Guatemalan Empanadas de Manjar de Leche (filled with custard)

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This easy recipe for Guatemalan empanadas de manjar or empanadas de leche will have you enjoying this traditional Guatemalan dessert at home in no time! I included an easy step-by-step recipe for making these mouth-watering sweet custard-filled empanadas. 

Photo by Rudy A. Giron AntiguaDailyPhoto.com Creative Commons License

In Guatemala, particularly during Semana Santa, empanadas de manjar a(lso know as empanadas de leche) are a popular street food. These delightful sweet snacks are soft dough with a red hue from achiote. Then you fill them with smooth milk custard and bake until they’re flaky and delicious. 

Besides being delicious and pretty easy to make, these empanadas are like no other I have ever had. What makes them unique is their slightly red-tinted dough. Once baked, the dough is buttery and delicious yet a bit more crumbly than flaky, giving these empanadas a cookie-like texture.

And when you bite into that sweet crumbly pastry and taste the creamy custard inside, it’s like taking a bite of heaven! Wash down this delicious treat with rosa de jamaica, and you have the perfect snack!

What Are Empanadas de Manjar?

Empanadas de manjar are a popular Guatemalan dessert. These empanadas are usually baked with a sweet, creamy filling of manjar, also known as custard. They have a slightly sweet buttery pastry shell tinted red with achiote or annatto and sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Best recipe for Guatemalan empanadas de leche

Empanadas de manjar holds a special place in traditional Guatemalan cuisine because they’re a delicious treat and a symbol of the country’s history and culture. Empanadas were introduced to Guatemala during the colonial period when the Spanish brought their cuisine and culinary traditions to the region. Over time, the empanada evolved to include local ingredients and flavors.

Today, empanadas de manjar or empanadas de leche are a beloved dessert often served during Lent and Holy Week celebrations. They’re also popular street food, and you can find them being sold by vendors in markets and on street corners throughout the country. Whether eaten as a sweet snack or a dessert after a meal, empanadas de manjar are a delicious and essential part of Guatemalan cuisine.

The History of Empanadas

Empanadas or empanadillas have a long and interesting history, and their origin can be traced back to the region of Galicia in Spain. The word “empanada” comes from the Spanish verb “empanar,” which means “to wrap in bread.”

As Spanish explorers and settlers traveled to the Americas, they brought empanadas, and the dish quickly became popular in many Latin American countries. As a result, Empanadas are now a beloved and iconic food in many of these countries, with each region adding its unique twist to the dish.

Easy recipe for Guatemalan empanadas de manjar or empanadas de leche

Today, empanadas can be found in many parts of the world. They continue to evolve and change as they are adapted to local tastes and ingredients. Whether you’re enjoying a savory empanada Argentina filled with ground meat or a sweet Guatemalan empanada de piña, one thing is for sure: empanadas are a delicious and satisfying food that people will continue to enjoy for many years to come.

The History of Manjar or Custard

Custard is a creamy, delicious dessert enjoyed for centuries in many different parts of the world. Its origins are unknown, but it is believed to have been invented in Europe during the Middle Ages.

In Latin America, the custard was adopted by Spanish colonizers and quickly became a popular dessert. The Spaniards brought their recipes and cooking techniques with them, and they used local ingredients to create new and exciting versions of the dessert.

manjar de leche

One of the most popular types of custard in Latin America is flan, made from eggs, milk, sugar, and caramel. Flan is a deliciously creamy dessert in many Latin American countries, including Mexico, Colombia, and Puerto Rico.

In Guatemala, the custard is often used as a filling for empanadas. Empanadas de manjar (or empanadas de leche) is a delicious custard-filled pastry that will melt in your mouth!

Easy Recipe For Empanadas de Manjar De Leche

This step by step recipe for the traditional empanadas de leche or empanada de manjar is easy to make. If you’ve tried these before, you’ll be thrilled that you can now enjoy them at home even if you’re far from Guatemala. But if you have never tried them, you’re in for a real treat!

Best recipe for Guatemalan empanada de manjar

Ingredients For The Empanadas De Manjar

  • 1 lb of rice flour or salpor corn flour
  • 1 lb wheat flour
  • 12 oz sugar
  • 1 lb vegetable shortening
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon of baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon of baking soda
  • 6 medium eggs
  • 1/ teaspoon achiote or annatto* (or a few drops of red food coloring)

Spiced Custard Filling Ingredients

  • 1 lt whole milk
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 12 oz sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup of cornstarch dissolved in ½ cup of whole milk

How To Make Empanadas

Mix The Dough

  1. Mix the dry ingredients and make sure to sift them to give the dough its soft texture. 
  2. Add the shortening (reserve a bit to dissolve the annatto or achiote) and the eggs and mix with a fork incorporating all the ingredients. 
  3. Add the annatto or achiote dissolved and knead with your hands until the dough is smooth.
  4. Cover the dough with a moist cloth, so it doesn’t dry out while preparing the filling.

Prepare The Custard Filling

  1. In a medium saucepan, boil the milk with the cinnamon, sugar, and salt. 
  2. Move constantly, and when it starts to boil, add the cornstarch little by little while vigorously mixing to avoid sticking and forming lumps. 
  3. Cook without while constantly moving for 3 minutes, remove from heat, and let it cool.

Time To Bake The Empanadas

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. With the empanada dough, form small balls and flatten them into circles measuring 6-8″. 
  3. In the center, place about ¼ cup of filling, fold in two forming a half circle, and press the edges together with a fork to seal. 
  4. Sprinkle the empanadas with confectioners sugar, put them on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper, and bake for approximately 30 minutes. Baking time may vary, and these Guatemalan empanadas should not brown on top, just a little on the bottom.
  5. For an easier version, use store-bought empanada dough, brush with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar.
 
empanadas manjar de leche

Guatemalan Empanadas de Manjar de Leche (filled with custard)

Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Delicious pastry full of creamy custard

Ingredients

For the dough:

  • 1 lb of rice flour or salpor corn flour
  • 1 lb wheat flour
  • 12 oz sugar
  • 1 lb vegetable shortening
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon of baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon of baking soda
  • 6 medium eggs
  • 1/ teaspoon achiote or annatto* (or a few drops of red food coloring)

Spiced Custard Filling Ingredients

  • 1 lt whole milk
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 12 oz sugar
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup of cornstarch dissolved in ½ cup of whole milk

Instructions

Mix The Dough

  1. Mix the dry ingredients and make sure to sift them, as this will give the dough its soft texture. 
  2. Add the shortening (reserve a little bit of shortening to dissolve the annatto or achiote) and the eggs and mix with a fork incorporating all the ingredients. 
  3. Add the annatto or achiote dissolved and knead with your hands until the dough is smooth.
  4. Cover the dough with a moist cloth so that it doesn’t dry out while you prepare the filling.

Prepare The Custard Filling

  1. In a medium saucepan, boil the milk with the cinnamon, sugar, and salt. 
  2. Move constantly, and when it starts to boil, add the cornstarch little by little while vigorously mixing in order to avoid sticking and the formation of lumps. 
  3. Cook without while constantly moving for 3 minutes, remove from heat, and let it cool.

Time To Bake The Empanadas

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. With the empanada dough, form small balls and flatten them into circles measuring between 6-8”. 
  3. In the center, place about ¼ cup of filling, fold in two forming a half circle, and press the edges together with a fork to seal. 
  4. Sprinkle the empanadas with confectioners sugar and put them on cookie sheets covered with parchment paper, and bake for approximately 30 minutes.  Baking time may vary, and these Guatemalan empanadas should not brown on top, just a little on the bottom.

Notes

For an easier version use store bought empanada dough, brush with beaten egg yolk and sprinkle with sugar.

Nutrition Information:
Yield: 40 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 283Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 32mgSodium: 75mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 1gSugar: 18gProtein: 3g

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More Traditional Guatemala Desserts

Have you ever tried Guatemalan cuisine? It’s a delightful combination of Mayan and Spanish flavors, resulting in a one-of-a-kind taste experience. From the crunchy Champurradas to the rich Ayotes, your taste buds are in for a real treat. Trust me, once you try it, you won’t resist whipping up some of these dessert recipes at home. So, let’s get our aprons on and get cooking!

Canillitas De Leche

Canillitas de leche is my favorite Guatemalan traditional candy. For this Guatemalan dish, I took a few shortcuts. I love experimenting and turning the traditional, time-consuming recipe into a simple, easy, no-bake dessert. As a result, this incredible recipe has all the authentic canillitas de leche flavors without the hard work! 

Guatemalan canillitas de leche recipe
Guatemalan canillitas de leche recipe

Rellenitos De Platano

If you’re looking for the best Guatemalan rellenitos de plátano recipe, you’ve come to the right place. This Guatemalan dessert is one of my favorites: ripe plantains filled with beans and covered in sugar. This sweet plantain recipe is one of the most popular desserts in Guatemala.

Rellenitos de platano recipe
Rellenitos de platano

Barquillos, Delicious Wafer Cookies

Want to add a unique and delicious treat to your dessert repertoire? Look no further than Guatemalan barquillos! With their delicate texture and sweet flavor, these thin rolled wafers are a must-try for any dessert enthusiast.

Guatemalan barquillos recipe
Guatemalan barquillos recipe

Jocotes En Miel

Cooked in a bubbling sweet syrup and heavenly spices, these juicy jocotes (hog plums) are a traditional Guatemalan food commonly served around the Day of the Dead celebrations. Still, you can enjoy this simple yet delicious Guatemalan recipe any day!

Guatemalan jocotes en miel recipe
Guatemalan jocotes en miel recipe

Buñuelos

Buñuelos are bits of fried wheat-based dough, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. Throughout Latin America, there are different versions of buñuelos; they can be round, flat, or even twisted strips of dough. In Guatemala, the buñuelos are covered in powdered sugar and served in light syrup with a hint of anise.

Guatemalan buñuelos recipe
Guatemalan buñuelos

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Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz

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16 thoughts on “Guatemalan Empanadas de Manjar de Leche (filled with custard)”

  1. gracias por todo lo que usted hace por guatemala siga adelante.pregunta que es en si la arina de salpor,no se si la venden aqui en usa. aqui en chicago no la he encontrado, gracias atten: jose

    Reply
  2. Hi Paula, las empanadas son deliciosas, yo hago para vender, y mis amigas las aman, Gracias por la receta es la mejor que encontre, Marta.

    Reply
  3. Hola, Soy Patty y vivo en Holanda, soy Guatemalteca con mucho orgullo, se me antojo esta receta, voy a probar tu receta de Empanadas con Manjar de leche, me parecio la mas buena. Saludos

    Reply
  4. I tried the empanadas and they are in the oven as I write this comment…I have no idea how they are going to come out…since I do not consume any dairy products I used the coconut/soy milk…I messed up on the manjar cause it lumped on me so I strained what I could….it tasted good…the dough was a bit loose…I am just a bit bumped…waiting for the .30 to finish so that I can take them out…
    Thank you so much for your page…I live in San Antonio, TX and we don’t have many Guatemalans here…

    Reply
  5. Hola Paula gracias por la receta es muy congruente la mejor que encontre . La probare y te cuento soy guatemalteca amo nuestra cocina y soy muy buena cocinando. Te contare como salen. Felicidades y Bendiciones.

    Reply
  6. Do you have a recipe for a Guatemalan rice dish that has green olives, potatoes, tomato all I can remember?

    Reply
    • It makes one at a time but it takes seconds to make one. Just add the pod for the cocktail you want. The pods come in 4 packs and you can choose all of your favorite cocktails like Margaritas, Mojitos, Long Island Iced Tea, Daiquiris, etc. They have so many options!!

  7. Oh my goodness, the empanadas de manjar de leche were absolutely divine! As I took my first bite, the flaky crust gave way to a rich, creamy filling that was perfectly sweetened. I could have eaten a dozen of these delectable treats and still craved more. these empanadas are an absolute must-try!

    Reply

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