Picarones facts for kids
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| Type | Doughnut |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Peru |
| Main ingredients | Squash, sweet potatoes, chancaca syrup |
Picarones are a yummy Peruvian dessert. They are like a type of doughnut, but they are special because they are made with squash and sweet potatoes! They are usually served warm, covered in a sweet, sticky syrup made from chancaca (which is a type of solidified molasses). You'll often find people eating picarones when they also enjoy another traditional Peruvian dish called anticuchos.
How Picarones Were Invented
Picarones were first made a long, long time ago in Lima, Peru, during a period called the Viceroyalty. This was when Peru was ruled by Spain.
At that time, people enjoyed a Spanish doughnut called buñuelos. But the ingredients for buñuelos were quite expensive. So, clever cooks started using cheaper local ingredients like squash and sweet potatoes instead. This happy accident created a brand new dessert that quickly became super popular!
Picarones are so famous that they are even mentioned in old books and songs. A famous Peruvian writer named Ricardo Palma wrote about them in his book Tradiciones Peruanas (which means Peruvian Traditions). Also, a Chilean writer named José Zapiola mentioned in his memoirs that picarones were a popular snack in Plaza de Armas de Santiago in Chile even before 1810.
Images for kids
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Freshly made picarones.
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Picarones ready to eat.
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Delicious picarones!
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Picarones are a very popular dessert in Peru.
See also
In Spanish: Picarón para niños
