Dulce Vida: Cinnamon

What could be sweeter than a cinnamon dessert? How about three! Golfeados, Chile Chocolate Churros, and Cinnamon Tres Leches Ice Cream are sweet treats that take sugar, spice and everything nice to new heights.

Golfeados are Venezuela’s version of cinnamon buns. Made of a soft yeast dough and filled with a mixture of cinnamon, grated panela, and a hard white cheese (think queso blanco), golfeados are then topped with a panela glaze and extra grated cheese on top. Salty and sweet with a hint of cinnamon, these buns are pure Latin perfection.

Churros are another fan favorite and for good reason. Fried churros are tossed in a mixture of cinnamon and sugar, dipped in chile dark chocolate and dusted in cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Crispy on the outside and pillowy soft on the inside, Chile Chocolate Churros are little bites full of big flavor. Last, Helado Tres Leches combines the flavors from our favorite cake: coconut milk, soy milk, condensed milk, cinnamon and a shot (or two) of rum. 

Baked, fried, or frozen, cinnamon is a staple in the Latin kitchen for good reason. With treats like golfeados, churros and tres leches ice cream, it’s a spice that we think can do no wrong.

Chile Chocolate Churros

• 1/2 cup + 3 tbsp sugar, granulated
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablesoons vegetable oil
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ancho chile
• 3/4 cup dark chocolate
• 2 teaspoons cayenne

Get the full recipe.

Helado Tres Leches

• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 3 1/2 cups coconut milk, canned and chilled
• 1/4 cup dark rum
• 1/2 cup vanilla soy milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

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Golfeados

• 3/4 cup milk, warm
• 2 tablespoons yeast
• 1/4 cup sugar, granulated
• 2 1/2 cups panela, grated
• 3 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 large room temperature eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 tablespoon star anise
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 8 oounces grated queso blanco
• 2/3 cup water

Get the full recipe.