List of Argentine sweets and desserts facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Argentina is famous for its delicious food, and that includes a wonderful world of sweets and desserts! Many of these treats use a special ingredient called dulce de leche, which is a sweet, creamy caramel made from milk. You'll find these desserts everywhere, from family gatherings to cafes and bakeries. Let's explore some of the most popular and tasty sweets you can find in Argentina!

Popular Argentine Sweets

Alfajores: A Sweet Sandwich Cookie

Alfajores are super popular cookies in Argentina. They are like a sweet sandwich! An alfajor usually has two round, soft biscuits with a yummy filling in the middle. The most common filling is dulce de leche, but sometimes it's jam or mousse. After filling, they are often covered in chocolate (either dark or white) or simply dusted with powdered sugar. Some even have three biscuits!

A yummy alfajor.

Alfajor de Maicena

A special type of alfajor is the alfajor de maicena. These are very popular snacks for birthdays and parties. Instead of regular biscuits, they use biscuits made from corn starch (maicena). These biscuits are extra soft and crumbly. They are also filled with dulce de leche and then rolled in grated coconut around the edges.

Alfajores de maicena, a popular snack.

Arroz con Leche: Creamy Rice Pudding

Arroz con leche means "rice with milk." It's a creamy rice pudding that came from Spanish and Portuguese recipes. It's made with rice, milk, and sugar. Sometimes, people add flavors like anise seed or raisins. A really delicious way to eat it is with a dollop of dulce de leche on top!

Arroz con leche, a creamy rice pudding.

Balcarce Dessert: A Layered Treat

The Balcarce dessert is a traditional cake named after the city where it was created, Balcarce. It's a fancy dessert with many layers. You'll find sponge cake, meringue, dulce de leche, and a creamy topping called crème Chantilly. It might also have nuts, praline, and grated coconut, making each bite a delightful mix of textures and flavors.

The famous Balcarce dessert.

Budín de Pan: Bread Pudding

Budín de pan is Argentina's version of bread pudding. It's a clever way to use up stale bread! The bread is soaked in a mix of milk, eggs, and sugar. Other ingredients like butter, dried fruit, and spices such as cinnamon or vanilla are often added. This mixture is then baked until it's a soft, comforting dessert.

A slice of traditional bread pudding.

Chocotorta: The Chocolate Cookie Cake

The Chocotorta is a super popular and easy-to-make cake in Argentina. Its name comes from "Chocolinas" (a famous brand of chocolate cookies) and "torta" (cake). To make it, chocolate cookies are dipped in milk and then layered with a creamy mix of dulce de leche and cream cheese. It's a no-bake cake that's a favorite for celebrations!

A delicious slice of Chocotorta.

Colaciones: Córdoba's Special Alfajor

Colaciones are a sweet snack traditionally from Córdoba Province. They are similar to alfajores but have a thin, crispy biscuit. They are filled with dulce de leche and then covered with a sweet, shiny glaze. They are a unique and tasty treat from that region.

Cubanitos: Chocolate-Covered Rolls

Cubanitos are fun, cigar-shaped biscuit rolls. They are filled with sweet dulce de leche and then covered in chocolate. They are a crunchy and creamy snack that kids especially love.

Cubanitos, chocolate-covered biscuit rolls.

Dulce de Batata: Sweet Potato Jelly

Dulce de batata is a traditional dessert made from sweet potatoes. It's a firm, sweet jelly that looks a bit like marmalade. It's often eaten with cheese, a combination known as queso y dulce (cheese and sweet). Sometimes, chocolate is added to the commercial versions for an extra treat.

Dulce de batata, a sweet potato jelly.

Dulce de Leche: Argentina's Sweet Star

Dulce de leche is perhaps the most famous Argentine sweet! It's a thick, creamy caramel spread made by slowly heating sweetened milk until it turns golden brown and delicious. Its name means "candy of milk." It's used in countless desserts like alfajores, churros, and ice cream. It's also a popular spread for pancakes and toast.

A jar of rich dulce de leche.

Dulce de Membrillo: Quince Paste

Dulce de membrillo is a sweet paste made from quince fruit, sugar, and water. It's cooked slowly until it becomes firm and jelly-like. It has a sweet and slightly tart flavor. It's often sold in blocks and sliced thin to be eaten on toast or with cheese, similar to how dulce de batata is enjoyed. It's also a popular filling for pastries.

Dulce de membrillo, a sweet quince paste.

Flan: Caramel Custard

Flan is a very popular dessert in Argentina. It's a creamy custard made with eggs, milk, and sugar, and it's cooked with a layer of caramel on top. It's usually served with a generous amount of dulce de leche, cream, or both!

Flan with dulce de leche.

Garrapiñadas: Candied Peanuts

Garrapiñadas are a popular street food in Argentina. They are peanuts coated in a sweet, crunchy caramel, often flavored with vanilla. You can usually buy them in small bags from street vendors, especially on cooler days.

Vainillas: Ladyfinger Biscuits

Vainillas, also known as ladyfingers, are light and airy sponge biscuits. They are dry, egg-based, and shaped like a large finger. In Argentina, they are called vainillas because they are often flavored with vanilla. They are a popular biscuit to enjoy with tea.

Vainillas, or ladyfinger biscuits.

Panqueques: Argentine Crêpes

Panqueques are thin pancakes, similar to French crêpes. In Argentina, they are almost always rolled up and filled with a generous amount of dulce de leche. They make a simple yet incredibly satisfying dessert or snack.

Panqueques filled with dulce de leche.

Pastafrola: Lattice Pie

Pastafrola is a delicious pie with a distinctive lattice-style crust on top. The most traditional filling is dulce de membrillo (quince paste), but you can also find pastafrolas filled with dulce de batata, guava jelly, or dulce de leche. It's a classic homemade dessert.

A slice of Pastafrola.

Pastelitos Criollos: Fried Puff Pastry

Pastelitos criollos are delightful fried puff pastries. They are commonly filled with dulce de membrillo, though sometimes dulce de batata is used. These sweet treats are traditionally eaten on May 25th, Argentina's National Day, as part of the celebrations.

Pastelitos criollos, a traditional fried pastry.

Pionono: Sweet Rolled Cake

A Pionono is a thin sheet of sponge cake that is rolled up with a sweet filling. The most common filling is dulce de leche, sometimes with walnuts. You might also find them filled with fruits like strawberries and chantilly cream. It's a light and airy cake roll.

A pionono roll.

Postre Vigilante / Queso y Dulce: Cheese and Sweet

Postre Vigilante or Queso y Dulce (meaning "cheese and sweet") is a very simple but popular dessert. It consists of one or more slices of cheese served with a slice of dulce de batata, dulce de membrillo, or dulce de guayaba. It's a classic combination of savory and sweet.

Queso y dulce, cheese with quince paste.

Rogel: Layered Meringue Cake

Rogel is a popular Argentine cake that's similar to the French mille-feuille. It has many thin layers of crispy puff pastry, with generous amounts of dulce de leche spread between each layer. The top is covered with a sweet, fluffy meringue glaze. Rogel is often chosen as a wedding cake because it's so elegant and delicious.

A beautiful Rogel cake.

Tortas Fritas: Fried Dough

Tortas fritas are simple fried dough pastries, usually dusted with sugar. They have German origins but became popular in Argentina through Spanish and Arab influences. They are a comforting treat, especially on rainy days, and are traditionally enjoyed with mate, a popular Argentine tea-like drink.

Tortas fritas, fried dough pastries.

Sambayón: Italian-Inspired Custard

Sambayón is the Argentine name for the Italian dessert zabaione. It's a light, airy custard made with egg yolks, sugar, and a sweet wine (often Marsala wine). It's whipped until it's very frothy and light. In Argentina, sambayón is also a very popular flavor for ice cream!

Sambayón, a light custard.