This collection of Puerto Rican desserts highlights community favorites from Salima’s Kitchen, including a beloved flan, classic pan de Mallorca sweet bread, and two comforting rice puddings. Read on to explore my favorite island-inspired sweets that showcase coconut, cinnamon, cream cheese, and evaporated milk.
If you love Puerto Rican cuisine, you know desserts are an essential part of the experience. Many recipes share familiar ingredients—coconut milk, cinnamon, cream cheese, evaporated milk—that give them their warm, comforting island flavors.
Below are some of my favorite flan variations, followed by other classic Puerto Rican treats.
Flan Recipes
Puerto Rican Flan Recipe
My mother’s Puerto Rican flan is a silky custard topped with homemade caramel. It’s a timeless dessert—creamy, smooth, and perfect for celebrations or a cozy weeknight treat.
ChocoFlan (The Impossible Layered Cake)
ChocoFlan combines a moist chocolate cake layer with a creamy flan layer and caramel. This Mexican-inspired twist on flan makes a dramatic and delicious dessert for any gathering.
Pumpkin Flan (Flan de Calabaza)
Flan de calabaza blends creamy pumpkin with the classic custard base and caramel topping for a seasonal, comforting dessert that’s especially nice in the fall.
Puerto Rican Salted Coconut Flan
This salted coconut variation adds tropical depth to the traditional flan, balancing sweet caramel with subtle coconut and a pinch of salt for contrast.
Other Desserts
Pan de Mallorca (Puerto Rican Sweet Bread)
Pan de Mallorca is an airy, egg-enriched sweet bread with a soft, pillowy crumb. Enjoy it for breakfast or as a side—its tender texture is wonderfully addictive.
Authentic Puerto Rican Quesitos (in 30 minutes!)
Quesitos are quick puff pastry treats filled with sweetened cream cheese. They bake up in about 30 minutes and pair perfectly with café con leche or tea.
Pastelillos de Guayaba (Guava Pastries)
Pastelillos de guayaba combine guava paste and cream cheese inside flaky puff pastry for a bright, sweet pastry that’s easy to prepare and wonderfully portable.
Piragua (Shaved Ice)
Piragua is Puerto Rican shaved ice dressed with sweet fruit syrups. It’s a refreshing, quick dessert that captures the island’s vibrant flavors.
Puerto Rican Coconut Rice Pudding (Arroz con Dulce)
Arroz con dulce is a beloved Puerto Rican coconut rice pudding made with canned coconut milk, rice, and warming spices. For best results, soak short-grain rice for a couple of hours before cooking so the grains cook evenly without turning mushy.
Arroz con Leche
This Puerto Rican-style arroz con leche is made with long-grain rice, whole milk, butter, brown sugar, and spices. It’s comforting, simple, and ready in under an hour.
Fluffy Piña Colada Cupcakes
These piña colada cupcakes combine a moist pineapple-inspired batter with coconut cream cheese frosting for a tropical dessert that feels like sunshine in every bite.
Pina Colada Cake
Inspired by the tropical cocktail, this cake bakes with pineapple pieces and is finished with coconut whipped cream for a moist, island-flavored dessert.
Puerto Rican Tembleque (Coconut Pudding)
Tembleque is a jiggly coconut pudding made with coconut milk, cornstarch, cinnamon, and sugar. Chill it for at least two hours to develop its silky texture before serving.
Sweet Fried Plantains (Maduros)
Maduros are sweet fried plantains made from ripe bananas. They’re simple, caramelized, and frequently served as a dessert or snack across Puerto Rico.
Coconut Macaroons with a Chocolate Drizzle
These five-ingredient coconut macaroons are sweet, slightly salty, and finished with a chocolate drizzle. They’re naturally gluten-free and easy to make in under an hour.
Puerto Rican Coquito (Vegan Substitutes Included)
Coquito is a creamy coconut cocktail flavored with cinnamon and nutmeg, similar to eggnog. It can be adapted with vegan substitutes and is traditionally enjoyed during the holidays—please consume responsibly.
5 Ingredient Guava Cheese Empanadas
These guava cheese empanadas balance sweet guava paste with tangy cream cheese inside flaky fried dough. With only five ingredients, they’re an irresistible dessert or snack.
I hope this selection inspires you to try some Puerto Rican desserts at home. While not exhaustive, these recipes capture the warmth and versatility of island sweets. If you make one, please leave a comment to share how it turned out!
Buen provecho,
