Costa Rican Dessert Recipes
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Dessert is as popular in Costa Rica as it is in the rest of the world, and this list of the best Costa Rican dessert recipes covers all the bases from baked goods to frozen treats.
About Costa Rican Desserts
Dessert- it’s the best part of any meal, right? Costa Rica is no exception, as the variety of locally grown fresh fruits and the abundance of sugar cane mean sweet treats are abundant.
From homemade candies to baked goods to stovetop dessert recipes, there is no shortage of amazing dessert recipes from the land of pura vida.
Related post: Guide To Costa Rican Fruit
A few details about desserts in Costa Rica:
You should not expect to be served dessert after every meal- rather desserts are reserved for special occasions such as birthday parties, weddings and special dinners. It is not common for dessert to be on every menu- especially at Costa Rican sodas.
Most Costa Rican homes do not have ovens- traditional homes employ a gas stovetop for cooking. There are bakeries (panaderías) in almost every neighborhood, and most grocery stores and pulperias also have baked goods for sale at a reasonable price.
To that end, you will find that food we think of as dessert foods here in the United States are often consumed during the afternoon coffee hour. Coffee is accompanied by everything from cake ro custard tarts to sweet bread and sweet empanadas.
It is also common to consume frozen desserts on the street or at the beach. You can find popsicles, scoops of ice cream, snow cones and more for sale on many street corners throughout the country.
When visiting Costa Rica, you will find many options for desserts, but you will also find that many Costa Ricans don’t really make desserts at home.
Related post: 30 Foods You Must Try In Costa Rica
List of Costa Rican Dessert Recipes
Costa Rican Tres Leches
Much like dulce de leche, cajeta is a Latin American caramel sauce traditionally prepared with goat’s milk. Here’s how you can make this traditional delight at home!
Costa Rican Arroz con leche (rice pudding
Tres leches cake is a favorite Costa Rican recipe- and the most delicious dessert. It’s a sponge cake baked from scratch with sugar, flour, eggs and vanilla. Add three types of milk- evaporated milk, heavy cream and sweetened condensed milk and top with whipped topping for an incredibly rich flavor.
Torta Chilena
Tamal de masa
This gluten-free Costa Rican tamal de masa dessert is slightly sweet with a unique texture. Traditionally served during Holy Week and at Christmas, it’s the perfect complement to a steaming hot cup of coffee or agua dulce!
Melchochas de Natilla
Melcochas de natilla is the Spanish name for a traditional Costa Rican candy made from sour cream and sugar. How to make the two-ingredient homemade candy recipe unique to Costa Rica. The festival of melcochas de Maria is celebrated in San Ramon Costa Rica on December 7th each year.
Suspiros (Costa Rican merengue)
Costa Rican suspiros are meringue cookies made from just three ingredients- egg whites, granulated sugar and just a touch of lime juice. The perfect cross between a cookie recipe and a candy recipe- and so easy!
Costa Rican Rompope
Egg nog seems to be a universally loved drink at Christmas time, and the Costa Rican version is as delicious as any other.
Costa Rican Snow Cone (Copo)
Sugary and refreshing, copos are the Costa Rican snow cone and the perfect way to refresh on a hot day. Also known as piraguas, granizados and raspados, no matter what you call them they’re delicious!
Empanadas de chiverre
These Costa Rican empanadas de chiverre are the perfect mix of sweet and savory. Made from scratch and baked to golden perfection, these traditional Costa Rican Easter treats are delicious and fun to make with friends.
Empanadas de Cajeta
These crisp and buttery Costa Rican cajeta empanadas are filled with a delicious caramel-like spread made with goat’s milk. Perfect for dunking in coffee or satisfying a sweet tooth!
Coconut Empanadas
These Costa Rican coconut empanadas combine sweet coconut bathed in evaporated milk and baked inside a floury pastry dough for the perfect decadent dessert.
Dulce de leche Empanadas
These baked dulce de leche empanadas are made with a flour dough and filled with sweet caramel sauce before baked in the oven. A traditional Costa Rican dessert recipe and the perfect food to pair with coffee.
Homemade dulce de leche
Costa Rican dulce de leche is luscious, sweet, and super easy to make at home! With ONE ingredient. Thee ways to make dulce de leche.
Homemade cajeta
Much like dulce de leche, cajeta is a Latin American caramel sauce traditionally prepared with goat’s milk. Here’s how you can make this traditional delight at home!
So easy to make at home and endlessly delicious!
Pineapple Popsicles
Packed with Vitamin C and antioxidants, pineapple popsicles (or paletas de pina as they are known in Costa Rica) are a guilt-free summer treat that both parents and kids love!
Mango popsicle
These fresh mango popsicles are easy to make at home with just three ingredients. Packed with fiber, Vitamin C and delicious, these will be a new favorite!
Creamy Blackberry popsicle
Ditch the ice cream maker and make your own creamy blackberry popsicle from scratch. Healthy, a full serving of fruit and a portable version of helados caseros!
Coconut Pudding (miel de Coco)
Costa Rican miel de coco is a milk-based thick syrupy dessert made from coconut flakes and sweetened condensed milk, then boiled until thick and sweet.
Torta Chilena
Arguably one of the absolute most popular desserts in Costa Rica. Layers of homemade dulce de leche sandwiched between homemade pie crusts.
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Christa Jimenez
Welcome! I’m Christa, a former high school teacher married to a handsome Costa Rican and mother of two bilingual daughters. I love all things Spanish and bi-cultural, (especially travel and food!) and you’ll find my observations on life here. Thanks for stopping by
