I know Guatemalan cuisine might not be the most common find in your neighborhood, but I am completely obsessed with its sweet side. You might recognize a few classics like tres leches or rice pudding, but get ready to discover some incredible new treats.
I have put together 15 amazing Guatemalan desserts that are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth!
1. Borracho Cake
This famously boozy treat features a beautifully textured cake completely drenched in a rich alcohol infused simple syrup. The fluffy batter gets its incredible flavor profile from dark rum, pitted prunes, sugar, and luscious whipping cream.
I honestly cannot decide if my favorite part is the intensely sweet flavor or that perfectly spongy crumb. You will definitely want to scrape every last crumb off your plate.
Just keep in mind that the drunk cake moniker is just for fun and will not actually get you tipsy!
2. Quesadilla De Arroz
I know the name makes you picture a savory tortilla stuffed with melted cheese and veggies, but this dish is completely different. It is actually a remarkably fluffy and thick sweet cake made with heavy cream, whole milk, and traditional Latin cheese.
The visual presentation closely resembles cornbread but the texture is unbelievably soft and delicate. A generous scattering of sesame seeds baked onto the top provides a fantastic crunchy finish.
3. Guatemalan Squash Cake
This beautifully dense orange cake gives me major sweet potato and pumpkin pie vibes. The batter is heavily spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar to create an incredibly comforting dessert profile.
I absolutely love how the soft filling contrasts with the deeply browned and crispy outer crust. A sticky glaze spiked with dark rum, almond milk, and vanilla takes this entire treat right over the top.
4. Rellenitos de Plátano
I know you probably love plantains, but this unique version completely reinvents how they are served. The golden cinnamony plantain exterior hides a wildly unexpected filling made from black refried beans, cocoa powder, sugar, and water.
This combination creates a deeply rich chocolatey interior that tastes absolutely heavenly. Serving them with an extra spoonful of that sweet bean chocolate sauce makes the whole experience wonderfully decadent.
5. Polvorosas
You will definitely end up with powdered sugar all over your fingers when eating these beautifully messy treats. The recipe is wonderfully minimal and only calls for flour, cornstarch, sugar, butter, and shortening.
Even with such basic ingredients, the final shortbread squares turn out insanely rich and melt right in your mouth. Taking a bite of this warm sugary confection truly feels like pure dessert heaven.
6. Champurradas
I completely adore these thin and crispy cookies because they taste just like a classic buttery shortbread. A generous sprinkle of sesame seeds on top gives them the most incredibly satisfying crunch without overpowering the flavor.
They have the perfect level of sweetness to pair beautifully with your morning coffee or afternoon tea. You will love how simple the ingredient list is for such a bakery quality treat.
The baking process requires a little patience but absolutely zero complicated steps.
7. Magdalena Cake
I think of this unique confection as a beautiful hybrid between a dense pound cake, a sticky orange roll, and a classic coffee cake. Every buttery bite explodes with bright orange and warm vanilla notes that taste perfect alongside a hot cup of coffee.
The gloriously fluffy texture serves as an ideal base for whatever sweet toppings you crave. You can keep it simple with powdered sugar or go fully decadent by adding maple syrup and a scoop of ice cream.
8. Torrejas
I love whipping up these sweet breads using basic ingredients like eggs, flour, vegetable oil, and brioche or panes dulces. The real magic happens when you drench them in a fragrant syrup loaded with raisins, prunes, orange, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves.
Your entire kitchen will fill with the most inviting autumnal aromas as the syrup simmers on the stove. I highly recommend finishing them off with a sprinkle of colored sugar and an extra prune for a gorgeous presentation.
It is such a delightful and cozy treat.
9. Guatemalan Pineapple Empanadas
There is simply no denying the universal appeal of a perfectly baked empanada. These beautiful handheld treats feature a gloriously flaky crust heavily dusted with sweet powdered sugar.
I am absolutely obsessed with the filling because it bursts with vibrant tropical pineapple goodness. The contrast between the warm crust and the tangy fruit interior creates a dessert that never fails to impress.
10. Arroz con Leche
This classic rice pudding translates to rice with milk and remains a beloved staple across Latin America. It offers an incredibly satisfying and filling sweetness that I find endlessly comforting.
The ingredient list is beautifully minimal and requires only water, white rice, milk, sugar, salt, and a single cinnamon stick.
Your hands on prep time takes just five minutes before letting the rice soak for half an hour. Then you simply cook it down until it reaches absolute creamy perfection.
11. Chancletas
At first glance these beauties look exactly like savory stuffed peppers sitting on a plate. They are actually tender chayote squash halves packed to the brim with cinnamon, sugar, raisins, and almonds.
The baking process is incredibly straightforward and fills your home with the most intoxicating aroma. I highly recommend swapping the suggested sweet bun breadcrumbs for coconut to give the filling an even bolder tropical flavor.
12. Tres Leches Cake
I am completely smitten with this iconic three milk cake that uses regular milk, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk. The resulting dessert boasts a wildly fluffy and moist texture that is borderline addictive.
The indulgence continues with a thick vanilla whipped cream topping heavily sweetened with sugar. Adding a handful of fresh sliced strawberries provides the perfect pop of tartness to balance out all that rich decadence.
13. Buñuelos
You might easily mistake these golden treats for sopapillas since both feature a glorious coating of cinnamon and sugar. The main difference lies in their texture because these are noticeably thinner and pack a much bigger crunch.
They eat exactly like sweet crispy fritters and skip the hollow airy centers you find in a traditional sopapilla. I just adore the deeply satisfying snap in every single bite.
14. Pan de Banano
This Guatemalan take on classic banana bread delivers a mind blowing crispy crust wrapped around an intensely moist center. It utilizes all your familiar baking staples like flour, baking powder, eggs, butter, sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Fresh bananas and a splash of lemon juice give the loaf a perfectly balanced fruitiness. I love eating a warm slice with a generous drizzle of honey right over the top.
15. Guatemalan Bananas With Sweet Cream
You are only 15 minutes and seven ingredients away from experiencing this spectacular fruit dessert. It calls for simple staples like butter, bananas, whole milk, brown sugar, cornstarch, vanilla, and cinnamon.
Ripe bananas are already naturally delicious, but simmering them in a rich cinnamon vanilla glaze takes things to an entirely new level. I like eating them completely on their own, but they are absolutely magical spooned over vanilla ice cream or warm morning waffles.