20 Amazing Dominican Desserts Recipes
Dominican desserts are a reflection of the island's vibrant culture—a perfect blend of Taino, Spanish, and African influences. Unlike the subtle sweets found in other cuisines, the Dominican Republic embraces bold, sugary flavors, tropical fruits like coconut, papaya, and guava, and rich, creamy textures.
If you are looking to expand your baking repertoire or simply want to recreate the flavors of a Caribbean vacation, this list covers the essentials. From the airy meringue of a classic Bizcocho to the unique, savory-sweet combination of Habichuelas con Dulce, here are 20 traditional treats that define the Dominican sweet tooth.
1) Bizcocho Dominicano (Dominican Cake)
Get The Recipe
The Bizcocho Dominicano is not just a cake; it is a cultural institution. It is famous for its incredibly moist, airy texture, which is achieved by using a high ratio of butter and mixing the batter precisely.
However, what truly separates this from a standard sponge cake is the Suspiro—a distinctively Dominican meringue frosting that is lighter and marshmallow-like compared to American buttercream.
- Pro Tip: The traditional filling is pineapple marmalade, which provides a tart contrast to the sweet meringue.
2) Torta De Tres Leches (3 Milks Cake)
Get The Recipe
While Tres Leches is popular across Latin America, the Dominican version is often topped with the same distinct Suspiro (meringue) used on their bizcochos, rather than whipped cream.
This sponge cake is soaked in a sweet bath of three milks: evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk, and heavy cream (or whole milk). The result is a dessert that is incredibly dense and moist, releasing sweet milk with every bite. It is best served ice-cold.
3) Majarete Dominicano (Corn Pudding)
Get The Recipe
Majarete is a silky, custard-like pudding that highlights the flavor of fresh corn. Unlike cornmeal-based desserts which can be gritty, authentic Majarete is made by blending fresh corn kernels with milk and straining the mixture to remove the skins.
Thickened on the stove with cornstarch and flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon zest, it’s a comfort food staple. It bridges the gap between a drink and a solid dessert.
4) Dominican Arepa Dulce De Maiz
Get The Recipe
Do not confuse this with the savory corn pancakes found in Venezuela or Colombia. The Dominican Arepa is a dense, baked cornmeal cake. It is heavy, sweet, and typically made with coconut milk and raisins.
This specific recipe adds a twist with pumpkin and spices, giving it a flavor profile similar to a dense pumpkin pie crossed with cornbread. It is traditionally cooked in a "caldero" (Dutch oven) with heat applied to both the top and bottom to create a caramelized crust.
5) Pudín de Pan (Spiced Bread Pudding)
Get The Recipe
Dominicans hate wasting food, and Pudín de Pan is the delicious solution for stale bread. Unlike the chunky American bread puddings, the Dominican version usually soaks the bread until it disintegrates, resulting in a smooth, dense texture similar to a heavy flan or cheesecake.
Generously spiced with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger, and often studded with raisins, this dessert is usually baked in a caramel-coated pan, giving it a beautiful amber glaze when flipped.
6) Paletas de Coco (Coconut Popsicles)
Get The Recipe
In the tropical heat of the Dominican Republic, street vendors often sell Paletas. While fruit flavors like mango and tamarind are popular, the creamy coconut version is the undisputed favorite.
This recipe uses real coconut milk and condensed milk for a rich, creamy texture that prevents the popsicle from becoming an ice block. For an authentic touch, you can leave small bits of grated fresh coconut inside for texture.
7) Morir Soñando (Milk and Orange Drink)
Get The Recipe
The name translates to "To Die Dreaming," and it fits perfectly. It is a unique combination of orange juice, milk, sugar, and crushed ice.
The Secret Technique: To prevent the milk from curdling when it hits the acidic juice, you must ensure both ingredients are ice cold. Mix the sugar into the juice first, add the ice, and then slowly pour in the milk while stirring. It tastes exactly like a melted creamsicle.
8) Classic Caramel Flan
Get The Recipe
Flan is the quintessential dessert of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. A perfect Dominican flan should be creamy and smooth, with zero lumps.
The cooking method is crucial here: it must be baked in a Baño de María (water bath) to ensure gentle, even heat. This prevents the eggs from scrambling and ensures that signature silky texture. The bitter-sweet caramel sauce that coats the flan balances the intense sweetness of the condensed milk.
9) Jalea de Batata Dulce (White Sweet Potato Pudding)
Get The Recipe
This is a traditional dessert that utilizes the Boniato—a white-fleshed sweet potato with a chestnut-like flavor—rather than the orange yams found in the US.
Jalea de Batata is a rich, starchy pudding made with coconut milk, evaporated milk, and warm spices. It has a unique texture that is slightly gelatinous and very filling. It is often served in small portions dusted with cinnamon.
10) Butter Cookies (Mantecaditos)
Get The Recipe
Mantecaditos are the Dominican answer to shortbread. The name comes from "Manteca" (fat/shortening/butter). These bite-sized cookies are sandy, crumbly, and not overly sweet.
They are a staple for "Merienda" (afternoon snack) alongside a strong cup of coffee. The traditional presentation involves making a small thumbprint in the center of the dough and filling it with a cube of guava paste or a bright red candied cherry before baking.
11) Chacá (Cracked Corn Pudding)
Get The Recipe
Chacá is a hearty dessert particularly famous in the southern region of the Dominican Republic and is a staple during Lent. It is made from "Maiz Caquiao" (cracked corn), which requires soaking and long cooking times to soften.
Unlike the smooth Majarete, Chacá has texture. It is a porridge-like dessert cooked with rice, milk, cinnamon, cloves, and sometimes coconut. It is rustic, filling, and deeply traditional.
12) Avena Caliente (Spiced Hot Oatmeal)
Get The Recipe
In the Dominican Republic, oatmeal isn't just a breakfast bowl; it's often served as a drink. Avena is a liquid comfort food—a hot, spiced oatmeal beverage that is strained to be smooth and creamy.
Packed with spices and sweetened to perfection, it is typically consumed for breakfast or as a soothing evening drink. If you prefer texture, you can skip the straining, but the authentic "drink" experience requires it to be smooth.
13) Batida de Lechosa (Papaya Shake)
Get The Recipe
Batidas (milkshakes) are a cornerstone of Dominican street food culture. While Zapote and Mango are popular, the Batida de Lechosa (Papaya) is a classic.
The key to a Dominican-style milkshake is the addition of vanilla extract and plenty of ice, making it frothy and refreshing. Papaya aids in digestion, making this a popular "dessert" after a heavy lunch.
14) Habichuelas con Dulce (Sweet Cream of Beans)
Get The Recipe
If you try only one recipe on this list, let it be this one. Habichuelas con Dulce is arguably the most distinctively Dominican dessert in existence, made almost exclusively during the Lenten season (Cuaresma).
It consists of pureed red kidney beans, coconut milk, evaporated milk, sugar, sweet potato chunks, and raisins. It is topped with milk cookies (galletitas de leche). While "sweet beans" sounds strange to the uninitiated, the flavor is nutty, earthy, and sweet—similar to the red bean pastes found in Asian desserts.
15) Dominican Buñuelos (Fried Dough Balls)
Get The Recipe
Buñuelos appear in many cultures, but the Dominican version often incorporates cassava (yuca) or squash into the dough, giving the fried balls a unique, slightly chewy interior.
Once fried to golden perfection, they are not just dusted with sugar; they are bathed in a homemade syrup made from water, sugar, cinnamon, and star anise. They are best eaten warm when the syrup has just soaked into the crust.
16) Arroz Con Leche (Rice Pudding)
Get The Recipe
Rice pudding is a global staple, but the Caribbean version leans heavily on aromatic spices. Dominican Arroz con Leche is typically infused with lemon or lime zest, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
The consistency is key: it should be creamy and fluid, not stiff or dry. Many Dominican households add raisins for a burst of sweetness. It serves as a warm breakfast or a cold dessert.
17) Dulce de Leche en Tabla (Milk Fudge)
Get The Recipe
While most people know Dulce de Leche as a sauce, in the Dominican Republic, it is also made into a solid fudge block known as "En Tabla."
This is pure sugar rush territory. By cooking milk and sugar down past the sauce stage, it solidifies into a crumbly, crystallized fudge. It is often sold in colmados (corner stores) wrapped in plastic. It’s intensely sweet, so a small square goes a long way.
18) Dulce de Leche Cortada (Curdled Milk Dessert)
Get The Recipe
Visually, this dessert can be surprising. Dulce de Leche Cortada is made by intentionally curdling milk with lime juice or vinegar and then boiling it with sugar and cinnamon.
This process separates the milk solids, creating chewy, sweet curds floating in a caramelized syrup. It has a complex texture and a flavor profile that balances the richness of the milk with the acidity of the lime.
19) Jalao (Coconut and Honey Balls)
Get The Recipe
Jalao is a classic old-school Dominican candy made with just a few ingredients: shredded coconut, honey, and sometimes ginger.
It is cooked until sticky and then formed into balls. The natural darkness of the honey gives the candy a deep amber color. The name is said to come from the sticky nature of the sweet, which "pulls" (jala) at your teeth. It’s chewy, fibrous, and completely addictive.
20) Guava Empanadas (Pastelitos de Guayaba)
Get The Recipe
The combination of guava and cheese is the Dominican "peanut butter and jelly." These Empanadas (or pastelitos) are filled with sweet guava paste and mild cream cheese or queso de freír.
The dough is typically flaky and fried, offering a savory crunch that gives way to the molten, sweet filling. They are versatile treats, often eaten for breakfast, dinner, or as a party appetizer.
These Dominican dessert recipes offer a tour of the island's history and flavor palette. Whether you crave the comfort of Majarete or the adventure of Habichuelas con Dulce, there is a sweetness here for everyone.
If you enjoyed these Caribbean flavors, check out our other recipe posts or try something new with our random recipe generator.