Many of Argentina’s desserts are influenced by European styles. To find out about Argentine desserts read our guide for more facts & information…
Churro
From the chocolates to the cakes, Argentina’s desserts come in different forms, sizes and shapes. The churro is a popular dessert in Argentina and elsewhere in Latin America, with roots from Spain and Portugal. Churros come in different sizes and shapes, with most being long and relatively thin. Some are as short as french fries others are as long as baguettes, or curly shaped like a banana. A churro is prepared by frying the dough in vegetable oil until it has hardened and reached a brown or yellow color. Cinnamon and sugar can be eventually added. Fruit and dulce de leche are popular choices to eat churros with. Sometimes people prefer to dunk it in chocolate.
Churros are traditionally breakfast food, and are served in many cafes, accompanied with a cup of tea or coffee. However, due to its snack-like nature it is commonly eaten at anytime of the day, and in small quantities in between major meals, thus a popular snack served by street vendors. Churros aren’t only popular as bought snack foods. It is quite easy to cook, and only takes a short amount of time to prepare, and few ingredients are needed. That is why in Argentina and elsewhere in Latin America, it has become a popular homemade choice and doesn’t require a chef at a restaurant. Even with its simple and easy-to-cook nature, more chefs have deployed new techniques in preparing churros with better quality and taste.
Ensaimada
The Ensaimada is also another popular Latin American dessert, with origins from Mallorca, Spain; but in contrast to the churro, it is harder to prepare and requires more ingredients and processes. There are different variants of the Ensaimada, and many take a croissant-like shape or the shape of a snail shell. Some popular choices to eat the ensaimada with are butter and chocolate, sugar may be sprinkled too. Some are made into the shape of a muffin, other versions include adding cream cheese.
Alfajor
Another dessert eaten in Argentina is alfajor, with origins from the Middle East, it is also eaten in other Latin American countries. Alfajors are traditionally cylindrical in shape, but there are many different forms. Alfajores (plural) are commonly coated with chocolate, but another common version is preparing it in the shape of a sandwich, with dulce de leche in between two pieces like an Oreo (they do have Alfajor Oreos). This may be sprinkled with powdered sugar.
Facturas
Facturas is a Danish dessert, also eaten in Argentina, and is similar to a croissant, in both shape and the dough used to prepare them. It is often eaten with dulce de leche, but glazed facturas are also common. Another common version is facturas with powdered sugar sprinkled on top.
Pionono
Piononos is another dessert eaten in Argentina as well as other Latin American countries. They are often made cylindrical or spiral in shape like a cinnamon roll. Traditional piononos are filled with jam or dulce de leche, but there are also pionono sandwiches. Other variations of pionono may be muffin-like.
Picarones
The doughnut shaped Picarones are another dessert eaten in Argentina, and more common in its country of origin, Peru. Picarones are glazed in syrup and are usually served as side dish alongside a main dish, but it is also served by street vendors.
