20+ Traditional Cuban Desserts with Recipes: Sweet Delights from the Island

Hey there, dessert lover! If you've ever dreamed of sinking your teeth into the vibrant, flavorful world of Cuban sweets, you're in for a treat. Traditional Cuban desserts are a beautiful blend of Spanish, African, and Caribbean influences, often featuring tropical fruits like guava and coconut, rich custards, and simple yet irresistible pastries. These treats are perfect for ending a meal with a cafecito or sharing with family during celebrations.

In this guide, we'll dive into more than 20 authentic traditional Cuban desserts, complete with simple recipes you can try at home. From creamy flans to crispy pastries, there's something here to satisfy every sweet tooth.

Cuban dessert culture is all about simplicity and bold flavors. Many recipes use everyday ingredients like milk, eggs, sugar, and fresh fruits, transformed into indulgent treats passed down through generations.

1. Flan Cubano – The King of Traditional Cuban Desserts

No list of traditional Cuban desserts would be complete without flan. This silky caramel custard is a staple at family gatherings and restaurants alike. Made with eggs, condensed milk, and vanilla, it's baked in a bath of caramel that creates that signature glossy topping.

Simple Recipe: Melt 1 cup sugar for caramel, pour into dish. Blend 5 eggs, 1 can condensed milk, 1 can evaporated milk, 1 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla. Pour over caramel. Bake in water bath at 350°F for 1 hour. Chill.

What makes Cuban flan special is its dense, creamy texture – not too light, not too heavy. It's often enjoyed chilled, cutting through the richness of a hearty Cuban meal.

2. Arroz con Leche – Comforting Rice Pudding

Arroz con leche is the ultimate comfort food among traditional Cuban desserts. This creamy rice pudding is simmered with milk, cinnamon, and lemon zest until thick and fragrant.

Simple Recipe: Boil 1 cup rice in water, drain. Simmer with 4 cups milk, cinnamon stick, lemon zest, 1/2 cup sugar for 30-40 mins until creamy. Add vanilla and raisins if desired.

Many families add a touch of vanilla or raisins for extra sweetness. It's often served warm in cooler months or chilled as a refreshing treat.

3. Pastelitos de Guayaba – Flaky Guava Pastries

Pastelitos de guayaba are iconic Cuban pastries filled with sweet guava paste and often cream cheese. The puff pastry bakes to golden perfection, creating a crispy exterior with a gooey, fruity center.

Simple Recipe: Thaw puff pastry. Cut into squares, fill with guava paste and cream cheese. Fold, seal, brush with egg wash. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 mins until golden.

These are a bakery staple in Miami and Havana, perfect with a strong Cuban coffee.

4. Capuchinos – Syrup-Soaked Cone Cakes

Capuchinos are unique cone-shaped sponge cakes soaked in a sweet syrup, often flavored with citrus or rum. They're a nostalgic treat from Cuban bakeries.

Simple Recipe: Beat 12 egg yolks + 1 egg with sugar. Add flour and cornstarch. Bake in cones or muffin tin. Soak in syrup of sugar, water, cinnamon, citrus peels.

The texture is incredibly moist, almost pudding-like in the center.

5. Boniatillo – Sweet Potato Pudding

Boniatillo is a velvety pudding made from white sweet potatoes, sugar, and coconut. It's a holiday favorite with a subtle sweetness and creamy consistency.

Simple Recipe: Boil and mash boniatos. Cook with sugar syrup, cinnamon, coconut milk until thick. Chill.

Sometimes spiced with cinnamon, it's pure comfort on a plate.

6. Torrejas – Cuban-Style French Toast

Torrejas are thick slices of bread soaked in a sweet milk mixture, fried, and drizzled with syrup. Similar to French toast but with a Cuban twist using spices like cinnamon and anise.

Simple Recipe: Soak bread in milk with cinnamon, anise, sugar. Fry until golden. Drizzle with spiced syrup.

They're especially popular during Lent and Christmas.

7. Cascos de Guayaba – Guava Shells in Syrup

Cascos de guayaba are whole guava shells cooked in a light syrup until tender and translucent. They're often served with cream cheese for the perfect sweet-tangy balance.

Simple Recipe: Peel and halve guavas, remove seeds. Cook in sugar syrup with cinnamon until soft.

This simple fruit preserve highlights Cuba's love for guava.

8. Pudin de Pan – Cuban Bread Pudding

Pudin de pan transforms stale bread into a moist, spiced pudding with milk, eggs, and raisins. It's flavored with vanilla and cinnamon for that homey taste.

Simple Recipe: Soak bread in milk mixture with eggs, sugar, raisins. Bake in caramel-lined dish.

A great way to use leftovers, just like abuela would.

9. Churros – Crispy Fried Dough

While Spanish in origin, churros are hugely popular in Cuba, especially street-side in Havana. Fried to golden crispness and dusted with sugar.

Simple Recipe: Boil water, butter, sugar; add flour. Pipe dough into hot oil, fry, roll in cinnamon sugar.

Dip them in thick hot chocolate for the ultimate indulgence.

10. Natilla – Silky Egg Custard

Natilla is a smooth, cinnamon-infused custard that's lighter than flan. It's set with cornstarch and topped with a sprinkle of ground cinnamon.

Simple Recipe: Cook milk with sugar, cornstarch, egg yolks, cinnamon. Stir until thick, add vanilla.

A delicate end to any meal.

11. Dulce de Leche Cortada – Curdled Milk Sweet

This unique treat is made by intentionally curdling milk with lime juice, then sweetening it into a fudgy candy-like dessert.

Simple Recipe: Boil milk with sugar and lime peel. Add lime juice to curdle. Cook until thick.

It's tangy, sweet, and utterly addictive.

12. Flan de Coco – Coconut Flan

A tropical twist on classic flan, flan de coco incorporates coconut milk for a richer, more aromatic flavor.

Simple Recipe: Same as classic flan but replace some milk with coconut milk and add shredded coconut.

The caramel pairs perfectly with the coconut.

13. Buñuelos – Yuca Fritters

Buñuelos are twisted yuca fritters fried until crispy and soaked in an anise-scented syrup. A must during holidays.

Simple Recipe: Boil and mash yuca/malanga. Mix with egg, shape into figure-8s. Fry and soak in anise syrup.

The chewy texture is unlike any other doughnut.

14. Merengues – Light Meringue Kisses

Merenguitos are tiny, crisp meringue cookies that melt in your mouth. Simple yet elegant.

Simple Recipe: Whip egg whites with sugar and cream of tartar to stiff peaks. Pipe and bake low until crisp.

Perfect for snacking with coffee.

15. Dulce de Papaya – Preserved Papaya

Chunks of papaya cooked in syrup until candied, dulce de papaya is a fruity preserve often enjoyed with cheese.

Simple Recipe: Peel and cube papaya. Cook in sugar syrup with cinnamon until translucent.

Bright and tropical.

16. Tres Leches Cake – Soaked Sponge Cake

Though shared with other Latin countries, Cuban tres leches is soaked in three milks and topped with meringue.

Simple Recipe: Bake sponge cake. Soak in condensed, evaporated, and whole milk mixture. Top with meringue.

Incredibly moist and decadent.

17. Polvorones – Buttery Shortbread Cookies

Polvorones are crumbly shortbread cookies dusted with powdered sugar, sometimes flavored with guava or almond.

Simple Recipe: Cream butter and sugar, add flour, bake into balls, dust with powdered sugar.

They literally melt in your mouth.

Pairing Cuban Desserts with Cafecito

Nothing complements traditional Cuban desserts like a strong cafecito. The bitter espresso cuts through the sweetness perfectly.

Many cafes in Havana serve pastries with coffee for an afternoon merienda.

Bringing Cuban Sweets Home

Whether you're in Cuba or recreating these at home with our simple recipes, traditional Cuban desserts bring joy and nostalgia. Gather your family, brew some coffee, and enjoy these timeless treats.

From flan to buñuelos, the sweet side of Cuban cuisine is full of heart and flavor. Which one will you try first?

Thanks for joining me on this delicious journey through traditional Cuban desserts with easy recipes. ¡Buen provecho!