30 Appealing Spanish Desserts That You Should Not Miss In 2023

Spanish desserts have a long history, and it is said that these sweet treats were born since the arrival of the Romans. With such lovely tastes, Spanish desserts have captivated millions of food connoisseurs worldwide, and this number is still growing by leaps and bounds.

Surprisingly, Spanish desserts are heavily influenced by the Arabs. Ingredients like rice, honey, and almonds are commonly seen in these sweet courses; however, creativity in gastronomy has no boundaries, so don’t be afraid to make some minor tweaks to suit your preferences.

Top 30 Scrumptious Desserts From The Bull Skin Country

You gotta admit that Spanish cuisine is full of delicious dishes. Any side dishes originating from Spanish cuisine is an absolute flavor bomb, and Spanish foods for first courses are equally amazing. So when it comes to Spanish desserts, you can definitely expect them to be tasty as well.

Spanish Desserts – Pastries

1. Tarta de santiago (Spanish almond cake)
2. Tarta de queso (Spanish cheesecake)
3. Torrijas
4. Miguelitos
5. Frisuelos (Spanish crepes)
6. Pantxineta
7. Spanish apple tart
8. Goxua
9. Roscos fritos
10. Tres leches cake

Spanish Desserts – Cookies

11. Panelletes
12. Mantecados (traditional Spanish crumble cakes)
13. Polvorones
14. Churros
15. Pastissets
16. Carquinyolis
17. Almendrados
18. Borrachuelos

Spanish Desserts – Confections

19. Turrón
20. Yemas de Santa Teresa
21. Coconut-date bars
22. Membrillo (quince paste)

Other Spanish Desserts

23. Crema catalana
24. Leche frita (fried milk)
25. Flan
26. Arroz con leche (Spanish rice pudding)
27. Leche merengada
28. Mel i mató
29. Fartons
30. Natilla (Spanish custard)

Are you ready? Spanish desserts, here I come!

More-Than-Perfect Spanish Pastry Desserts

Spain has countless pastry desserts, and it’s hard to tell them apart if you are not an expert. But don’t worry, below are some top-notch choices that I have saved for you.

Tarta De Santiago (Spanish Almond Cake)

Tarta de Santiago is one of the most popular delicacies in Spain, so you can expect to see them on any menu. Originating in Galicia, the cake has been engraved in people’s minds with its delicate flavor and the St. James Cross decoration using icing sugar.

Tarta De Queso (Spanish Cheesecake)

Also known as burned basque cheesecake, the cake looks as if it has been left in the oven for way too long! However, beneath that caramelized top layer lies a beautiful custard with a melt-in-your-mouth texture. The contrast in texture and flavor is truly outstanding.

Torrijas

Torrijas is a no-fail dessert made with stale French toast with a touch of Spanish culinary dishes. The bread slices are dunk in milk and eggs, pan-fried and served with cinnamon or honey on top.

Miguelitos

Miguelitos look like a bunch of tiny pillows, don’t you think? As you take a bite into the flaky golden-brown crust, the filling on the inside explodes in your mouth instantly – you can tell there’s cinnamon, a zing from lemon peel, and a hint of vanilla sweetness. 

Frisuelos (Spanish Crepes)

In Spain, frisuelos, or frixuelos, are usually served at the end of the meal, but you can have these delectable crepes at the beginning of the day if you want. Frisuelos are usually folded and filled with rice pudding, custard, cream, or chocolate pudding.

To achieve crepe’s signature paper-thin thickness, you might need a good non-stick pan for making crepes. However, a better option would be a specialized crepe maker, which can ensure that anyone of any skill level can successfully make delicious crepes for themselves.

Watch this video to know more:

Pantxineta

With pleasant, nutty attributes, almonds are used widely in many Spanish dessert recipes, including pantxineta. This fluffy dessert is a combination of many crunchy pastry layers and a smooth cream filling that makes your mouth water every time you see it.

Spanish Apple Tart

Fruit desserts are a rare sight in Spain, so it’s a blessing to see this apple tart on the list. In this recipe, Granny Smith apples are used to impart a sharp flavor to the pastry. The rich filling is encased in a flaky, golden-brown crust that has been baked to perfection.

Of course, this tart is not complete without some whipping cream, heavy cream or half and half Judging on the differences between heavy cream (heavy whipping cream), whipping cream, and half & half, you can decide for yourself what to pair this apple tart with for a decadent dessert.

Goxua

Whenever I see Goxua, a dish that originates from Basque, I can’t help but feel a strong craving for it. Goxua means “sweet” in Basque, and you can guess how it tastes already. With three different layers in just one dessert, goxua promises to become your next favorite.

Roscos Fritos

Yes, these sugary treats are like brothers to donuts, but they are far cousins with a slight difference in texture and taste. Roscos fritos are deep-fried, so they are a bit fluffy, and the flavor ranges from sweet to saccharine, depending on how you like them.

Tres Leches Cake

It’s not an exaggeration to say that the Spanish adaptation of this milky dessert from Mexico is a roaring success. The cake is made with four different types of milk (evaporated milk, whole milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream), and the taste will make you swoon with delight.

Spanish Cookie Desserts You Can’t Stop Munching

Whenever I’m down and out, some chewy cookies are what I need to get my groove back. The following Spanish cookie recipes are for you and your mood swings.

Panelletes

On All Saints Day, panelletes are served with Moscatel to honor the dead spirits. These flavor bombs look small, but they are packed with many flavors. They are usually embezzled with pine nuts, but there are other coating options such as cocoa powder, coconut flakes, or candied cherries.

Mantecados (Traditional Spanish Crumble Cakes)

The holidays are here, and so are mantecados. These Christmas shortbread cookies have a delightful taste with a crumbly texture. Traditional mantecados are not very flavorful, but you can find many varieties nowadays, from lemon, cocoa to coconut. 

Polvorones

And, of course, let’s not forget polvorones when you talk about mantecados – these two are inseparable. Overall, polvorones are pretty similar to mantecados except that they have a toasty feel because of almonds. You can swap in pecans or other nuts if desired.

Watch this video to know more:

Churros

If you have never heard of churros, you must have been living under a rock. Although these mouth-watering pastries are a Spanish invention, they have become a crowd-favorite street food in Brazil and other Latin American countries. 

Churros are shockingly easy to make, and the results are incredible: they are warm and crispy but tender on the inside, and churros are perfect when served with melted chocolate or sprinkles.

Pastissets

Pastisset is another type of Christmas cookie with wonderful flavors that you can’t resist. The sweet rendition of empanada is filled with dulce de banito, a paste made from white potato, and pastissets are usually served with much icing sugar. 

Watch this video to know more:

Carquinyolis

Unlike its hard-to-pronounce name, this dessert goes easy on your palate and leaves an unforgettable mouthfeel. Carquinyolis are mainly served during winter with a sweet wine called vi dolç, but you can have them at your convenience with this recipe.

Almendrados

Almendrados is another Catalan cookie dessert that teams up with almonds. With just a few simple ingredients, you can quickly rustle up some appetizing almendrados for dessert or teatime. These cookies are keto, low-carb, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly – how cool is that?

Borrachuelos

Finally, I have borrachuelos, a traditional dessert served in Gibraltar during the festive season. The thin, softish dough is deep-fried until it’s puffed and turned golden-brown. Enjoy these lip-smacking treats with icing sugar or syrup.

Watch this video to know more:

Spanish Sweets To Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

End your sweet cravings in just a minute with these party-perfect confections coming from Spain. Warning – they are highly addictive, and you will come back for more!

Turrón

To be honest, turrón is one of my personal favorites. It is light, soft but can also be a bit hard and brittle, whereas the flavor is loaded with the sweet goodness of almonds and honey. These nougats are genuinely finger-licking good!

Watch this video to know more:

Yemas De Santa Teresa

Yemas de Santa Teresa is a traditional bite-sized treat made with egg yolks, coated with sugar, and wrapped in tarlet papers. They are usually sold as edible souvenirs, and you can find them anywhere on the crowded streets of Ávila. Rich and sweet, what’s not to love about yemas?

Coconut-Date Bars

These snack bars will transcend your taste buds at the very first bite – rest assured! You are already familiar with coconut and its sweet, creamy accents, but get ready for Medjool dates. These tiny fruits add a pop of intense sweetness to the bars, and their flavor somewhat resembles cinnamon and caramel.

Membrillo (Quince Paste)

Quince is a marriage between an apple and a pear; thus, the fruit has an astringent taste and is usually made into preserves or jellies. When it comes to the list of fruits and vegetables beginning with “Q”, I’d say that quince is among the candidates with the best taste.

Membrillo is one of the by-products of quince, which showcases an attractive red color and a jelly-like texture that gently melts on your tongue.

More Divine Spanish Desserts To Enjoy – Without Almonds!

Unfortunately, some people have nut allergies, and they can never get to try some of the recipes above because they contain almonds. Well, the good news is, you have these nut-free desserts!

Crema Catalana

Often humorously known as “poor man’s creme brulee,” crema catalana deserves more recognition from foodies around the world. It’s much easier to make than its French counterpart, and the creamy taste with a dash of citrus will live in your mind rent-free.

Leche Frita (Fried Milk)

Of course, you can fry milk – cooking has no limit when it comes to creativity, after all. Leche frita will set your standards higher because you won’t come across something else like it – the taste is fantastic, and it’s even better with a scoop of ice cream. 

Flan

After a slap-up meal, all I need is something simple and delicate like this flan. I love flan more than just for its elegant taste – I mean, would you look at that texture? It’s smooth and a bit bouncy, to the extent that you don’t want to scoop it and ruin that beautiful look.

Arroz Con Leche (Spanish Rice Pudding)

I want to share this one with you so bad because this rice pudding is to die for! It is a delicacy that entertains millions of households in Spain with its signature rich and creamy flavor. Plus, it’s also a well-loved dessert in El Salvador, Chile, and other Latin American nations.

Leche Merengada

Leche merengada bridges the delicious divide between a milkshake and ice cream, but there’s more to love about this amazing Spanish drink/dessert besides the unique texture. The milk is done to a turn, while cinnamon and lemon zest add a fun pop of flavor to this refreshing beverage.

Mel I Mató

I can see that you are hesitating – yes, it’s a bit bizarre, but this dessert is worth trying. Mel i mató is an odd combination between native goat cheese and honey, but the result is a surprising mildness that lingers in your mouth for hours.

Watch this video to know more:

Fartons

The Valencians are proud of their fartons, and it’s understandable. Farton is a stick-shaped bread made with yeast, flour, eggs, water or milk, and granulated sugar. It’s simple and delicious, and it will whet your appetite. I swear the truth and nothing but the truth.

Natilla (Spanish Custard)

Lastly, I’d like to invite you to try natilla, a creamy custard made with milk, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon. This delicious food with “N” as the starter is likened to crema catalana without the sugar topping, but that doesn’t make it any less tasty.

Relish Authentic Spanish Desserts Right At Home!

With these mouth-watering Spanish desserts, there’s no need to travel miles to Spain – all you need are a few steps to the kitchen! Whatever you are planning to make, I’m sure the result will turn out fruitfully. Grab your kitchen tools and turn on the oven right now!

I hope you had a ball learning about these traditional Spanish desserts. Do you want to share your results or a few tips you have learned while you’re making these treats? Go ahead and write your comments below. I’m looking forward to reading them all!