Description
Leche frita is a classic Spanish dessert made from thickened sweet milk custard that is chilled, cut into pieces, coated, and fried until golden, then finished with cinnamon sugar for a creamy inside and crispy outside.
Ingredients
- 500 ml whole milk
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 60 g cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip lemon peel
- 2 eggs
- 100 g all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
- 50 g granulated sugar (for coating)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon (for coating)
Instructions
- Pour 400 ml of the milk into a saucepan and add the cinnamon stick, lemon peel, and sugar.
- Heat over medium heat until it begins to simmer, then remove from heat and let it infuse for about 5 minutes.
- In a bowl mix the remaining 100 ml cold milk with the cornstarch until smooth.
- Remove the cinnamon stick and lemon peel from the saucepan.
- Return the milk to medium heat and slowly add the cornstarch mixture while stirring constantly.
- Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture thickens into a dense custard.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix well.
- Pour the custard into a parchment-lined rectangular dish and spread evenly to about 2–3 cm thickness.
- Allow it to cool at room temperature then refrigerate for 3–4 hours until firm.
- Cut the chilled custard into squares or rectangles.
- Coat each piece lightly in flour and dip into beaten eggs.
- Heat vegetable oil in a frying pan over medium heat.
- Fry the pieces until golden brown on all sides.
- Remove and place on paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Mix sugar and ground cinnamon together and coat the warm pieces before serving.
Notes
- Allow the custard to chill completely so it holds its shape during frying.
- Serve soon after frying to keep the exterior crispy.
- The cinnamon and lemon peel add traditional Spanish flavor.
- Cut the custard evenly so the pieces cook uniformly.
- A neutral oil such as vegetable or sunflower oil works best for frying.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 260 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 90 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
