How Many of These Mexican Desserts Can You Name?

Alex Wittman

Image: RichLegg/E+/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas: Mexico is known around the world for having a positively delectable cuisine. Just thinking about all the cheesy, lime-y goodness is making our mouths water. These traditional Mexican dishes get a lot of well-deserved hype, but the fun doesn't end when the main meal does. In fact, we think it's only just getting started. While they may incorporate significantly less rice and beans, Mexican desserts are just as delicious as the classic plates Taco Bell tries so desperately to recreate. Let's switch from spicy to sweet and see how many of these Mexican desserts you can name.

From tres leches cake and fried ice cream to paletas and churros, Mexican desserts have more than enough variety to satisfy any sweet tooth. Flan is just the tip of the iceberg, amigo! Your Cinco de Mayo parties are legendary, but how fluent are you in Mexican desserts? Take our quiz to test your sugary knowledge. If you get all these questions right, then you most definitely deserve some arroz con leche. See how well you know Mexican desserts while learning about the history of your favorite pastries. There's so much more to Mexican desserts than waiters at your favorite restaurant singing you "Feliz Cumpleaños" before pushing your face into whip cream-topped sopapillas. So, what are you waiting for? Start the quiz before the bueñuelos get cold!

Originating in Guadalajara and similar to flan, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

It may look like flan, but this Mexican dessert is actually jericalla. If you travel to Guadalajara, you'll need to try this custard-esque dessert with cinnamon and vanilla. Nuns in the city's San Juan de Dios neighborhood created it.

Not quite the ice cream you're used to, but can you name this Mexican dessert?

Ice cream is a common dessert in many parts of the world, but Mexicans put their own twist on it with nieve de garrafa. This non-dairy ice is made from fresh mashed fruit and stored in giant wooden barrels.

Perhaps the most famous post-meal sweet from this country, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Did you know flan was actually a Roman invention? After gaining traction in Spain, this beloved dessert moved to the new world where generations of Mexicans have perfected this giggly, caramel sauce-topped dessert.

Delicious any time of day, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

We can't give Mexico all the credit since churros actually originated in China. However, many will argue Mexico has perfected the recipe. Vendors sell churros on the street, and if you need a sugary pick-me-up, you can buy a bag of the fried dough treats.

A sugary spin on their savory counterpart, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Tamales are an extremely popular Mexican dish, but did you know there are dessert tamales? Instead of the savory fillings of traditional tamales, tamales dulces come stuffed with chocolate, strawberry or pineapple (and those are just a few of the delicious options).

A Mexican twist on a dessert eaten around the world, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Does anyone not like cheesecake? Pay de queso, or cheesecake, may seem like a fairly typical dessert, but Mexicans make it their own with flavors like lemon. If you think the Cheesecake Factory is good, what until you try pay de queso. Yum!

Not your mom's cornbread, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Throughout the history of Mexico, corn has held a prominent role in the country's cuisine. This versatile ingredient takes center stage in pan de elote, which is a sweet bread either served as individual cupcakes or cut into slices from a large pan.

A classic sweet sold by street vendors, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Greatly utilized across Mexican cuisine, sweet potatoes are a staple food in Mexico. You can find them in a variety of dishes, but for something extra sweet, try camotes. Steam-cooked and served with condensed milk, camotes are one of Mexico's most traditional desserts.

One bite will bring you joy; can you name this Mexican dessert?

In need of a healthy dessert? Look no further than alegrías. One of the country's oldest snacks, Mexicans adore these circles and rectangles of amaranth seeds held together and sweetened with honey. To mix things up, try an alegría with raisins, nuts or chocolate.

Ready to satisfy your sweet tooth? What's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Prepared by slowly heating sweetened milk, dulce de leche is very similar to caramel. This popular dessert gets its flavor from the Maillard reaction, which occurs between the amino acids and reducing sugars. Sweet science!

Perfect on a hot day, can you name this Mexican dessert?

When hot temperatures strike, as is typical in many parts of Mexico, children and adults alike cool off with paletas. These Mexican ice pops come in a variety of flavors including just about every fruit you can imagine.

Fried deliciousness, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

With roots in Al-Andalus, which preceded present-day Southern Spain, sopapillas are deep-fried leavened wheat dough. Frying them causes the sopapillas to puff up, making this an airy and crunchy treat. On your birthday, your favorite Mexican restaurant might serve them with ice cream!

With ground peanuts as a key ingredient, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Marzipan is a dessert with Spanish origins, and Mexicans traditionally eat it around Christmas. The peanut meal is combined with sugar or honey and molded into different shapes.

More tasty than traditional, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

As a fun twist on traditional Mexican cuisine, some innovative chefs put a sugary spin on tacos. Dessert tacos might be filled with fruit, Nutella, chocolate or even ice cream!

Slightly healthy, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Bionico is essentially Mexican fruit salad. If you're watching your diet, you could definitely do worse than this tasty treat! Usually mixed with cream and topped with granola, bionico dates back to the 1990s in Guadalajara.

A beloved treat, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Tres leches cake is named for the three types of milk used to make it: evaporated milk, condensed milk and heavy cream. With all that liquid, how does it manage to stay so fluffy and light? A tasty mystery!

Toss it in the fryer, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Just when you thought ice cream couldn't get any better, we're blowing your mind with fried ice cream. Some dessert experts believe it was first served at the 1893 Chicago's World Fair. Today, it is often associated with Mexican cuisine. The ice cream must be very cold and only fried briefly to keep it from melting.

Sounding healthier than it actually is, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Arroz con leche is a Mexican rice pudding made with milk. Other common ingredients include raisins and cinnamon to add flavor and, in the case of raisins, texture. It's one of the most well-known Mexican desserts around the world.

Homemade always wins; can you name this Mexican dessert?

Mexico's own version of bread pudding, capriotada is generally served during Lent. As the second-most Catholic country in the world, many Mexicans observe these 40 days of reflection leading up to Easter. Extremely popular on Good Friday, capirotada is served both warm and cold.

Yummy for any occasion, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Known throughout Mexico as "polvorón," Mexican wedding cookies are actually fairly simple to make. After your standard cookie ingredients, don't forget to toss in some pecans for a little nutty flavor.

Oven-baked treats, can you name this Mexican dessert?

This sweet cookie is actually made with another famous Mexican dessert: dulce de leche. The dulce de leche is sandwiched between the cookies and rolled in shredded coconut.

We can smell these from here! Can you name this Mexican dessert?

In Spanish, anything ending in the diminutive "ito" means small. Hungry for an adorable dessert? Bizcochitos are tiny cookies made with either lard or butter as the base. They are a staple at Mexican bakeries throughout the country.

Another mouth-watering treat, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Traditionally, empanadas are filled with meat, vegetables or both. However, those fillings won't exactly satisfy your sweet tooth. However, dessert empanadas are filled with fruit, chocolate or something else sweet. Sounds like the perfect way to end a meal!

Fried is always a good idea; can you name this Mexican dessert?

Like sopapillas, buñuelos are a fried dessert. The fried dough is generally topped with cinnamon or powdered sugar, and people often dip this treat in chocolate.

Great for breakfast or dessert, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Sweet treats aren't just for dessert. Mexicans often eat sweet breads, like conchas, for breakfast. Pairing well with coffee or hot chocolate, many Mexicans start their day with a concha itself or take one on as part of a heartier breakfast.

Smooth and luscious, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Cajeta originated in the Mexican state of Guanajuato, which is situated in Central Mexico. This caramel-esque substance is made with goat milk. It's actually a specific type of dulce de leche, but all you really need to know is it's delicious.

Fruit-topped and fancy, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Mostachon de fresa is actually quite easy to recreate at home, so you can impress your friends with this classic Mexican recipe. The pie part is a simple meringue then topped with strawberries and cream. It may not be complex, but that doesn't mean it's not delightful.

A seasonal favorite, can you name this Mexican dessert?

This special sweet bread is prepared in the weeks leading up to Día de Muertos. The multi-day celebration is known as Day of the Dead in English. Particularly vibrant in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, Day of the Dead is a time for people to remember and honor their deceased family members.

Popular around Christmas time, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

During the Christmas season, Mexican bakeries prepare and sell rosca de reyes. Every cake has a tiny figurine baked inside, and the person who finds it in their slice has good luck for the coming year.

A pleasant way to finish a meal, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Similar to empanadas, coyotas are big, flat cookies filled with brown sugar. Like other Mexican desserts, they are sometimes eaten with hot chocolate or coffee. The origins of coyotas date back centuries to Sinaloa, a Mexican state located on the Gulf of California.

Common in the markets of Oaxaca, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

This traditional dessert is from the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Nicuatole is made with corn, milk and sugar. It's frequently sold in the markets throughout the region.

Yet another milk-based dessert, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Popular in many Latin American countries, manjar blanco is a milk-based dessert containing cinnamon and lemon peel. It is a popular dessert in the Mexican state of Chiapas.

Particularly refreshing in summer, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

Sometimes the most simple desserts are the best. Mexico showcases its fantastic produce in "fresas con crema." The cream takes the delicious strawberries to the next level.

A rich take on a popular treat, can you name this Mexican dessert?

As if regular, old churros weren't delicious enough, Mexico decided to fill them. Churros rellenos are filled with dulce de leche, cream, chocolate or other tasty fillings.

Popular in the Yucatan, what's the name of this Mexican dessert?

If you're traveling in the Yucatan, you're sure to see street vendors selling marquesitas. Marquesitas are often filled with marmalade, cream cheese, chocolate or cajeta. You can even add fruit to your rolled-up crepe!

Perhaps familiar looking, can you name this Mexican dessert?

Brunch lovers will want to check out Mexico's take on French toast. What sets caballero pobre apart is its special sauce. Maple syrup seems a bit boring compared to this syrup, which is made a variety of ways including with pine nuts and brandy.

Almost too cute to eat, can you name this Mexican dessert?

These Mexican cookies are known by several names including cochinitos, cerditos, marranitos and, of course, puerquitos. Often mistaken for gingerbread, these cookies actually contain molasses.

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