23 Authentic Argentinian Desserts That Will Wow Your Taste Buds

Argentina is an incredibly proud culture that is blended of European and Latin American traditions.

Over time the country has come to build their own traditions and with that comes their own dessert recipes. 

You will return to these treats time and time again thanks to the opulent combination of sweet, salty, and aromatic ingredients.

Below are over 20 authentic, sweet, tasty desserts that all originate from the land of Argentina.

Whether you are wanting to introduce Argentinian desserts to your family or want to add some spice to your regular rotation, we have a recipe for you. 

Check them out below!

1. Dulce De Leche

Make dulce de leche at home on your own! It is a dense, creamy, and just-right sweet treat that is produced by boiling sweetened milk.

It has a lovely nutty hue and a flavor that we would characterize as creamy caramel in depth.

This delicacy is rarely found in stores but once you master that texture you can use it on all of your favorite desserts.

Cupcakes, Sundaes, Cookies, anything that deserves a thick creamy caramel texture. Slather it on and enjoy. 

2. Alfajores (Dulce De Leche Sandwich Cookies)

We all love ice cream sandwiched between two delicious cookies, so why not try Dulce De Leche. 

Thanks to the dulce de leche filling coated in shredded or dried coconut, this delicate, delectable sandwich biscuit will melt in your tongue.

If you’re not a fan of coconut, try sprinkling the cookies with powdered sugar.

Alfajores is sure to satisfy any sweet tooth and is perfect for the holidays. 

3. Rogel Cake (Torta Rogel)

Torta Rogel is a traditional cake that is welcome in every home. It still permeates every pastry shop and is present at both big occasions and intimate gatherings at home.

 It’s a favorite among argentines, perhaps as a result of the large quantity of dulce de leche found among its layers.

Don’t forget to decorate with small swiss meringue that can be cut into each slice. Perfect for any celebration to both wow and satisfy your guests. 

4. Flan Casero

Flan is traditional to Argentina, especially caramel flan or cre’me caramel. This Argentinian style flan is made with eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla essence. 

While it only contains 4 ingredients, this dessert is truly spectacular. Once you master the art of making the perfect caramel, the rest is a breeze. 

Serve in small ramekins for an elegant dessert to any party. Or serve as one large cake and allow everyone to dig in at the dinner table. 

Don’t let those leftover egg whites go to waste. Make some delicious cookies. 

5. Lattice Top Quince Pie ( Pasta Frola Argentina)

Pasta Frola Argentina is a simple quince pie that includes a vibrant lemon scented crust base. Perfect for warming everyone’s tummies throughout the holidays. 

The pie filling is made of quince paste which is a traditional Spanish pasta made from quince. It is strong and has a more sour taste. Perfect for pairing with a zesty, citrus flavor such as a lemon. 

If your paste is too hard, add to water and warm over a medium heat until it is soft and can be pureed. 

6. Tarta De Coco

Coconut makes for a delicious dessert flavor. From cookies to cakes, coconut is purely delicious. 

Tarta De Coco combines the flavors of coconut and Dulce De Leche. Imagine a flaky crust covered in a thick layer of delectable dulce de leche and finished with fragrant, golden-brown coconut chunks.

Serve straight away or freeze for up to 3 months in advance for a large dinner. We especially love Tarta De Coco served with a hot cup of coffee for a sweet start to the day. 

7. Balcarce Cake 

The torta Balcarce or postre Balcarce (pronounced bal-car-say) is a VERY popular cake from Balcarce, a city near the seaside in the province of Buenos Aires.

It is now synonymous with the city and can be found in most Argentine confiterias (cake shops).

This elegant cake is a beautiful blend of flavors and textures.

Layers of thin sponge, dulce de leche, crushed walnuts, freshly prepared whipped cream, crushed meringue, and whipped cream and desiccated coconut are used to make it.

8. Garrapinadas De Mani (Caramelized Peanuts)

Raw peanuts are cooked and caramelized with sugar and a dash of vanilla to make garrapiada de Mani. In actuality, the word “garapiar,” which means “to ice, to coat with sugar,” is the source of the name.

This delicious treat is a common snack throughout Argentina and can be served as a small appetizer amongst guests before the real dessert is served. You can even find it being served on the street in small bags. 

Quick, delicious, and crunchy. What more could you ask for!

9. Chocolate Alfajores

 The traditional South American shortbread cookie has been given a twist with chocolate alfajores. They are comprised of a not overly sweet shortbread cookie that is filled with dulce de leche, a rich and creamy milk caramel.

This recipe makes Chocolate Aflajores quick and simple to make. Forget covering the entire cookie in chocolate, although that sounds delicious. 

Use a petal cookie cutter for some adorable looking cookies that are just as good to eat. 

10. Chocotorta Trifle

Nothing looks more tasty, or as classic as a trifle. A tasty variation on a well-liked no-bake cake recipe from Argentina is the chocotorta trifle.

This dish is incredibly rich and delicious because it’s made with chocolate biscuits, cream cheese, and dulce de leche!

Top with shaved chocolate and serve in a tall glass for a simple, defined look that will really impress your guests. 

We love this recipe throughout the summer and well into the fall months. 

11. Pionono Relleno Con Dulce De Leche

A pionono is a sponge cake that has been rolled up around a filling, similar to a jelly roll cake. Fillings for pionono can be either savory or sweet.

The dulce de leche within this pionono has been softened with whipped cream. 

The only thing this cake truly needs to be decorated is with a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar, but it tastes much better with a coating of caramel icing.

Perfect for kids birthday parties as everyone can grab a slice and go back to the bouncy castle! 

12. Tortas Fritas

Crispy fry bread like this goes well with jam or dulce de leche.

As long as the tortas are circular with a hole in the center, you can make them with baking powder, yeast, milk, or water. They can also be thin, crispy, thick, or spongy.

Use basic ingredients such as flour, baking powder, salt, butter, sugar, and oil to make this incredibly delicious dessert. 

You can even serve Tortas Fritas as dessert!

13. Argentine Rice Cake

Using some household ingredients and your imagination you can create a stunning Argentine Rice Cake. 

This traditional dessert can be transformed into a delicious fruit cake that can be made to feed large parties or families. 

Watch as everyone digs in and sits in amazement. Especially the little ones. You may want to make a spare, just in case. 

14. El Submarino

Discover how to prepare hot chocolate the Argentine way! This chocolate bar and steam milk concoction is known as a “submarino.”

The term comes from the way the chocolate is added; it is dropped into the heated milk like a submarine.

This is a great way to get the kids involved in the kitchen and is the perfect way to end any night throughout the winter months. 

Serve with cookies or go all out and create Brazilian Brigaderos. 

15. Medialunas And Vigilantes

You can make flaky pastries that resemble croissants with dough made entirely of butter.

Croissants are a part of the larger category of pastries known as facturas in Argentina, which are offered by the dozen in bakeries. 

Vigilantes have a more elongated, straightened-out shape, and medialunas (also known as “half-moons” or “crescents”) have the classic shape of a French croissant. 

Normally, Vigilantes are eaten simply after being dusted with a sugar coating. Medialunas can be formed into sandwiches or split apart and filled with pastry cream or dulce de leche.

16. Dessert Empanadas

That’s right, your favorite savory meal can be transformed into a tasty sweet treat. These Dessert Empanadas use chocolate pastry dough and are filled with Dulce De Leche of course. 

This modern day dessert has quickly become popular throughout Argentina and is perfect. 

Serve warm as an afternoon snack or be a little cheeky and have a sweet breakfast. 

Don’t forget to drizzle some chocolate sauce for an even sweeter dessert!

17. Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart

Salted caramel has the world in a choke hold, and this Chocolate Salted Caramel Tart recipe makes it even harder to say no. 

A tart with a buttery shortbread crust, salted caramel filling, and a smooth chocolate ganache topping is known as a chocolate salted caramel tart.

These palm-sized desserts are the perfect addition to any party menu and are perfect for a quick snack throughout the week. Although, we prefer to keep them for special occasions. 

18. Chocotorta

Chocotorta is a traditional dessert from Argentina composed of chocolate wafers soaked in milk and sandwiched between silky creams made of dulce de leche and cream cheese (or queso crema).

Use store bought cookies to make this recipe easier or make your own cookies for a blend of mouthwatering flavors. 

Let this cake rest for a few hours before serving to allow the flavors to really come together. 

Chocotorta is so extremely rich and decadent that you’ll keep wanting more of it!

19. Argentinian Bread Pudding

This recipe is light, airy and full of flavor. Imagine a cake that is so complex that you aren’t sure whether the final flavor left in your lips is caramel, vanilla, or lemon. 

This cake is also dairy-free and gluten -free with a scrumptious caramel sauce. Perfect for a weekly indulgence. 

Waiting for the bread pudding to cool so you can remove it from the baking pan will be the most difficult task.

The bread pudding must cool completely before being removed from the mold or it will crumble.

You want the top of this dessert to wobble as you set it down. Perfection. 

20. Cafe Con Leche

Argentinians are known for their deep love of rich, powerful coffee. Cafe Con Leche is a must for anyone traveling through Spanish or Latin American cultures. 

You will often find that breakfast is missed and instead a large cup of Cafe Con Leche is enjoyed. Once the taste hits your tongue, you will never have regular coffee again. 

This recipe shows you how to make a delicious, strong cup of Cafe Con Leche that you can enjoy with a slice of Chocotorta or on its own. 

Is there a better way to start the day?

21. Dulce De Leche Ice Cream

The sound of having creamy, rich ice cream in your freezer at any given time seems like heaven. And it can be reality. 

The popular dessert from Latin America is handcrafted in this dulce de leche ice cream. Smooth, creamy, sweet, and loaded with tons of caramel!

This recipe does involve churning but it is worth every ache and pain for that gorgeous silky, flavorsome ice cream. 

You’ll want to have it stocked in your freezer at all times. Using canned sweetened condensed milk in a recipe cuts down on the amount of time needed to simmer anything until it is creamy and delicious.

22. Dulce De Leche Crepes

Crepes, while absolutely delicious on their own, are taken to a whole new level of flavor with this Dulce De Leche recipe. 

You can easily find Dulce De Leche in your local grocery store, however, making it at home allows you to add your own techniques. 

The blender can be used to make the crepes, which are thin and delicate. You’re welcome to use a whisk to mix the batter while you work, but we’re always happy to use our kitchen equipment!

23. Don Pedro Dessert

Don Pedro is made of ice cream, crackers, fruits, nuts, and a special shot of whiskey! Perfect for a special occasion celebrating a whiskey lover or just to add some extra sparkle to your dessert.

Similar to a classic ice cream sundae this dessert is topped with chocolate syrup, a glazed cherry, and a wafer straw. 

Add a shot of a different whiskey each time for a completely different flavor! 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What Is the Most Popular Dessert In Argentina?

All Argentine desserts are still dominated by dulce de leche. Considering that it serves as the major component in many of the nation’s favorite dessert dishes.

The texture of this sweet caramel milk cream is similar to jam. It is produced by boiling sweetened milk to the point of caramelization.

Where Does Dulce De Leche Come From?

The errant maid of General Manuel de Rosas in Argentina made the accidental discovery of dulce de leche. This well-known dessert has a fascinating history.

The maid was preparing desserts for the general by boiling milk and sugar and Dulce De Leche was created. 

Is Tres Leches An Argintinian Dessert?

The tres leches cake is a specialty of Latin America. Recipes for soaked-cake sweets were first recorded in Latin America in the 19th century, in places like El Salvador.

This is probably due to the extensive cross-cultural exchange that occurred between Europe and the Americas at the time.

Final Thoughts 

Desserts are sacred to Argentinian culture, much like they are to the US. From sweet to savory, each recipe has an interesting history to be explored. 

Or you can simply enjoy the taste. 

If you love the flavors that Argentina has to offer then you have to include some traditional desserts. 

Select from over 20 authentic Argentinian desserts and explore the flavors and textures that you can produce. 

You are sure to wow everyone at the next cookout!