Traditional Latin American desserts are generally pretty simple to prepare and literally always crowd-pleasers. Any offerings from flan to the many variations of buñuelos are irresistible and perfect for a little something sweet after a holiday meal. Many of our desserts actually use the same ingredients—milk, sugar, flour, eggs—and not much more, so you could even make a few for Christmas dinner without having to buy a ton of different things.
More from MamásLatinas: Ponche crema recipes to enjoy during the holidays
While many Latin American desserts are simple to make, they also tend to be quite rich and flavorful, meaning that a small portion is enough to satisfy even the sweetest tooth. Many of them can even be prepared as single servings so that everyone can just help themselves to one. We've compiled both traditional recipes and some updated variations on old favorites for you to choose from. Check out 33 of our favorite Latin dessert recipes for the holidays.
How about some arroz con leche with a hint of orange?
There is something so comforting about a bowl of arroz con leche. Rice pudding is a simple dessert that is incredibly delicious. This version has some orange zest added to it that you can omit if you're not into it.
Get the full recipe from MamásLatinas.
Churros are always well-received.
Churros are extremely popular in Mexico and many think they originated there, but they actually originated in Spain and Portugal. Still, they are often featured on Mexican menus and for good reason—they are delectable. Making them at home is not as hard as you would think—they're really just fried dough.
Get the full recipe from The Other Side of the Tortilla.
Sopapillas are light and airy when fried to perfection.
In case you've never had the pleasure of trying them, sopapillas are pillowy soft fried dough delights with a hollow center. You can dust them with sugar, drizzle them with honey, or stuff them with whipped cream and fruit. Sopapillas are actually an American food as they originate from the Latino community in New Mexico.
Get the full recipe from Lil' Luna.
Flan is probably the most well-known dessert out of Latin America.
Traditional flan is actually a super-simple custard dessert with a rich caramel topping. It requires just a handful of basic and affordable ingredients and can be made the night before and chilled, making it a great holiday option.
Get the full recipe from Once Upon a Chef.
This pineapple flan is a festive twist on the classic.
Pineapples are a classic, tropical Latin flavor as well as a symbol of hospitality during the holidays, making them the perfect addition to a creamy classic flan specially made for Christmas.
Get the full recipe from Smart Little Cookie.
Surprise your guests with this flan upgrade.
Throughout Puerto Rico, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic, the combination of guava and cheese is an ultra-popular one, but you might not have thought to use it in flan. Your Christmas guests will be in for a sweet surprise with this one.
Get the full recipe from McCormick.
Venezuelan quesillo is similar to flan.
Despite its name, Venezuelan quesillo has nothing to do with cheese–though it looks a little like queso. It's actually another custard dessert similar to flan but with a firmer texture and a bit of rum for added flavor. Sounds celebratory to me!
Get the full recipe from The Cookware Geek.
Chocoflan is majorly impressive.
In recent years, people have started combining cake and flan into a single dessert, and not only does it look incredibly impressive, but it tastes pretty amazing, too. This chocoflan features a rich chocolate cake topped with creamy flan and rich caramel. Yum!
Get the full recipe from My Latina Table.
If you prefer vanilla, you can make flancocho.
If you prefer vanilla over chocolate, you can still make an amazing flancocho dessert for the holidays. It's the exact same concept as the chocoflan, but this recipe utilizes a boxed yellow cake mix instead of chocolate cake (we're sure you could make a scratch vanilla cake also).
Get the full recipe from Kitchen Gidget.
Costa Rican tamal de masa is delectable.
Costa Rican tamal de masa is traditionally served during Holy Week, but we're betting it would be welcome on any holiday table. Though somewhat similar in texture to bread pudding, it's actually a rather unique dessert made with a corn masa, cheese, sour cream, eggs, and a few other basic ingredients. It has a mild, tangy, vanilla-hinted flavor.
Get the full recipe from Pura Vida Moms.
Bread pudding is straight-up comfort food.
Budin de pan, or bread pudding, is a classic comfort food dessert in many Latin American countries—you know, one of those that every abuela has her own secret recipe for. It's sure to bring smiles to the faces of all of your holiday guests.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
It's not Christmas without cookies.
Polvorones are a traditional Mexican cookie that is served at all manner of celebrations. A dusting of cinnamon sugar turns them into a beautiful and delicious seasonal Christmas treat.
Get the full recipe from How To Cook Like Your Grandmother.
You can't go wrong with alfajores.
Alfajores–Latin sandwich cookies–filled with dulce de leche aren't just beautiful but are so delicious and festive, too. There is nothing more tasty than that amazingly rich caramel filling paired with a flaky cookie.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
Who needs gingerbread men when you have cute little gingerbread piggies?
Whether you're Mexican or not, marranitos–Mexican gingerbread pigs—are a sweet twist on the gingerbread man that are common in the US during the holiday season. They pack a ton of molasses, ginger, and cinnamon flavor and are so satisfying.
Get the full recipe from Isabel Eats.
These Mexican cookies look like gorgeous little snowballs.
Mexican wedding cookies are meant for celebrating! Though they were traditionally prepared for nuptials, their snowy appearance makes them a perfect addition to any Christmas dessert spread.
Get the full recipe from Spend With Pennies.
Meringue cookies are popular around the world.
Meringue cookies, or merenguitos, are commonly found all over the world, including throughout Latin America. They are super simple to prepare with just egg whites and sugar, but you can also top them with toasted coconut for a bit more Latin flare.
Get the full recipe from Imperial Sugar.
Sugar cookies are practically synonymous with Christmas.
Sugar cookies and Christmas go together, but there's no reason you can't switch up the recipe. Torticas de morón are Cuban-style sugar cookies that are flavored with vibrant lime zest. You could even cut them into cute Christmas tree shapes.
Get the full recipe from Tara's Multicultural Table.
Time for cake!
Colombian torticas de coco are like a cross between coconut muffins and cupcakes, and they're packed with coconut and vanilla flavor. They also have a lovely texture aided by the addition of crunchy coconut flakes.
Get the full recipe from My Colombian Recipes.
You can't go wrong with Dominican cake.
Traditional Dominican cake is a thing of legend—it's sweet, airy, tender, and completely irresistible. Made with a delicious pineapple filling, it is absolutely perfect for the holidays.
Get the full recipe from The Daily Meal.
You can also fill your Dominican cake with dulce de leche.
You can double down on flavor by filling your classic Dominican cake with a creamy dulce de leche and even decorating it with a gorgeous caramel drip. No one will be able to resist a slice.
Get the full recipe from Cooking With Books.
This Cuban rum cake will really jazz up the dessert table.
This decadent Cuban rum cake takes a traditional buttermilk and vanilla cake base and infuses it with coconut, then you douse the baked cake in dark rum and pineapple. You literally can't go wrong with that combination.
Get the full recipe from Imperial Sugar.
Or you can skip the rum without sacrificing flavor with this mango and coconut cake.
If you prefer to skip the booze in your cake, this Cuban mango cake with coconut icing is a mouthwatering option. The cake actually features fresh mango right in the batter and is glazed with a coconut milk-based icing, then topped with more fruit.
Get the full recipe from The Spiced Life.
Everyone loves tres leches cake.
Tres leches cake is probably one of the most well-known Latin American desserts out there, and for good reason. The tender, moist cake soaked in rich, creamy milks makes for a truly phenomenal dessert experience. We love this classic version. Don't be shy with the whipped cream!
Get the full recipe from Six Sisters' Stuff.
Eggnog takes tres leches cake to another level.
Use eggnog as one of the milks in your tres leches cake to create an updated version perfect for the Christmas holiday. The richness of the eggnog works perfectly and really boosts the festive factor.
Get the full recipe from Table for Two.
Buñuelos are ubiquitous throughout Latin America.
Buñuelos are a popular street food in Mexico during the Christmas season. The light, crisp discs of fried dough are simply addictive, especially if you make them using a traditional anise and cinnamon syrup. They are a bit labor intensive but can be fun to prepare as a family.
Get the full recipe from Mexico in My Kitchen.
Colombians enjoy buñuelos at Christmastime, too.
Colombian buñuelos actually share very little in common with the Mexican version, but they are also oh so tasty. In Colombia, it's very common to pair salty cheese with sweet ingredients, which is how these buñuelos are made. They are beautiful golden fried balls of dough bursting with cheese and sweetened with just a bit of sugar.
Get the full recipe from Curious Cuisiniére.
Dominican buñuelos also have their own unique flavor profile.
Dominican-style buñuelos are actually totally different–they are made with yucca and soaked in a syrup of lime zest, anise, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and other spices. You could even dust them with festive sprinkles to boost the appearance.
Get the full recipe from Spoonabilities.
You won't believe how easy it is to make Dominican dulce de leche candies.
These quick Dominican-style dulce de leche candies are simply made by cooking sweetened condensed milk. They are sweet and delicious and perfect for sitting around the table to munch on after Christmas dinner.
Get the full recipe from International Cuisine.
Colombian dulce de coco is totally addictive.
Dulce de coco is a wonderful homestyle Colombian dessert that is super simple to prepare by cooking coconut, milk, and spices together until everything is ooey-gooey. All of the kids at your Christmas celebration are sure to delight over it.
Get the full recipe from My Colombian Recipes.
Dominican corn pudding is treat.
Dominican majarete or corn pudding is a rich and comforting dessert that is perfect to end any meal. You can make it ahead of time for your Christmas celebrations and dole it out into individual dishes for your guests to enjoy as the evening winds down.
Get the full recipe from Pizzazzerie.
Natilla is a Colombian Christmas classic.
Natilla is favorite dessert in Colombia during the Christmas season and is often served with buñuelos. It's a rich, creamy custard that's left to set and either served in individual dishes are cut into squares after it's completely set. The custard invokes the holiday feel thanks to spices like cinnamon, clove, and vanilla.
Get the full recipe from The Well Essentials.
Puerto Rican quesitos are a lovely addition to any pastry spread.
Quesitos are one of the most beloved pastries in the Puerto Rican culture, and they make an adorable and crowd-pleasing addition to any cookie or pastry spread. So yummy and so simple.
Get the full recipe from Mexican Appetizers and More.
You can't get more Christmasy than three kings' cake.
Mexican cuisine is well known for its sweet breads, and rosca de reyes is a truly special one that is served during the Christmas season in honor of the Christ child. If you want to be really traditional, don't forget to bake in a tiny baby doll to represent baby Jesus.
Find the full recipe on MamásLatinas.
