Panamanians use a lot of sponge cake and tropical fruits like pineapples and coconuts. Even with these common ingredients, each dessert is unique and delicious. Here is your guide to the desserts you really need to try when you’re in Panama.
15 Desserts You Must Try Out In Panama
1. Tres Leches
A tres leches is a sponge cake that is soaked in three kinds of milk. It is soaked in evaporated milk, condensed milk, and heavy cream. The tres leches cake is very light and fluffy. It has many air bubbles as well, which is why its consistency is not soggy even after being soaked in the kinds of milk.
2. Arroz Con Leche
This is basically rice pudding. It is simply rice which is cooked with milk and cinnamon. It is served cool and cinnamon powder can be sprinkled to garnish. As simple as it sounds, this is definitely going to be one of your memorable desserts.
3. Bienmesabe
Bienmesabe literally means “it tastes good”. It tastes a lot like cooked condensed milk. It is eaten with white cheese. The white cheese is eaten separately because Bienmesabe is too sweet. The salty taste of the cheese balances the sweetness well.
4. Voletado De Piña
This is an upside-down/flipped pineapple cake. The pineapple slices are placed at the bottom of the pan while making and then flipped over to reveal a beautiful pattern of the slices. The cake under the slices is a simple vanilla cake that allows the taste of the pineapple to pop.
5. Pesada De Nance
Nance happens to be a fruit. They are a type of yellow cherries. Pesada is a smooth and cooked cream. It is prepared with nance, water, sugar, and cornstarch. It is served topped with cheese.
6. Sopa Borracha
In Panama, you will find these delicious cakes everywhere, from restaurants to street vendors. They are quite the favourite during parties too. Sopa borracha is basically a sponge cake soaked in a strong syrup made with rum, muscat wine, and sherry. It is garnished with dried fruits. Spices like cinnamon, clove, and lemon are added as well.
7. Bocado Del Rey
This dessert translates to “king’s snack”. And this dish is as royal as it sounds. Another sponge cake dessert, this one is soaked in a mixture of chocolate. It is served cold.
8. Bocado De La Reina
Bocado De La Reina is Bocado Del Rey’s counterpart, the “queen’s snack”. This one requires sponge cake too, but it is quite different from the previous one. Instead of chocolate, the cake squares are soaked in a thick sugary raisin and prunes mixture. It can be decorated with egg white meringue.
9. No Me Olvides
This dessert is basically a huge ice cream cup with a layer of biscuit, vanilla ice cream, Chantilly whipped cream and a secret sauce. This dessert will leave you wanting for more and yet, very satisfied.
10. Raspados
Raspados are Panamanian snow cones. They are topped with sweet syrups and condensed milk. One can even ask for a little bit of fruit to be added on top sometimes.
11. Flan de Caramelo
Flan de Caramelo is simply caramel flan, as the name suggests. A very simple but popular dessert. It is popular for the nostalgic feelings it builds within Panamanians as it is a traditional dessert, best served at home.
12. Dulce De Piña
This is a delicious pineapple jam, also known as pineapple candy. It is like the Panamanian version of Muraba as we have in India. Very simple to prepare and the homemade version of this is always the best bet to get the most authentic taste.
13. Hojaldras
These are basically fried bread made from baking powder, flour, and eggs. It is served with sprinkled sugar. It makes for the perfect breakfast item. It pairs well with coffee. Black pepper can be sprinkled on top before eating to minimize the extra sweetness.
14. Cocadas
They are baked balls made from coconut, cornstarch, vanilla and almond extract along with condensed milk. These are yummy and pretty sweet, almost like cookies. The coconut flavour is quite dominant in this dessert.
15. Platanos Maduros
These are fried and sweet plantains. This dessert uses softened plantains that are softened while being cooked in butter, vanilla, and cinnamon. This dessert screams “sweetness overload!”
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