky.
- I also made something called Dulce de Leche Cortada. It’s like a curdled milk dessert. Sounds odd, I know, but it’s actually pretty good. You curdle milk with lemon juice, then cook it with sugar and cinnamon until it forms these sweet, chewy curds. It’s definitely an acquired taste, but I enjoyed it.
Trying Out Some New Stuff
I even gave Capuchinos a shot. These are little cone-shaped cakes soaked in syrup. They were a bit more work, but the result was worth it. Moist, sweet, and perfect with a cup of coffee. The recipe I used involved making a cake batter, baking it in special molds, and then soaking them in a sugary syrup. They looked so fancy when I was done!
My last experiment was Cazuela de Platano. It’s a plantain casserole, which was totally new to me. I sliced up some ripe plantains and layered them with sugar and spices. Then I baked it until the plantains were soft and caramelized. It was like a sweet, comforting hug. And surprisingly easy to make, too.
All in all, it was a fun ride diving into Cuban desserts. I messed up a few times, sure, but I also discovered some new favorites. Cooking is all about experimenting, right? And trust me, these sweets are worth trying out. If I can make them, so can you!
Oh, and a little tip: if you try making the Natilla-filled pastries, try making them. They are super good. I tried it with some and it was awesome.
So, yeah, that’s my Cuban dessert adventure. Hope you enjoyed the story. Go try some of these yourself, and let me know how it goes! Cooking should be fun, and these desserts definitely make it a sweet experience.
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