Okay, so today I wanted to try my hand at making some Venezuelan desserts. I’ve always been fascinated by the different flavors and textures from around the world, and Venezuelan sweets seemed like a fun place to start. I did a little digging online to get an idea of what kinds of desserts they have there.
First up, I found something called “Papitas de leche.” They looked like these cute little balls, and the ingredients were pretty simple: sugar, condensed milk, powdered milk, and cloves. The website said they were also known as “milk truffles.” I gathered all the ingredients and started mixing them together. It was a bit sticky, but I managed to form them into little balls. Then I stuck a clove in the center of each one, just like the pictures showed. They were really easy to make, even for a baking newbie like me.
Next, I stumbled upon a dessert called “Negro en Camisa.” Apparently, it means “Black in a shirt.” It’s a dark chocolate cake with a creamy sauce on top. The sauce is supposed to be the “shirt.” I found a recipe online and got to work. Baking the cake was pretty straightforward. I mixed the batter, poured it into a pan, and baked it until it was done. The sauce, which they called “English cream” or custard, was a bit trickier, but I followed the instructions carefully and it turned out pretty good. Once the cake cooled, I poured the sauce over it. It looked really fancy, like something you’d get at a restaurant.
Then I discovered something called “Golfeados.” The description made them sound like cinnamon rolls, but with a Venezuelan twist. They are supposed to be sweet and savory at the same time. Intrigued, I decided to give them a go. I found a recipe and followed the steps, which involved making a dough, rolling it out, adding a filling of sugar, spices, and cheese, rolling it up, and baking it. It took a little longer than the other desserts, but the smell while they were baking was amazing. They came out of the oven golden brown and smelling delicious. I tried one, and it was like a party in my mouth – sweet, cheesy, and spicy all at once.
I also came across a dessert called “Quesillo.” They said it’s like flan, a popular dessert in Latin America. I found a simple recipe and gave it a shot. You make a caramel sauce in the bottom of the pan, then pour a mixture of eggs, milk, and sugar on top. Then you bake it in a water bath until it sets. It sounded a bit complicated, but it turned out to be easier than I thought. I let it cool and then flipped it onto a plate. The caramel sauce oozed out and it looked so good. It was creamy and smooth, and the caramel added a nice touch of sweetness.
Finally, I found a dessert called “Dulce de Lechosa.” It’s made with a tropical fruit called “lechosa,” which is also known as papaya. I found a recipe that used green papaya, sugar, and spices. I followed the steps, which involved cooking the papaya with the sugar and spices until it became soft and caramelized. It was a different kind of dessert, but it was really tasty. The papaya had a unique flavor, and the sweetness and spices complemented it well.
- Papitas de leche: Super easy to make.
- Negro en Camisa: A bit more work, but worth it.
- Golfeados: They took the longest, but the flavor was amazing.
- Quesillo: Easier than I expected, and really creamy.
- Dulce de Lechosa: A different but tasty dessert with a unique fruit.
So, that was my Venezuelan dessert adventure! It was a lot of fun trying out these new recipes, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well everything turned out. It’s amazing how different cultures have their own unique ways of satisfying a sweet tooth.
