Easy Desserts to Go with Mexican Food

After a spicy and flavorful Mexican meal, a sweet treat can be the perfect way to end the dining experience. Fortunately, there are many easy and delicious options for desserts that complement Mexican cuisine beautifully.

Sopapillas

Sopapillas are a classic Mexican fried pastry dessert. They have a delightfully crispy texture on the outside and a warm, pillowy interior. Sopapillas are topped with honey, chocolate sauce, or other sweet toppings.

To make sopapillas:

• Cut pie dough into squares and fry in hot oil until golden brown.
• Drain on paper towels and immediately sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
• Drizzle with honey for added sweetness.

With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you can have a batch of hot, crunchy sopapillas ready in no time.

Churros

Churros are another popular fried Mexican dessert. These sticks of dough are coated in cinnamon sugar for a sweet finish.

To make churros:

• Pipe churro dough into hot oil in long strips. Fry until crispy.
• Drain churros on paper towels then roll in a mixture of cinnamon sugar.
• Serve warm with chocolate or caramel dipping sauce.

Churros make an easy, crunchy treat to satisfy sweet cravings after a savory Mexican meal.

Tres Leches Cake

This light, spongy cake is soaked in three kinds of milk for an incredibly moist and rich dessert. Whipped cream and cinnamon give it a final touch.

To make a tres leches cake:

• Bake a vanilla or white cake and let it cool completely.
• Poke holes all over the cake using a fork.
• Pour a mixture of evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream over the cake until absorbed.
• Top with whipped cream and dust with cinnamon.

It takes some time for the cake to soak up all the milky goodness, but the results are decadent and delicious.

Flan

Flan is a smooth and creamy custard dessert with a layer of sweet caramel sauce. This sweet treat pairs perfectly with spicy Mexican dishes.

To make flan:

• Heat sugar in a pan until melted and caramelized to make the sauce.
• Pour caramel into molds or ramekins.
• Mix together eggs, condensed milk, and evaporated milk. Strain the custard and pour into molds over the caramel.
• Bake in a water bath until just set. Chill flans thoroughly before unmolding.

The combination of luscious caramel and velvety custard makes this Mexican dessert divine.

Arroz Con Leche

Arroz con leche is a rice pudding made by simmering rice with milk, sugar and cinnamon. It’s a comforting, creamy dessert.

To make arroz con leche:

• Cook rice in water with cinnamon sticks until tender.
• Add milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla and salt. Simmer and stir until thickened.
• Chill thoroughly and serve dusted with cinnamon.

This creamy rice pudding can be made ahead and served chilled, making it an easy option for Mexican dessert.

Mexican Wedding Cookies

These melt-in-your-mouth butter cookies rolled in powdered sugar are a traditional Mexican treat for celebrations.

To make Mexican wedding cookies:

• Cream together butter, powdered sugar and vanilla.
• Stir in flour, chopped pecans and a pinch of salt to form dough.
• Roll dough into balls and bake until set but not browned.
• Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar until coated.

With their crumbly texture and sweet nutty flavor, these cookies make the perfect ending to a Mexican feast.

Fried Ice Cream

For an unexpected twist, try fried ice cream. Scoops of ice cream quickly fried in a crunchy coating make for a unique dessert.

To make fried ice cream:

• Roll scoops of ice cream in beaten egg and cornflake crumbs to coat.
• Fry in hot oil about 30 seconds until crunchy.
• Top with whipped cream, chocolate sauce and cherries.

It takes some coordination to fry frozen ice cream scoops quickly, but the contrast of hot and cold is a fun surprise.

Easy Mexican Fruit Desserts

Fruit also makes a refreshing and simple Mexican dessert. Try classic combinations like:

• Mango with chili powder and lime
• Watermelon cubes with chile salt
• Pineapple with a honey-lime drizzle

By choosing seasonal fruit and Mexican-inspired spices, you can easily put a sweet twist on fresh fruit.

Bake an Easy Dessert For Your Next Mexican Dinner

After a savory Mexican meal, a sweet treat can be the perfect finish. Sopapillas, churros, flan and other Mexican desserts complement the spices and flavors perfectly. They also happen to be easy to whip up.

Next time you make Mexican food, try baking one of these desserts to end your meal on a sweet note. The recipes only require a handful of ingredients you likely have on hand. Or improvise with fresh fruit and Mexican spices for an even simpler dessert.

With a little planning, you can easily satisfy your craving for something sweet after a mouthwatering Mexican dinner. Surprise your guests with a fried ice cream or tres leches cake from scratch. Or keep it simple with cinnamon-dusted fruit. However you choose to sweeten the deal, a delicious Mexican-inspired dessert will provide the perfect final touch.