Mexican Dessert Ideas

Looking for some "delicioso" Mexican dessert ideas to try for Cinco de Mayo? Here's a whole collection of recipes to inspire you. From fun to decadent, this list of Mexican sweet treats has something for everyone!

The kids and I have been making an effort this year to cook more recipes from my collection of international cookbooks. One fun way we've been doing this is looking for festive holidays or memorable dates from other countries, which we then learn about and commemorate with a meal based around that country's cuisine.

We had SO much fun with this for the Lunar New Year, and the kids really became capable with using chopsticks, as we made and enjoyed some new dishes.

As we look ahead at the calendar, we've been trying to decide what new meals to try, surrounding Cinco de Mayo, which we've learned is more of a Mexican day of remembrance than an actual holiday.

I really like this perspective on ways to respectfully celebrate Cinco de Mayo, by the way.

One thing that jumped out to us as were were looking through my cookbooks was that we have abundant savory recipes to try, but not so many sweet ones.

"Where are the dessert recipes?", my daughter asked.

So I told her I'd ask in my food bloggers group, and see if we could find some wonderful Mexican dessert ideas to try.

OH BABY, do we have dessert ideas now! Check out these heavenly recipes that would work perfectly to finish off a festive Cinco de Mayo dinner.

Mexican Dessert Recipes for Cinco de Mayo

Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies

These Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies are moist, tender, rich and ultra chocolaty with a hint of spice - perfect for a holiday gathering!

Check it out here

Coconut Tres Leches Cake - Simple Living Recipes

This Coconut Tres Leches Cake is so soft and so moist! It’s like a little sponge bursting with flavor! It will be love at first bite!

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Mango popsicles

These gorgeous mango popsicles are full of fresh tropical mango flavor. They have just three ingredients and are super simple to make.

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Churro Chocolate Stuffed Cookies

These churro chocolate stuffed cookies taste just like a churro! They have a chewy center with crisp edges and dunked twice into cinnamon sugar. It is filled with chocolate.

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Fun Piñata Cupcakes Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen

Simple to make scratch vanilla Pinata Cupcakes are topped with a smooth buttercream frosting and have a colorful sprinkle surprise inside.

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Homemade Gluten Free Tres Leches Cake Recipe

You are going to LOVE this gluten free tres leches cake recipe. It is perfect for Cinco de Mayo, or anytime, this creamy three milk cake is crazy good!

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Arroz con Leche Recipe (Mexican Rice Pudding)

Arroz con Leche (or Mexican Rice Pudding) is a delicious Mexican dessert made from simple ingredients including rice, milk, cinnamon, and sugar. It can be served hot or cold and is guaranteed to satisfy any sweet tooth.

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Vegan Watermelon and Cantaloupe Salad - Conflicted Vegan

Vegan watermelon and cantaloupe salad mixed with the perfect dressing and refreshing herbs that offer an explosion of flavors.

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Mexican Sugar Cookies: Polvorones

Mexican Sugar Cookies: Polvorones in 3 different citrus flavors from just one dough! A cookie fiesta great for warm weather care packages!

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Flan de Queso - I Heart Eating

Best flan de queso recipe! This cream cheese flan tastes like flan meets cheesecake. It’s all topped with a sweet caramel sauce.

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Sopaipillas - I Heart Eating

Best sopaipilla recipe! This easy sopaipilla recipe makes 12 light and airy pieces of fried dough that are coated in cinnamon sugar.

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Buñuelos (Mexican Fritters) + VIDEO

Buñuelos (Mexican Fritters) are a traditional Mexican dessert usually made during the Holidays. With VIDEO and step-by-step tutorial.

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Tamales Dulces (Sweet Tamales)

Tamales Dulces (Sweet Tamales) are a favorite during the Holidays. They make a delicious and yummy Mexican dessert. With VIDEO and step-by-step pics.

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Raspados Mexicanos (Easy Mango Raspado Recipe)

Raspados Mexicanos are the answer to sweeten up your day and cool you down. Try this version made with fresh, juicy mangoes!

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Homemade Chipotle Brownies

With a creamy chocolate ganache on top and a hint of spice inside Chipotle Brownies is a homemade brownies recipe that will be the grand finale at your Cinco de Mayo fiesta!

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Sweet Empanadas With Cherry Cheesecake Filling

The BEST sweet empanadas recipe! Filled with cherry cheesecake cream and baked, they are a fun and super easy dessert that uses Pillsbury’s canned biscuit dough!

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Sopapilla Cheesecake - Cinnamon Sugar Cheesecake Bars

These sopapillas or Cinnamon Sugar Cheesecake Bars are our favorite dessert to serve a crowd. Our sopapilla cheesecake is made with crescent roll dough, cream cheese, and cinnamon sugar!

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Strawberry Churro Cupcakes

Strawberry Churro Cupcakes are tasty and moist vanilla cupcakes laced with a hint of cinnamon and topped with a creamy strawberry frosting.

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Instant Pot Churro Bites

Instant Pot Churro Bites are a one of a kind treat that your family will love as it is a fluffy cinnamon-sugar treat.

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Instant Pot Pan De Muerto

Most Mexicans used to go and buy Pan de Muerto (bread of the dead) from stores or bakeries on the occasion of Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrated from Oct 31- Nov 1 in the memory of their loved ones who had passed from this world. Pan de Muerto is a traditional Mexican sweet bread that is lo…

Check it out here

I thought all of these ideas look absolutely delicious. I'm especially looking forward to trying some of the truly authentic Mexican recipes (that Flan de Queso is calling to me!). But I also found myself smiling at those that are playful nod to Mexican culture as well. (Piñata cupcakes, anyone?)

I hope you find a new recipe to try, and if you have a Mexican dessert recipe you love, please feel free to drop it in the comments below. I'd love to hear about it!

Also, if you have resources you've found especially helpful for appreciating without appropriating, when it comes to celebrating the special dates of other countries and cultures--I'm always eager for good resources about respectful cultural learning and celebration.

Cooking our way around the world is proving to be an amazing window into places we dream of visiting someday.

The more we cook, the more we learn. ❤️‍