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Stuffed Conchas with Vegan Nutella and Strawberries

This post was created in partnership with California Strawberries. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

These stuffed conchas are filled with a creamy vegan nutella and sliced California strawberries. A sweet treat that the whole family will enjoy!

Avocado added to chocolate nut spread in food processor

What are conchas?

Conchas are a Mexican sweet bread in the shape of a shell. It one of the most well known “ pan dulce “. It is a pillowy pastry with a crunchy cookie top. It is perfect for dipping in hot chocolate or a hot cup of coffee.

vegan nutella (nut spread) in a mason jar on a white background

They are amazing eaten alone, but if you want to take your concha to the next level you have to try it with this homemade vegan nutella and fresh California strawberries.

Vegan nutella piped on a concha on a white and blue plate
Sliced strawberries on top of the piped vegan nutella

How do you make Vegan Nutella?

I chose to make this chocolate-nut spread with cashews instead of the traditional hazelnuts. The soaked cashews give it a mild nut flavor that lets the bittersweet chocolate stand out. The secret to the creaminess of this spread is a little bit of avocado! I promise you won’t even know it’s there.

stuffed concha with vegan nutella and strawberries on a white and blue plate with strawberries in the background on a pink and gray napkin

We Love Strawberries!!

We love strawberries in this house we like to add them to our desserts like this stuffed concha, but we also love to make paletas, salads, pancakes, and even tamales. The best part is that they are not only delicious but healthy! Strawberries are full of vitamins and nutrients. Did you know that one serving of strawberries has a full day’s value of vitamin C?? They are also packed with antioxidants, and potassium, folate, and fiber.

overhead shot of stuffed concha filled with vegan nutella and strawberries

California Strawberries:

California is the nation’s leading producer of strawberries. Which means that it’s probable the strawberries you are getting from your local grocery store are from California. California’s rich, sandy coastal soils, western ocean exposure and moderate temperatures are the perfect combination for a year-round strawberry growing season. We actually lived in California for about 3 years and we loved going strawberry picking at our local Orange County farm. California strawberries are so sweet and juicy right of the vine!

stuffed concha with vegan nutella and strawberries with a piece cut off to show the inside

The Recipe: Stuffed Conchas with Vegan Nutella and Strawberries

I used my vegan concha recipe for this, but you can also purchase your own conchas if you don’t feel like making them.

If you are allergic to cashews you can use almonds or go back to the traditional hazelnut.

I used my food processor for this, but you could also use a high powered blender.

little girl holding the stuffed concha with a smile on her face

This post was created in partnership with California Strawberries. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE RECIPE FOR THE STUFFED CONCHAS WITH CHOCOLATE NUT SPREAD AND STRAWBERRIES.

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Vegan Carlota de Fresa

This post was created in partnership with California Strawberries. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Strawberry season is upon us and this easy vegan carlota de fresa is the perfect dessert to showcase those sweet juicy strawberries. Carlota de fresa is a strawberry icebox cake that is popular in Mexico, it consists of a silky strawberry-lime cream, and layers of Maria cookies. There’s no baking required so it’s super easy to make!!

Strawberries, tofu, sugar and lime juice in blender

As a child sometimes I would prefer the carlota de fresa or carlota de limon instead of birthday cake, since especially in the summer months this dessert is so refreshing!! What makes this dessert so special is another childhood favorite, Maria cookies. My grandmother used to love having them with her coffee, and I have so many fond memories of snacking on cookies at her kitchen table.

Blended strawberry mixture in a pink bowl

Healthy Snacking:

While we enjoy strawberries in our desserts, there’s another way we enjoy strawberries even more, and that’s snacking on them! I have three kids, and if you have kids you know they want to snack ALL OF THE TIME! What better snack than a big bowl of strawberries with some chocolate hummus or some nuts. Strawberries are full of vitamins and nutrients. Did you know that one serving of strawberries has a full day’s value of vitamin C?? They are also packed with antioxidants, and potassium, folate, and fiber.

parchment paper lined glass baking dish lined with rows of Maria cookies

California Strawberries:

California is the nation’s leading producer of strawberries. Which means that it’s probable the strawberries you are getting from your local grocery store are from California. California’s rich, sandy coastal soils, western ocean exposure and moderate temperatures are the perfect combination for a year-round strawberry growing season. We actually lived in California for about 3 years and we loved going strawberry picking at our local Orange County farm. California strawberries are so sweet and juicy right of the vine!

Parchment paper lined glass baking dish lined with Maria cookies, strawberry cream, and fresh strawberries.

How to Choose the Best Strawberries:

I hate it when I get home from the grocery store and discover that a portion of my strawberries how somehow grown mold overnight. When choosing strawberries look for plump red berries with green leaves. Inspect the box for mold, and try to buy strawberries in the months of April to July when they are season.

Glass baking dish layered with Maria cookies, strawberry-lime cream, and fresh strawberries.

The Recipe: Carlota de Fresa

  • The Gamesa brand of Maria’s is not vegan, but I did find El Mexicano brand at my local HEB. If you can’t find them you can order McVities Rich Tea Biscuits which are vegan and is essentially a Maria cookie.
  • Agar agar is gelling powder similar to gelatin that thickens sauces. You can order agar agar HERE.
Vegan carlota de fresa, strawberry iced box cake topped with sliced strawberries, on a white serving tray with silver colored handles placed vertically
Close up of a slice of vegan carlota de fresa topped with sliced strawberries on a white plate
A golden spoon slicing into a piece of the Carlota de Fresa
a wide shot of a spoonful taken out of a slice of carlota de limon showing the different layers and topped with sliced strawberries on top and surrounded by strawberries

This post was created in partnership with California Strawberries. THIS IS WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE RECIPE FOR THE VEGAN CARLOTA DE FRESA.

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Vegan Flan

Flan, silky creamy delicious vegan flan. This custard-like creation is one of the most recognized desserts in all of Latin America and my absolute favorite!!

four white ceramic remekins the inside bottom coated with caramel

Making this involved using an ingredient I had never used before. It’s become pretty common in the vegan community for making vegan flan, mousses, cheese, and gummies. The secret ingredient for this flan is a powder called agar agar.

Coconut milk and agar agar in a stainless steel saucepot
a spoon dipped into the thickened milk mixture showing it coating the back of the spoon

What is Agar agar??

It is a semi-transparent powder derived from red/purple algae. It is the equivalent of vegan gelatin. As you know (or may not know) gelatin is made by prolonged boiling of skin, bones, and cartilage of animals. So since we don’t want to use that this, is where agar agar comes in to play.

coconut milk liquid poured into the white ramekins

How to use Agar agar?

You can buy agar agar right here. Be sure to buy the powdered version not the flakes for this recipe. You can use it just as you would powdered gelatin; you must place it in a liquid and heat it up to dissolve it. However, you can’t use agar agar in the same quantities as you would gelatin. Agar agar’s gelling properties are stronger than gelatin’s.

vegan flan on a small white laced plate with a coffee and another flan in the background

Making Vegan Flan at Home

For this vegan flan recipe, I decided to go with a mixture of coconut milk and oat milk. Coconut milk provides the fat needed to make this creamy and rich. I added oat milk so it wouldn’t taste too much like coconut.

Vegan flan with a spoonfull taken out of it.

I used small ceramic ramekins (3.5 oz.), but you can use whatever container you have at hand since these are not going in the oven, like these aluminum ramekins. However, your container must be able to sustain heat since we will be pouring scorching hot caramel into them.

10 yr old boy wearing a blue shirt holding a plate with flan

I like my flan thick and creamy ( as many of you expressed on my Instagram DMs), but there is another version of flan that is almost like a French crème caramel, very jiggly and delicate. If you want to make that version of flan, simply reduce the amount of agar-agar to 1 tsp.

vegan flan covered in caramel in a small white laced plate

Vegan Flan

Flan, silky creamy delicious vegan flan. This custard-like creation is one of the most recognized desserts in all of Latin America and my absolute favorite!!
5 from 2 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: caramel, coconut milk, oat milk, vegan custard
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
4 hours
Servings: 6 small flan
Calories: 292kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

Caramel:

  • ¾ cup Granulated sugar

Flan base:

  • 1 can Full fat coconut milk
  • 1 cup Oat milk
  • 1 tsp. Chickpea flour
  • 1/3 cup Sugar
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla
  • 1 1/4 tsp Agar agar powder (see note)

Instructions

  • Get ramekins ready to go.
  • Pour sugar into a medium sauce pot and set to medium-low heat. Let the sugar dissolve, gently swirling the pot but not stirring, until mixture turns a deep golden color, 8 to 9 minutes.
  • Immediately remove pot from heat and pour caramel into ramekins. Gently lift and tilt ramekins to coat the inside with caramel. Set aside.
  • Combine coconut milk and agar agar in a medium sauce pot.
  • In the blender combine the oatmilk, sugar, chickpea flour, and vanilla. Process until smooth. Pour this mixture into the pot with the coconut milk.
  • Bring mixture to a simmer for 5 minutes, then remove from the heat. Let cool slightly, then pour into ramekins.
  • Place ramekins in the fridge for 4 hours to let the flan set.
  • To serve, place bottom of ramekin in a container with hot water for 1 -2 minutes, in order to release the flan.
  • Use a small knife or offset spatula to carefully loosen the edges of the flan. Turn flan over onto a plate, shake gently to release flan and remove ramekin.

Notes

  • If you don’t have access to agar-agar you can use 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp. of cornstarch instead. Dissolve the cornstarch in the oat milk, and then proceed to add it to the blender with the sugar, vanilla, and chickpea flour. Then add to the coconut milk mixture on the stove and simmer for 5 min. 
  • If you would like this flan to be yellow in color you can add a couple drops of yellow food coloring.
  • If you want to make a very jiggly and delicate version of this flan (like crème caramel) simply reduce the amount of agar-agar to 1 tsp.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 1flan | Calories: 292kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 167mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 82IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg
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Vegan Cajeta Envinada

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I have been dreaming of this Mexican classic for months now, velvety, sweet, rich, and vegan cajeta envinada. It is simmered slowly on the stove until it reaches the perfect consistency, it is my favorite labor of love.

Cajeta is a traditional dish from the city of Celaya, Guanajuato. It is made by simmering goats milk with sugar, and baking soda, in a large copper pot, until it is the consistency of a dark caramel. For this vegan version I have used unsweetened soy milk, turbinado sugar, agave syrup, and whiskey.

History of Cajeta:

The first versions of cajeta or at least the technique was brought to Mexico by the Spanish conquistadores. (In Spain it is called leche quemada, and it is made with cow’s milk.) As with many other Mexican delicacies the Spanish techniques were adapted to the resources available in the area. Which in this case means that in the city of Celaya leche quemada was made with goat’s milk, and so cajeta was born.

Milk in blue dutch oven that has become a chocolate color

To this day, cajeta is sold in a small round wooden box called cejete that is wrapped in white paper and bound with colorful cellophane ribbons. There are three versions of cajeta most commonly sold quemada, vanilla, and envinada.

What is Cajeta Envinada?

Cajeta envinada is cajeta with spirits added to it. You can add brandy, rum, or even whiskey. Even though “envinada” means ”with wine” it is more common to add spirits to it than wine.

milk in blue dutch oven pot a dark caramel color

Recipes made with Cajeta:

Cajeta is one of my favorite childhood candies and as a grown-up I love that it’s so versatile. You can use cajeta to make churros filled with cajeta, crepes topped with cajeta and pecans, obleas, as a topping for ice cream, to make flan, and many more delicious treats.

cajeta envinada in a white dish over a colorful mat with a spoon inside

Our Vegan Mexico Project

This recipe is part of an amazing project called Our Vegan Mexico, where 32 talented cooks will be showcasing, right here on Dora’s Table, 32 vegan Mexican recipes. Each recipe will be representing one state of the Mexican union.

With this project, I am hoping to encourage the Mexican community in the U.S., and the people of my country to take a chance and make the change to a plant-based diet. This recipe, which is representing the state of Guanajuato, is the creation of me, Dora Stone. Even though I am not from Guanajuato, my great-grandfather immigrated to Mexico from Spain into Guanajuato, and that is where he met my great-grandmother, and started a family. Thus, I feel a certain connection to that area and was glad at the opportunity to veganize this recipe.

Vegan cajeta envinada in a small dish with a spoon dipping into it

The Recipe: Vegan Cajeta Envinada

  • I used unsweetened soy milk, but you can use your favorite plant milk.
  • I used turbinado sugar, also known as sugar in the raw, which is a less processed version of fine white sugar. If you can’t find it, you can use brown sugar.
  • The baking soda in this recipe help the cajeta get its dark caramelized color.
  • I chose to use whiskey, but you can use brandy, dark rum or white wine.
Vegan cajeta envinada in a small dish with a spoon dipping into it

Vegan Cajeta Envinada

Vegan Cajeta Envinada, Mexican milk caramel used to top everything from churros, crepes, ice cream, and more.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: dulce de leche, leche quemada, whiskey
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Servings: 1 cups
Calories: 1751kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

  • 4 ¼ cups Soy milk, unsweetened
  • 1 1/3 cup Turnbinado or brown sugar
  • ¼ cup Agave syrup
  • 1 tsp. Vanilla extract
  • ¼ tsp. Baking soda
  • 1 -2 tbsp. Brandy, Dark rum or whiskey

Instructions

  • In a large heavy bottomed pot combine the soy milk, sugar, agave, vanilla, and baking soda.
  • Bring to a slow simmer, and let simmer for 1 hour and 15 min. Stirring frequently to prevent sticking and burning.
  • Add the brandy and simmer for 15 more minutes or until the cajeta has reached the desired consistency.

Notes

  • I used unsweetened soy milk, but you can use your favorite plant milk.
  • I used turbinado sugar, also known as sugar in the raw, which is a less processed version of fine white sugar. If you can’t find it, you can use brown sugar.
  • The baking soda in this recipe help the cajeta get its dark caramelized color.
  • I chose to use whiskey, but you can use brandy, dark rum or white wine.

Nutrition

Calories: 1751kcal | Carbohydrates: 365g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 923mg | Potassium: 1804mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 348g | Vitamin A: 3942IU | Vitamin C: 72mg | Calcium: 1648mg | Iron: 7mg
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Vegan Rosca de Reyes

This orange-scented dough, baked in the form of a crown, and topped with dried and candied fruits makes the traditional vegan Rosca de Reyes ( King Cake).

Yeast mixed with milk and a little but of flour in a red bowl

Rosca de Reyes is a key part of the feast of the Epiphany, Three Kings Day or Dia de Reyes in Mexico. This is also the day, that children receive gifts from the Reyes Magos (Magi) instead of Santa. Traditionally, the night before, the children leave a note for the Magi in their shoes, and place them under the Christmas tree or outside. The Magi respond by bringing them gifts the following morning, just as they brought gifts to the Christ child.

Mashed potato mixed with the yeast mixture in red bowl
Dough mixed in a stainless steel bowl

Family Traditions

The rosca is usually served with hot chocolate and eaten at any time of the day or all day. The fruit on the rosca is meant to represent the crown´s jewels, and inside the bread is a hidden small figurine of baby Jesus. The lucky person to find baby Jesus in their piece of bread is designated to bring tamales on  Feb. 2nd to the Feast of the Candelaria.

Dough hook inserted into dough to show stretchy consistency

Living on the border, our traditions are a mixture of Mexican and American customs. This being said, as a child Santa brought most of our gifts on Christmas, and the Reyes Magos filled our stockings with treats and small toys on Jan 6th. We continue this tradition with our children, but for them, the Three Kings bring them books!

pan-de-muerto2

What is Acitrón?

Not many people know this, but one of the candied fruits used to top the rosca is called acitrón. Acitrón is made from a species of cactus, also know as biznaga, only found in Mexico.

Dough rolled out and formed into an oval shape, place on a sheet tray.

The candy is made by extracting the pulp from the cacti, cutting it into blocks, and cooking it in a simple syrup. The result is an opaque sugary block, firm to the touch, but soft and juicy on the inside. It is commercially sold in red and green tinted blocks or cut into strips. 

Risen vegan rosca de reyes dough with fruit decorations and sugar paste on it.

It is actually very hard to find because the cactus is at risk of becoming an endangered species. Most people nowadays use a quince paste or other fruit paste called ate in its place, but you can use whatever dried or candied fruit you prefer.

Vegan rosca de reyes on a pink back ground with a piece cut off.

The Recipe: Vegan Rosca de Reyes

  • I have substituted the eggs with potatoes, resulting in a moist, soft, and sweet bread.
  • I used Earth Balance for my vegan butter
  • For the fruit topping on my rosca I used candied oranges, cherries, and dried figs.
  • Add the plastic baby Jesus into the rosca after it has baked.
  • This recipe is very similar to my Pan de Muerto recipe.
Vegan rosca de reyes on a pink back ground with a piece set in front of it on a plate.
Vegan rosca de reyes on a pink back ground with a piece set in front of it on a plate.

Vegan Rosca de Reyes

This orange-scented dough, baked in the form of a crown, and topped with dried and candied fruits makes the traditional vegan Rosca de Reyes ( King Cake).
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: acitron, candied fruit, kings cake, vegan
Prep Time: 5 hours
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 5 hours 30 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 343kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

Ingredients

  • 1 pack Active dry yeast
  • ½ cup Soy milk room temperature
  • 3 1/3 cup Bread flour
  • ¾ cup Sugar, granulated
  • 1 tsp. Salt
  • 1 tsp. Orange zest
  • ¼ cup Orange juice
  • ¾ cup Potato, Yukon gold, cooked, mashed
  • ½ cup+ 1 tbsp. Vegan butter room temperature, cut into 1 inch pieces

Toppings:

  • Candied Cherries
  • Candied Oranges
  • Quince Paste
  • Guava Paste
  • Dried Figs

Sugar-Paste:

  • 1/3 cup Sugar granulated
  • 1/3 cup Vegan butter earth balance, softened
  • ½ cup All-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp. Vanilla extract

Non-egg Wash

  • 2 tbsp. Soy milk unsweetened
  • 1 tbsp. Maple Syrup
  • 1 Plastic baby Jesus (optional)

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, dissolve the yeast in the soy milk and add 2 tbsp. of the flour. Whisk to incorporate and let rest in a warm place for 20 min.
  • In the bowl of a mixer, with the dough hook, combine the dry ingredients: the rest of the flour, salt, sugar, and orange zest. Mix.
  • In a small bowl, whisk together the orange juice, mashed potato, and yeast-flour mixture. Add to bowl with the flour mixture and mix on low until the dough begins to incorporate.
  • Add the ½ cup + 1 tbsp. of softened butter little by little and increase speed to medium. Mix for 15 min. until the dough has come off the sides of the bowl and is stretchy but not sticky.
  • Place the dough in a large oiled bowl, cover with a towel and let rise for 1 to 1 ½ hours, or until doubled in size.
  • Punch down the dough and lay on a floured surface. Roll out the dough into a log shape and bend the ends around to form a circle. Press edges together to avoid separation. Insert plastic baby Jesus and press the dough to cover the hole.
  • Place the rosca on a parchment lined sheet tray and cover with a towel and let rise for 1 hr. in a warm place (70- 75F) or until double in size.
  • Meanwhile preheat the oven to 350F.

To make the sugar paste:

  • Cream butter and sugar with a whisk or hand mixer. Add vanilla, flour, and cinnamon and mix well. Knead lightly to fully incorporate. It should have the consistency of a soft play-dough. If it’s too sticky or wet add flour in small amounts until you’ve reached the right consistency.

To Make the non-egg wash:

  • In a small bowl combine the soy milk and maple syrup to make the non-egg wash.
  • Brush the rosca with the non-eggwash. Roll or flatten out sugar paste and add to the different sections of the rosca. Distribute the dried fruit on the rosca. Let rise for 30 more minutes.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or unitl the bottom of the rosca is golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack. Let bread cool slightly before eating.

Notes

My favorite vegan butter is Earth Balance.

Nutrition

Calories: 343kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 131mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 482IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg

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The Best Marranitos Recipe

I have done it! After three failed attempts, here is the best marranitos recipe (Mexican piggy cookies) ever, and it’s vegan!!. Ok, I might be a little too excited about this one, but hear me out. This is my favorite pan dulce, you can ask any of my family members, and they will be sure to tell you I have eaten many marranitos in my life!

Piloncillo syrup for making this marranitos recipe

A marranito is a Mexican pastry shaped like a piggy. It can be soft like a sweet bread or more on the hard side like a cookie. This version is the perfect combination of a pastry and a cookie. It is made with a combination of whole wheat and white flour and infused with a piloncillo, star anise, clove, and cinnamon syrup.

Flour mixed with piloncillo syrup in a stainless steel bowl

I’ve reworked this recipe from a couple years ago to include a good amount of fat. When I first created this recipe I was trying to be no-oil, but quickly realized that I just can’t do it. I do try to limit the amount of oil that I use in cooking, but when it’s something as delicious as this marranito pan dulce fat is good once in a while. 

Dough mixed in a stainless steel bowlThey taste just as they should, so much so, that the kids ate them so fast I hardly had time to photograph them. We dunked them in the thickest Mexican hot chocolate.

Marranitos lined up on a sheet tray getting ready to bake

The Recipe: The Best Vegan Marranitos

  • I recommend eating the marranitos by dunking them in hot chocolate or coffee.
  • If you would like to make these without fat you can substitute the amount of vegan butter with apple sauce.
  • You can find the marranitos cookie cutter that I used right HERE Enjoy!

 

Here is the best vegan marranito (Mexican piggy cookies) recipe ever. They are infused with piloncillo, star anise, clove, and cinnamon.

Marranitos

A marranito is a Mexican pastry shaped like a piggy. It can be soft like a sweet bread or more on the hard side like a cookie.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cochinitos, cochitos, pan dulce, piloncillo
Prep Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Servings: 8 large marranitos
Calories: 170kcal
Author: Dora Stone

Ingredients

Piloncillo Syrup

  • 2/3 cup Water
  • 1 cone Piloncillo, (8 oz)
  • 2 Cloves, whole
  • 1 stick Mexican cinnamon (2 inches)
  • 1 Star anise

Marranitos

  • 1 cup + 2 tbsp. Flour, all-purpose
  • 1 cup Flour, whole wheat
  • 1 tsp. Baking soda
  • 1 tsp. Baking powder
  • 1/3 cup Vegan butter, melted
  • 1/2 cup Piloncillo syrup

"Egg Wash"

  • 2 tbsp Unsweetened plant milk
  • 1 tbsp Maple syrup

Instructions

To make the Piloncillo Syrup

  • Place water, piloncillo, cinnamon, clove, and star anise in a medium saucepot set to medium heat. Simmer slowly and stir until the piloncillo dissolves. Continue to simmer until the mixture has the consistency of natural maple syrup. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. Strain. (For this recipe we will only be using 1/2 cup of the piloncillo syrup. You can save the rest to use later.)

To make the marranitos

  • In a large bowl, combine the whole wheat and all-purpose flours, baking powder, and baking soda.
  • Combine 1/2 cup of the piloncillo syrup with the melted butter and mix well.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon until the dough begin to comes together.
  • Use your hands to incorporate the dough together and form a ball. The dough will be on the wet side. If the dough is too dry add a bit more of the piloncillo syrup.
  • Cover in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 30 - 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Remove the dough from the fridge and roll out on a floured surface to 1/3 inch thickness.
  • Use a large pig-shaped cookie cutter to cut out the dough and place them on a parchment-lined sheet tray.
  • Reform the dough scraps into a ball and roll out again to cut out more marranitos. Repeat this process until you cannot cut out any more.
  • Combine the plant milk and maple syrup in a small bowl to make your "egg wash". Brush marranitos with "egg wash".
  • Bake for 12-15 minutes or until the marranitos are golden brown on the bottom.
  • Remove from oven and let cool slightly.

Notes

 If you would like to make these without fat substitute the vegan butter with apple sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 228mg | Potassium: 117mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
Marranitos sitting by a cup of hot chocolate and a blue napkin
marranito being dipped into hot chocolate in a talavera cup
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Empanadas de Camote (Sweet Potato Empanadas)

These beautiful freshly baked empanadas de camote are filled with sweet potato, slowly simmered in cinnamon and anise. The dough is hand-kneaded and rolled out, then baked with the fragrant sweet potato filling. I like to eat them right out of the oven with a steaming cup of Mexican hot chocolate.

Sugar, anise, and cinnamon syrup in a small stainless steel pot
Flour and sweet potato syrup in a large glass bowl

I used to think empanadas were a Mexican thing but soon discovered that almost every country has their own version. Whether they are sweet or savory, they are incredibly delicious, easy to eat, and the perfect food on the go.

Flour mixture mixed together in glass bowl
Kneaded dough on a wooden surface

Empanadas by Doña Consuelo

This recipe was given to me by Doña Consuelo, a friend of my cousin Esperanza. Doña Consuelo had heard that my little nephew has severe allergies and can’t enjoy most of the pan dulce available in our town, so she graciously shared her recipe for these empanadas de camote, which just so happen to be vegan.

Cubed sweet potatoes cooking in a stainless steel pot

Doña Consuelo is one of those OG cooks that has never written down a recipe, and measures everything by fistfuls. So my beautiful cousin had her over to her house and had her recreate the recipe, and then proceeded to measure every fistful of flour and pinch of anise. She passed the recipe to me and I couldn’t wait to share it with you.

Mashed sweet potato in a glass bowl

I decided to pay her a visit to thank her for the recipe and just chat. Sitting in her living room, lamenting that she could no longer use her hands to knead the dough or make them for her family (she has arthritis), she reminisced about the traditional candies that are hand made in Múzquiz, her home town. She talked about the treats she ate as a child, and how she wished they were made with the same quality today.

Sweet potato plopped in the middle of dough disk

All of this has me pondering on the importance of passing down family recipes and adapting them for the new generation. Food is such an important part of our culture and we shouldn’t let the traditional recipes disappear with the previous generations. Save your family recipes!! Make them vegan, make them yours!

Empanadas ready to bake on a sheet tray

The Recipe: Empanadas de Camote

  • The original recipe called for vegetable shortening, but I have substituted it for coconut oil, but you could also use melted vegan butter.
Chef Dora and Doña Consuelo posing for a photo
  • I also reduced the amount of sugar (believe it or not!), but you can sub with piloncillo, sugar in the raw or muscovado sugar.
  • I used the orange-fleshed sweet potatoes.
Empanadas de camote on a blue plate, cup of coffee and cinnamon stick
A close up of an empanada de camote cut in half.
Empanadas de camote on a blue plate, cup of coffee and cinnamon stick. The top empanada is cut in half showing the filling.

Empanadas de Camote (Sweet Potato Empanadas)

These beautiful freshly baked empanadas de
camote are filled with sweet potato, slowly simmered in cinnamon and anise.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: mexican sweet potato empanadas, sweet empanadas, sweet potato
Prep Time: 2 hours
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 16 empanadas
Calories: 321kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

Sweet Potato Syrup:

  • 2 1/2 cups Water
  • 2 Ceylon cinnamon sticks, 2 inches long
  • 1 ½ tsp. Anise seed
  • 1 ½ cups Sugar, granulated
  • 1.6 lb. Sweet potato, peeled, cut into large dice (About two large ones)

Empanada Dough:

  • 17.6 oz. All-Purpose flour
  • 2 ½ tsp. Baking powder
  • 2/3 cup Melted coconut oil (the original recipe used shortening)
  • ¼ cup Sugar
  • 1 tbsp. Ground cinnamon
  • 1 1/3 cup Sweet Potato Syrup (see above)
  • ¼ cup Aquafaba liquid of a can of chickpeas

Instructions

To make the syrup:

  • Combine the water, cinnamon sticks, anise seed, and sugar in a small pot. Bring to a simmer over low heat and simmer softly for 30 min. Strain. Reserve 1 1/3 cups of the syrup and set aside.
  • Pour the rest of the sweet potato syrup in a small pot and add the sweet potato. Bring to a very low simmer, cover, and let cook for 45 min. (It’s going to seem like it’s not enough liquid to cook the sweet potatoes, but we’re basically going to steam them in the syrup. As they cook they will release liquid as well.) Drain and mash with a fork.
  • While the sweet potatoes are cooking, in a large bowl mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and cinnamon. Add the melted coconut oil and mix well.
  • Add sweet potato syrup and mix.
  • Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough has come together is elastic and smooth, but not sticky. Let it rest for 45 min.
  • Preheat oven to 350F.
  • Divide the dough into 16 equal portions and roll them into balls ( 2 oz. each). On a lightly floured surface roll out the dough 1/4 inch thick.
  • Place 1 tbsp. of the filling in the middle of the dough round. Fold the dough over to enclose the filling, and crimp the edges with a fork to seal or seal them decoratively as the Argentinians do. Pierce each empanada three times with a fork near the crimped edge.
  • Brush with aquafaba and bake for 35 – 40 min. or until the empanadas are golden brown on the bottom.

Notes

The original recipe called for vegetable shortening, but I have substituted it for coconut oil, but you could also use melted vegan butter.
I also reduced the amount of sugar (believe it or not!), but you can sub with piloncillo, sugar in the raw or muscovado sugar.

Nutrition

Serving: 1empanadas | Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Sodium: 29mg | Potassium: 275mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 24g | Vitamin A: 6435IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 2mg
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Vegan Arroz con Leche

This vegan arroz con leche is creamy, delicious, and easy to make. It is topped with a sprinkle of freshly ground cinnamon and studded with raisins. I love it when it’s served cold on a hot day, but in the winter nothing beats a cup of warm arroz con leche. It’s one of those classic Mexican desserts that you make over and over again.

Milk and rice cooking in a large pot with a cinnamon stick.

Mexican Arroz con Leche

Mexican rice pudding is the perfect combination of milk, sugar, cinnamon, rice, and raisins. Depending on what region of Mexico you grew up in you might have added fresh fruit, orange or lime zest, and even rum.

Raisins added to the pot with the rice and milk.

Did you know that there are many versions of arroz con leche? There is Dominican, Costa Rican, Cuban, Puerto Rican, Guatemalan….and the list goes on and on. Most of them are similar but each country has its own variation that makes it unique. In Puerto Rico they use coconut milk, in Spain they add orange zest, in Cuba, they add condensed milk, and in Jamaica, they add allspice or nutmeg.

A wooden spoon full of vegan Mexican rice pudding suspended over a pot.

But it doesn’t matter what country you are from, arroz con leche evokes memories of the smell of cinnamon and a big pot of boiling milk on the stove, and the song, “ Arroz con leche, me quiero casar con un señorita…..”

How to Make Arroz con Leche Vegan

To make this arroz con leche without dairy I did a test between three different types of plant milk: soy milk, oat milk, and almond coconut milk. I used the same recipe for all of them and had some really picky taste-testers (my children) evaluate the results.

Two glass cups of vegan arroz con leche surrounded by cinnamon sticks and raisins.

The Test: Soy milk, Oat Milk or Almond Milk

The clear winner of the taste test was soy, then oat milk, and in the last place was almond-coconut milk. Soy milk resembled cow’s milk the most because of the high-fat content. The one that was made with oat milk was deliciously sweet, but it gave it a yellowish color and it wasn’t as creamy as the soy milk. The almond-coconut milk was creamy but did have a distinctive taste of coconut. My kids loved all of them, but they preferred the soy by far. I know a lot of people don’t do soy, so if you don’t, I recommend the oat milk instead.

A close up of vegan Mexican rice pudding with raisins with the spoon digging in.

The Recipe

  • You can use any plant milk of your choice, but we found that soy was the one that mimicked the taste of cow’s milk the best.
  • Oat milk also makes a yummy arroz con leche.
  • You can add fresh fruit, orange zest, dried fruit, nutmeg, and even vegan condensed milk.
  • I decided to use long-grain rice because it’s what is most accessible, but using short-grain rice will give a creamier result.
Vegan arroz con leche in a glass goblet with a golden spoon inserted into the cup.

Vegan Arroz con Leche

Vegan Arroz con Leche, a traditional Mexican classic made dairy-free with soy milk, cinnamon. and raisins.
5 from 5 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: cinnamon, dairyfree, raisins, rice pudding, vegan
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 8 people (Serving size 1/2 cup)
Calories: 311kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Long grain-rice
  • 1 Ceylon cinnamon stick 2 -inch
  • 3 cups Water
  • 4 cups Soy milk
  • ½ – 1 cup Sugar or your sweetener of choice
  • ½ cup of raisins optional

Instructions

  • In a large pot combine water, cinnamon stick, and rice. Bring water to a simmer and simmer slowly for 15 min.
  • Add soy milk to the pot and simmer for 10 more minutes.
  • Add ½ – 1 cup of the sugar (depending on desired sweetness), and simmer for another 10 minutes or until the arroz con leche has reached the right consistency.
  • Remove from the heat, add raisins, and let the rice cool slightly. It will thicken as it cools.
  • Sprinkle with ground cinnamon before serving. Serve warm, or let cool in the refrigerator and serve cold.

Notes

You can use any plant milk of your choice, but we found that soy was the one that mimicked the taste of cow’s milk the best. Oat milk also makes a yummy arroz con leche. You can add fresh fruit, orange zest, dried fruit, nutmeg, and even vegan condensed milk. I decided to use long-grain rice because it’s what is most accessible, but using short grain rice will give a creamier result.

Nutrition

Serving: 0.5cups | Calories: 311kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 268mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 40g | Vitamin A: 464IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 181mg | Iron: 1mg

Although dorastable.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates.

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Vegan Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

This vegan key lime pie ice cream is a play on my favorite Mexican dessert, carlota de limón. (In Mexico it is also known as pay de limón ice cream.) A tangy and sweet key lime-coconut milk base is churned until it is light and creamy and then mixed with crumbled vegan Maria cookies It has the perfect ratio of cookies to ice cream with that classic lime flavor that is a Mexican favorite.

Coconut milk and lime mixture in a blender container.

Ice Cream in Mexico

Mexico loves ice cream. You can find hand-churned ice cream made in huge stainless barrels and being sold on the street. Mexican ice cream is famous for being made with ripe and juicy seasonal fruit. You can find classic flavors like mango, strawberry, and chocolate, and some unconventional flavors like corn rose petal, and tres leches.

Carlota de limon is a deliciously decadent key lime ice box cake layered with Maria cookies and a sweet-tart lime custard cream.

Mexican Ice Cream is similar to gelato since the fat content is much lower than American ice cream, so it is creamy and delectable yet light and refreshing. You can also find ice cream at paleterias or neverías. The most famous one is La Michoacana. To find vegan ice cream simply ask for nieve de agua, which means it’s made with a water base.

Making vegan ice cream

Ice cream is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world and I’m so glad that there are many vegan options available at grocery stores. My favorite hands-down is Nada Moo, but if you want to make your own ice cream I recommend the FoMu Ice Cream cookbook. If you’re looking for an ice cream machine I use the Cuisinart 2-Quart Ice Cream Maker. What’s your favorite ice cream flavor???

Pay de Limon ice cream in stacked glass bowls with a golden spoon digging into it.

The Recipe: Vegan Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

Key Lime vs Persian Lime

For this ice cream, I recommend you use key limes which are small and have a stronger and tangier flavor than Persian limes.

Vegan Key lime pie ice cream in a quart container with a purple ice scream scoop digging in

Vegan Maria Cookies

If you live in Mexico the Maria cookies from the Soriana brand are accidentally vegan. If you live in the US I found that Mcvities Rich Tea Cookies are also vegan and can be found on Amazon. If you can’t find either of them you can use vegan graham crackers to make this ice cream.

Vegan Key lime pie ice cream in stacked glass bowls with a golden spoon digging into it.

Vegan Key Lime Pie Ice Cream

This vegan key lime pie ice cream is a play on my favorite Mexican dessert, carlota de limón. (In Mexico it is also known as pay de limón ice cream.) A tangy and sweet key lime-coconut milk base is churned until it is light and creamy and then mixed with crumbled Maria cookies.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Keyword: coconut milk, key lime, maria cookies
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
5 hours
Servings: 8 servings (1 quart)
Calories: 174kcal
Author: Dora S.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Canned Coconut milk unsweetened
  • ¼ cup Granulated sugar
  • 1/3 cup Agave nectar
  • 1/3 cup Fresh key lime juice or regular lime juice
  • ½ cup Crumbled Maria cookies see note

Instructions

  • Place the coconut milk, lime juice, sugar, and agave nectar in the blender and process until smooth.
  • Let the mixture cool in the refrigerator for at least two hours, preferably overnight.
  • Once the mixture is cold, add it to your ice cream machine and churn according to the machine’s instructions. It could take anywhere from 15 to 25 minutes.
  • During the last couple of minutes of churning add the crumbled cookies to the ice cream.
  • Transfer the ice cream (it will look like soft-serve a freezer-safe container with a lid and freeze for at least 5 hours.
  • Enjoy!!

Notes

  • To crumble the Maria cookies, place them in a Ziploc bag and pound them with a rolling pin.
  • If after freezing the ice cream is too hard, leave it out at room temperature to soften a little bit.

Nutrition

Calories: 174kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 37mg | Potassium: 144mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1mg

 

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Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream with Almond Crumble

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This sweet-yet-tart vegan raspberry ice cream is deliciously creamy, along with a crunchy almond-oat topping. It is made with full-fat coconut milk, fresh raspberries, agave, organic cane sugar, and sea salt. It’s amazing how just a handful of natural ingredients make an irresistible, all plant-based treat!

Cover of the book Incredible vegan ice cream, 3 balls of ice cream surrounded by cones on top of a chalkboard surface.

Incredible Vegan Ice Cream

This recipe is from the book Incredible Vegan Ice Cream by Deena Jalal. Deena is the founder and owner of the beloved Houston ice cream shop FoMu Ice Cream, and she has infused this book with the same creamy indulgent flavors you can find in her store.

Close up of two vegan raspberry ice cream cones on top of a black background surrounded by oatmeal crumble and raspberries

Ice cream is one of my favorite things in the whole wide world, so I was thrilled to receive this book! There are 60 vegan ice cream recipes, and we love every single one we’ve tried. I especially enjoyed that the ice cream isn’t overly sweet. Some of my favorite flavors so far are blueberry shortbread, bourbon maple walnut, chocolate stout, roasted banana cinnamon, and apple cider donut. All of the ice creams are made with coconut milk, so if you’re allergic to coconut this book isn’t for you.

Little girl with pigtails, blue eyes, and olive skin holding a sugar cone with raspberry ice cream topped with two raspberries

Mexico has a wonderful history of handmade ice cream made with natural ingredients, and I thought this vegan raspberry ice cream would fit perfectly with my collection of Mexican desserts. In Mexico, ice cream making dates back to pre-hispanic times when the Teotihuacanos would collect ice from the top of the volcanoes and serve it with honey and fruit. Today, ice-cream making is a craft passed down from generation to generation. I’m so excited to apply the techniques and recipes from this book to recreate my favorite Mexican flavors.

4 scoops of vegan raspberry ice cream in small cups with a silver spoon.

Making Vegan Ice Cream is Easy!

Making vegan ice cream is actually so much easier than making traditional ice cream because you don’t have to make a custard base, and when you follow the Mexican tradition of using the freshest and ripest fruit, your vegan ice cream will be nothing but luscious, rich, and sweet. All you have to do is blend the ingredients to make the base, then churn in an ice cream maker.

Boy in an orange shirt with a surprised face holding an ice cream cone with raspberry ice cream

The Recipe: Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream with Almond Crumble

  • Full-fat coconut milk is the best plant-milk to use for this recipe.
  • Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor.
  • You can use your favorite store-bought granola to save time.
  • After freezing, set the ice cream out for 5 – 10 minutes to soften before serving.
  • It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Two raspberry ice cream cones on top of a black background surrounded by oatmeal crumble and raspberries

Two raspberry ice cream cones on top of a black background surrounded by oatmeal crumble and raspberries

Vegan Raspberry Ice Cream with Oatmeal Crumble

This sweet-yet-tart vegan raspberry ice cream is deliciously creamy and speckled with a crunchy almond-oat topping, and made with coconut milk.
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: almonds, dairyfree, oatmeal, raspberry
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
5 hours
Total Time: 5 hours 25 minutes
Servings: 10 Servings (1 quart)
Calories: 277kcal
Author: Reprinted with permission from Incredible Vegan Ice Cream by Deena Jalal, Page Street Publishing Co. 2019. Photo credit: Emily Kan.

Ingredients

Ice Cream Base

  • 1 pint Fresh or frozen raspberries
  • 2 cups All-natural canned coconut milk
  • 3 tbsp Organic unrefined cane sugar
  • ¼ cup Agave
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • ¾ cup Oatmeal Crumble cooled to room temperature, or neutral granola

Oatmeal Crumble

  • 1 cup Whole Rolled Oats
  • 2/3 cup Oat flour (or oats ground into flour)
  • Pinch Sea Salt
  • 1 tbsp. Ground flaxseed
  • 1/3 cup. Light brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp. Melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup Organic agave
  • 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Ice Cream Base

  • Start by making the raspberry purée. In a high-speed blender or food processor, purée the fresh or frozen red raspberries until they’re smooth. Set aside ½ cup (120 mof the purée. Use a high-speed or immersion blender to thoroughly mix the remaining purée, coconut milk, sugar, agave, and salt. Chill the mixture for at least 1 hour, or overnight.
  • Add the chilled mixture to your ice cream maker and churn it according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Most machines take 10 to 15 minutes depending on the temperature of the mix, and it should look like soft serve when it’s finished. Transfer the churned ice cream to a large freezer-safe container. Wide and shallow containers work well for mixing, freezing, and scooping later on. Gently fold the crumbled oats into the base until they’re evenly distributed. You want to be sure to maintain the air that was churned into the base for the best texture. Smooth the top, cover the container, and freeze the ice cream for at least 5 to 6 hours, or until it is set. Don’t skimp on time—this ensures the best quality and shelf life of the ice cream.
  • For an ideal texture, set the ice cream out for 5 to 10 minutes before serving it. It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Oatmeal Crumble

  • Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease a parchment-lined baking sheet tray and set it aside. Combine the whole oats, oat flour, salt, flax, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon or spatula until everything is evenly distributed. Add the coconut oil, agave, and vanilla to the bowl and mix until all the ingredients are well combined.
  • Pour the crumble onto the baking sheet tray. Bake it for approximately 15 minutes, or until it is golden brown. Stir the crumble while it's baking at 5 and 10 minutes to help break it into small chunks.
  • Allow the crumble to cool completely before storing it in an airtight container. It will keep for 1 week at room temperature but can be frozen for up to 1 month.

Notes

  • Full-fat coconut milk is the best plant-milk to use for this recipe.
  • Use fresh raspberries for the best flavor.
  • You can use your favorite store-bought granola to save time.
  • After freezing, set the ice cream out for 5 - 10 minutes to soften before serving.
  • It will keep well in the freezer for a couple of weeks in an airtight container.

Nutrition

Calories: 277kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 16IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 3mg

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book to write this review. That being said, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

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