My Big Fat Cuban Family

My Big Fat Cuban Family

Cuban recipes, family, heritage, and culture.

What’s Your Favorite Cuban Dessert?

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What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert?

Please don’t start your answer to this question with “it depends.” I can’t handle: “it depends.”

I want the answer to be quick, clean, and uncomplicated.

Someone asks you: “What’s your favorite Cuban dessert?”  I want you to have the answer handily on the tip of your tongue. I want you to know your mind on this subject. You’re Cuban, therefore you know EVERYTHING. So, what’s your favorite Cuban dessert?

Go ahead. Ask me.

“Marta, what’s your favorite Cuban dessert?”

I break out into a cold sweat.

Do you mean like when I was growing up? Or after dinner? Yes, but after which particular meal? In the morning with coffee, like for breakfast? That might be the easiest.

Wait. I think all that was me saying, “it depends.” *sigh*

Fine. I surrender to my appalling lack of commitment in this that should, arguably, be an area where I unquestionably know my mind.

Let’s start again then, shall we?

After picadillo, I want cascos de guayaba con queso crema. (guava and cream cheese)

Arroz con pollo demands to be followed by flan. (Duh.)

A pastelito de guayaba (maybe 2) would be my first choice for an eye opener first thing in the morning with espresso. Wait. Can I change that? I might want a cheese roll or a coconut pastry.

Oh WHY is this so difficult?

Maybe… just maybe… it’s not such a simple question. 

Also, there should be prizes for all this grueling brain work.

Go visit my shop and see if it will help you figure out what you need. MartaDarbyDesigns on Etsy.

A (Postres Cubanos) Cuban Dessert Poster from my online shop.

 

 

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nuria Diaz says

    Marta it has to be flan. It’s simple beauty and versatility is beyond compare. You can have it after a meal, alone or even in the morning (flan de queso, anyone?). Homemade is the way to go, it takes a few staple ingredients (makes it even better!).

  4. Jo Rexford says

    1. Cuban bread pudding with guava paste & flan
    2. Homemade always
    3. After a Cuban meal preferably hot lunch so I can take a nap

  6. Maureen Maldonado says

    1) Guayaba Cheesecake
    2) from Versailles restaurant in Miami
    3) anytime!!!

    Duh, of course I like you on Instagram! 🙂

  11. IRMA GARCIA says

    (1) Pastelitos de Guyaba y Queso Crema,
    (2) Homemade ( I taught my daughters how to make them as well).
    (3) All of the above

  12. Elizabeth says

    I like and follow you on IG already….so I don’t have to come back here and tell you that. 😄

    My favorite Cuban dessert is flan. I prefer homemade (my mom’s or my own). And definitely after a delicious dinner.

  13. Valerie Stickles says

    1. Pastelitos de guyaba, because hello, they’re awesome
    2. Homemade, because obviously, I followed your recipe!
    3. With un cafecito- as a snack, dessert, breakfast!

  14. Olga Diaz says

    Flan, the original not with cream cheese e al. Definitely homemade, especially by my auntie Elsa, and I could eat it at any time. I also follow you on fb as well as like you on IG.

  15. Alexis Orr says

    Un pastelito de queso is the way to go. I love store bought but I live in Ohio now so it has to be homemade because there are no other options. I also make a mean flan! I eat it after a meal… and alone…and with a cafecito! I hope I didn’t have to choose just one. 😉 I follow you on Insta and Facebook.

  16. Alina Reich says

    Torticas de Moron, or Pan de Gloria. Definitly my two favorites! Would love a recipe for the torticas.

  17. Michael Pancier says

    What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert?

    Flan de Coco

    Homemade or store bought?

    From a Cuban Restaurant or Homemade

    By itself, with a cortadito, or after a meal?

    with an espresso.

  18. Kiki Bacaro says

    Flan, homemade, after dinner (or for breakfast cuz eggs!)
    Pastelitos , bakery, breakfast.
    Arroz con leche, mom-made, always.

  19. Nivia Diaz says

    My mom’s homemade arroz con leche is my favorite cuban dessert. Now I’m craving some Marta . Going to have to make some this week . And of course with cafe cubano too😉

  21. Isa says

    Martica tengo muchos favoritos jijiji, arroz con leche, flan, pastelitos de guallaba, dulce de coco, dulce de leche cortada o el que es de leche condensada OMG cuantas calorias jijiji.

  23. Ileana says

    Arroz con leche because it gives me the warm and fuzzies. Made at home ONLY! And I enjoy it as a mid afternoon treat with a cafecito.

  24. Cynthia Perdomo says

    This is easy! Bunuelo’s, Flan, and Pastelitos!
    Prefer homemade but in a pinch ………
    After a meal usually, but I love a treat for a lazy breakfast or a late afternoon pick me up & ALWAYS with a cafecito!

  25. Nancy Bubeck Lissarrague says

    1. Churros
    2. Storebought from LaPalma on Calle Ocho in Little Havana, Miami, Florida. They have a wonderful walk-up window!
    3. After an evening meal.

  27. Esther says

    Well…it has to be flan of course! I’ve been making it since I was a child in Cuba with my mom, using a “lata” as the mold and using a little stool to reach the kitchen counter, I helped my mom and learned. I have always made flans, coconut, calabaza, but I decided to make a cheese flan last month for the first time per one of my Miami friend’s recipe, and OMG!!! I can’t tell you enough how good it was! Still have to make mango flan, peach flan, banana,, pineapple, and guava flans!! Can’t wait! Does it sound like Flan it is my favorite?? Cuz it is!! ❤️❤️
    1) Flan of course
    2) Homemade of course
    3) After dinner and with a little cafe.
    😋😋😋

  29. Ileana says

    And, duh, of course I already am an MBFCF follower on IG. What kind of Cuban would I be otherwise?? 😜🇨🇺

  30. Celia Nazaroff says

    My mom’s flan de coco. Unfortunately, she passed away 3 years ago and I never learned how to make it. I could eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

  31. Vanessa M. says

    Favorite dessert?
    Quesitos

    Homemade or store bought?
    From the panadería is the closest to homemade I’ve ever had, but due to some dietary changes in our house, I’ve started researching how to make them at home!

    By itself, with a cortadito, or after a meal?
    Well, it depends…if it’s with breakfast, has to be café con leche. If it’s the afternoon, 3pm-ish snack, has to be con un espresso.

    *following on IG*

    Side note: This poster would go fabulously in my kitchen with your Cuban Coffee and Cuban Food posters, that I already have 😉🇨🇺

  32. Keila says

    1. Flan
    2. Homemade, but living where I can’t get authentic Cuban flan, I’m excited to get even store/restaurant variety when in 305.
    3. Is there really only one good time to have a great flan?! If I had to choose, then I guess after a meal. A Cuban meal of course.
    I have been resisting the Instagram craze. So sadly will not get that extra point. But I do love your website and Facebook!

    Keila Fernadez Butler

  33. Sarita Artis says

    Hola! I already follow (and LOVE) you on Instagram. ❤️

    My favorite is: pastelito de guayaba con queso, preferably homemade with that extra sticky simple syrup coating on top.

    I love it any time of day with a cafecito or cortadito.

    Mi cumple es el lunes 3/19, I’d love to win! 💙❤️🇨🇺☕️🙏🏻

  34. Barbara Rodriguez Marrero says

    1. Natilla, arroz con leche (my Tia abuelas recipe💜), flan, anything guayaba!!!
    2. Homemade is always best!!!! (Which usually means me in the kitchen! I don’t mind 😉)
    3. Anytime is a good time!!! As long as I’m surrounded by family/friends 🤗

  38. Maria Vitulli says

    Torrejas!!
    Home made using my mom’s wonderful recipe. Makes me feel as if my mom is with me giving me a big hug.
    In the middle of the afternoon con un cafecito. 🙂

  39. Hilda Fernandez says

    Natilla ! Acabadita de hacer , que este tibia todavía . Pero primero una cuchara para limpiar la cazuela . Yum que ricoooo !

  42. Raquel Rosete says

    What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert? Boniatillo and Cascos de Guayaba con queso crema.

    Homemade or store bought? Boniatillo must be Homemade by my mom but I can do her Cascos from her tree or store bought since she’s 91 and can’t always make it.

    By itself, with a cortadito, or after a meal? I enjoy either Boniatillo or Cascos by themselves, anytime, but they’re better after a Cuban meal.

    I follow you on FB, I’m hitting you up in IG.

  44. Shannon says

    Oh, it’s gotta be pastelitos de guayaba y queso crema. I haven’t lived near store/restaurant-bought Cuban food since 2007, so I’ve been adding recipes to my repertoire for the past 10 years. So glad I saw your post about making pastelitos at home! Now I can enjoy them with my cafecito, even in Pittsburgh!

  45. Miranda Ibarra says

    I absolutely love Cheese Rolls, definitely from Porto’s of course (so store-bought hehe) and I personally love it by itself, but really I could eat it at any time of day, all day 24/7 😉

  47. Lourdes S. says

    Hi, Marta:

    1.) Flan and Arroz con Leche
    2.) Absolutely homemade with my grandmother’s recipe.
    3.) After a meal, before a meal, during a meal. haha

  48. Esther Schepker says

    It has to be flan. Not just any flan, not the light egg flan but the heavy condensed milk flan! There is nothing more delicious! I don’t get to eat it very often because I don’t live near any Cuban or Latino restaurants. I could make it but I use my weight and diabetes as a reason not to indulge, unfortunately! Maybe once a year I’ll find a place that has it and I’ll give in! I’m kind of thankful that I don’t live in Miami for just this very reason! I think I’d be dead by now with all that glorious Cuban cuisine everywhere you go! But it would be a heavenly way to die! “Sigh”

    When to eat cuban desserts? Whenever, wherever, all of the time!

    I already follow you on Instagram! I also gave in to your monthly delivery of goodies from Abuela mami! May God help me!

  49. Esther Schepker says

    It has to be flan. Not just any flan, not the light egg flan but the heavy condensed milk flan! There is nothing more delicious! I don’t get to eat it very often because I don’t live near any Cuban or Latino restaurants. I could make it but I use my weight and diabetes as a reason not to indulge, unfortunately! Maybe once a year I’ll find a place that has it and I’ll give in! I’m kind of thankful that I don’t live in Miami for just this very reason! I think I’d be dead by now with all that glorious Cuban cuisine everywhere you go! But it would be a heavenly way to die! “Sigh”

    When to eat cuban desserts? Whenever, wherever, all of the time!

    I already follow you on Instagram! I also get a monthly delivery of goodies from Abuela Mami to keep in touch with my Cuban heritage! God help me!

  50. Maria Paris says

    What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert? Flan, Anything guava!
    Homemade or store bought? Either…but homemade is best!
    By itself, with a cortadito, or after a meal? Anytime!!

    And I certainly follow you and LIKE you on Instagram

  53. Yadira Z.Noris says

    Pastelitos de guayaba, flan, dulce de leche…
    Home made are better, but really anything will do.
    Pastelitos de guayaba with milk, the others don’t need anything else, maybe water.
    And of course I already follow you on IG!
    Cheers!!

  55. Elena says

    Oh always flan, made by mi abuela María Teresa, anytime, con una cuchara y servilleta. 🙌🏻

  59. Mirtha Martinez says

    Flan, arroz con leche, and pastelitos de guayaba are my favorites. I prefer homemade for the flan and arroz con leche (following my mom’s recipes), and I’ll take store-bought for the pastelitos. I’ll take these any tim, all the time. 😉 l already follow you on Instagram. 🙂

  60. Iliana Figueredo says

    Flan hands down!
    Definitely homemade!!!! P.S. Made my first flan around two months ago and I thought it came out great!
    I can have it anytime, I have a mean sweet tooth!

  61. Carey Persico says

    Definitely a TRES LECHES. So much flavor and all that moistened.
    Anytime! My brother and I would get a craving usually at 11pm when I was staying at his place in Miami. We’d run to the local Cuban restaurant to satisfy the craving.
    Que rico!

  62. Bea Fernandez says

    1. My favorite has to be Flan, followed by galletas con guayaba y queso (because guava), but, I like to combine my favs and make my guava flan! 😉
    2. Homemade always!!
    3. All day, every day, anytime!! C’mon now! LOL

  64. Diane says

    1. Flan is my favorite Cuban dessert.

    2. Homemade. I love making it with my mother’s recipe.

    3. Definitely after a meal.

  65. Lisa vice says

    Guava Turnovers. I spent 22 years in the Navy, and the one thing I missed the most was food. When I would come home on leave my mom always took me to the bakery and brought 2 or 3 rounds of guava turnovers. After my mom died, I didn’t come back home. Years ago I moved back to my home. And can get guava anytime. But after finding your receipe for turnsovers I just make them myself. Boy do wish I had the receipe 30 years ago.

  66. Jennifer says

    Pastelitos de guayaba

    Homemade or store bought, I’ve never had one that wasn’t good.

    Anytime, all the time. 🙂

  70. Liana Pierluissi says

    1. Natilla
    2. Homemade (The way my Abuela used to prepare it!)
    3. Usually as a snack before bedtime

    ***I like you on Instagram!***

  71. Dania huie says

    Buñuelos (Home made)
    Pastel de guayaba y queso crema ( Vickie’s bakery in Miami)

    Def con un cortadito!!

  75. Leydin says

    Since you asked…
    What’s your favorite Cuban Dessert?
    Flan. Flan. Y más Flan.
    Homemade or store bought?
    Really? Homemade. By my paternal great aunt or my maternal grandfather.
    HOWEVER – since both have passed (Que en Paz descansen) and until such time we are reunited in that big Cuban kitchen in the sky, store bought (para resolver, tú sabes…)

    By itself, with a cortadito, or after a meal?
    Because I have to chose only one of the above?
    This is America, land of the brave and home of the free flowing Flan (and other Cuban pastries).

    Marta – I ♥️♥️ your blog.
    It brings a spark of joy and extra Cubanity to my days… mil gracias!
    Un abrazo de New Jersey
    Leydin

  76. Maria García-Autry says

    1. Tocinillo del cielo
    2. Homemade is best but there are some places that make it very well.
    3. After a delicious meal but before cafecito.

  77. Sarah says

    So far I’ve only tried cascos homemade since my hubby is Cuban. He has to make them with lactose free cream cheese bc of me. I love them…anytime! I hope to try many more ❤️

    And already liked on instagram

  78. Beatriz Manduley Veto says

    Me encanta capuchinos, flan, y dulce de leche.
    Todos hecho por mi
    ¡Con café Cubano el día entero!

    Instagram…¡Si!

  79. Emily says

    For sure my favorite are pastelitos de guayaba! It has to be from Karla’s bakery in Miami, and I enjoy them by themselves! Que rico

  80. Victor Negrin says

    Arroz con Leche-
    -made by my mom
    -to be eaten after meals
    It’s my favorite because of the happy memories of love and comfort I get while eating it.
    Reminds me of seeing my mom preparing it. Licking her fingers while serving it in small containers to be placed in the refrigerator. Knowing that she would make a few without the cinnamon sticks or powder on top because she knew as a kid I didn’t like cinnamon on mine.

  82. Maria Perez says

    1. Bunuelos
    2. Torrejas
    3. Arroz con leche

    Todavia no he encontrafo quien los haga tan ricos como mi Abuelita (QPD).

  83. Jenifer Wilde says

    ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!! I was raised in Miami….and the ONE thing I miss..oh yeah..cafe con leche and ANY cuban dessert! As a matter of record..when I visit my son and grand kids in LA once a year..I bring a HUGE tote/purse with me so I can smuggle all things Portos back to Oregon with me! The TSA just laughs when I tell them be careful! There is flan and cuban pastries and bread in my purse!

  84. Liliana says

    1. My #1 choice would be torrejas
    2. Homemade would be best but at a restaurant will do
    3. Anytime of the day or night!
    Se me hace la boca agua solo de pensar en este dulce. Que rico!

  86. Lourdes Menendez- Militello says

    1. NATILLA
    2. Homemade!!
    3. By itself, after OR before a meal, with OR without a cortadito