Having grown up experiencing Argentinean culture through my immigrant parents, I’ve had the opportunity to try some of the nation’s best pastries, confections and creations. Even if Argentina might be best known for its meat and wine, there are tons of delicious sweets worth trying.
Here’s a guide to the tastiest and sugariest eats this South American country has to offer.
1. Medialunas
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Translating into “half-moons,” medialunas are the Argentinean versions of croissants and are often eaten at breakfast or during merienda (snack) with a cup of coffee. They come in two types: de grasa, which are made with lard and are usually flakier and skinnier, or de manteca, a fluffier, doughier version made with butter.
For more on croissant variations, check out this easy 2-ingredient Kit Kat croissant recipe.
2. Dulce de Leche
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Featured in around 90 percent of Argentina’s sweets, dulce de leche is to Argentineans what peanut butter is to Americans. Rich, smooth, and creamy, you can spread it on everything from a banana to a medialuna, drizzle it on top of your ice cream, or simply enjoy it in its pure, untouched state.
3. Chocolate En Rama
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Chocolate makers in Argentina spread freshly melted chocolate on a slab of marble, then scrape it together to achieve a ridge-like consistency that resembles a piece of bark. Though found across the country, the most famous kind comes from La Patagonia.
Can’t get enough chocolate? Click here for a chocoholic’s guide to the tastiest milk chocolate bars.
4. Churros con Dulce De Leche
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Argentina’s spin on this classic Latin-American sweet is, of course, filled with dulce de leche. Sprinkled with sugar on top, churros are sold by churreros on Argentina’s beaches during the summer months and are traditionally enjoyed as an ocean-side treat. Check out this article to see how Spaniards enjoy this deep-fried delicacy.
5. Alfajores
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An alfajor is a cookie sandwich filled with dulce de leche, then covered in chocolate or merengue. Another variation, alfajor de maicena, can be described as two shortbread cookies, also filled with dulce de leche, and then rolled in coconut flakes. Love Oreos? Learn how to make an Alfajor-Oreo hybrid here.
6. Flan con Dulce de Leche
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Consistent with the trend of putting dulce de leche on everything, Argentineans eat their flan with a side of the caramel-like confection. Creamy and sweet, the dulce de leche goes well with the custardy texture of the flan. Check out this article for more on desserts from across the world.
7. Chocotorta
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The Chocotorta‘s name constitutes a fusion of “Chocolinas,” a popular chocolate-flavored cookie, and “torta,” Spanish for cake. This classic treat is made by combining Chocolinas, dulce de leche, milk, cacao, and cream cheese together to form a delicious and easy-to-make no-bake cake. Click here for 35 Insanely Easy No Bake Dessert recipes.