Hello, dear reader! In this article, we’ll explore popular Peruvian desserts and include a few easy Peruvian dessert recipes so you can taste Peru from your kitchen. From street sweets like chocotejas to beloved homemade classics like arroz con leche, we promise you’ll discover new favorites along the way.

1. Suspiro de Limeña

A famous Peruvian dessert from Lima, this indulgent treat means “The Sigh of the Limeña Woman.” It's made with a creamy base of sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk (manjar blanco), topped with a fluffy port wine meringue. Smooth, rich, and elegant.

2. Picarones

Think of these as Peru’s answer to donuts... but better. Made with sweet potato and squash, fried into golden rings and drenched in chancaca (a warm syrup made from raw sugar, orange, and cinnamon). A popular street dessert that’s surprisingly less sweet than it looks.

Tip: Try them hot from a street vendor in Miraflores, Barranco or Cusco!

3. Mazamorra Morada

Made with purple corn (maíz morado), this pudding includes fruits like pineapple and dried prunes, spiced with cinnamon and cloves. It's often served with arroz con leche in a duo called combinado — a local favorite.

4. Arroz con Leche (Peruvian Rice Pudding)

Creamy, comforting, and a must-have at any Peruvian gathering. Cooked with cinnamon, cloves, and condensed milk — this is one of the most easy Peruvian desserts to make at home.

Easy Recipe (Peruvian-style):

• 1 cup white rice
• 2 cups water
• 1 cinnamon stick + 2 cloves
• 1 can evaporated milk + 1 can condensed milk
• Optional: raisins, orange zest

Cook rice with water and spices until soft. Add the milks and stir on low heat until creamy. Chill or serve warm.

5. Turrón de Doña Pepa

A traditional dessert recipe tied to October’s Señor de los Milagros celebration in Lima. This sweet is made from anise-flavored cookies stacked with sticky molasses syrup and colorful sprinkles. A true festive delight!

6. Chocotejas & Tejas

Peruvian desserts perfect as souvenirs. These chocolate-covered candies from Ica are filled with manjar blanco and dried fruits or nuts. The white version is the original teja, and the chocolate-covered is chocoteja.
Ideal to take home from Peru — they travel well!

7. Torta de Chocolate

Yes, we love our Peruvian chocolate! Dense, moist, and usually made with local cocoa. You’ll find versions of this best Peruvian dessert in bakeries across the country — especially in Lima.

8. Guargüeros

These delicate pastries are similar to cannoli: rolled, fried dough filled with manjar blanco (a Peruvian-style dulce de leche). Often dusted with powdered sugar, they're crispy on the outside and sweet, creamy on the inside. They’re especially popular in the southern regions like Arequipa and Puno.

Tip: They make a beautiful and delicious gift — though they’re fragile, so carry them carefully!

9. Cocadas

These sweet coconut balls are popular in coastal areas. Made with shredded coconut, condensed milk, and sometimes hints of lime or pisco.

10. Ranfañote

One of the oldest traditional Peruvian desserts, made with stale bread cubes, drenched in molasses syrup with raisins, walnuts, and cheese. Think of it as a Peruvian bread pudding with colonial roots.

11. Lucuma Ice Cream

A true famous Peruvian dessert! Lucuma is a native fruit with a flavor somewhere between maple and sweet potato. Best enjoyed as an ice cream or milkshake, especially in summer.

12. Queso Helado

Despite the name, which translates to “frozen cheese”, queso helado doesn’t actually contain cheese! It’s a traditional frozen dessert from Arequipa made with milk, coconut, cinnamon, and sometimes a hint of cloves. The name comes from its snowy-white color and soft texture that resembles grated cheese. It’s usually served in small cups with a dusting of cinnamon on top and is a beloved treat on hot Andean afternoons.

Tip: Perfect for those looking for a less sweet, more delicate Peruvian dessert.

13. Leche Asada & Crema Volteada

These are cousins of flan. Leche asada has a toasted top, while crema volteada is smoother and more gelatinous. Both are often homemade and served cold — a refreshing typical Peruvian dessert for hot days.

Mini Recipe: Crema Volteada (Peruvian Flan)

Ingredients:

• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1 can of condensed milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sugar (for caramel)

Instructions:

1. Melt the sugar in a saucepan until golden. Pour into a mold to coat the base.
2. Blend the milks, eggs, and vanilla.
3. Pour into the mold and bake in a water bath at 350°F (175°C) for 50 minutes.
4. Cool, chill, and flip to serve.

Mini Recipe: Leche Asada (Baked Milk Dessert)

Ingredients:

• 1 can of evaporated milk
• 1/2 can of condensed milk
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• A pinch of cinnamon (optional)

Instructions:

1. Beat all ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Pour into a baking dish (no caramel needed).
3. Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 40–45 minutes, or until golden and slightly firm.
4. Let it cool and serve chilled or at room temperature.

14. Humitas Dulces

Steamed corn cakes with raisins, sugar, and cinnamon, wrapped in corn husks. Often eaten at breakfast or with coffee, they're a subtle sweet and perfect for those who prefer less sweet treats.

15. Frejol Colado

A rich Afro-Peruvian dessert made with black beans, sugar, anise, and milk. Thick, sweet, and intensely flavorful. It’s not common outside of traditional homes or festivals.

16. Champú

Warm and comforting, this dessert soup is made with purple corn, pineapple, and sweet potato flour. Often served during cold seasons or Andean festivities.

17. Tres Leches

A classic Peruvian dessert you’ll find at most restaurants and bakeries. Sponge cake soaked in three types of milk, topped with whipped cream or meringue. Sweet, soft, and impossible to resist!

18. King Kong

No, not the gorilla! This northern treat from Lambayeque is a massive layered dessert made with shortbread cookies, filled with manjar blanco, pineapple jam, and peanuts. Sold in blocks and perfect as a Peruvian dessert souvenir.

19. Mazamorra de Cochino

A lesser-known traditional sweet made with sugarcane molasses, spices, and flour; popular in some regions during religious festivities.

Ready to Taste Them All?

We know... reading about desserts isn’t quite the same as tasting them. And while many of these traditional Peruvian desserts have recipes online, the real magic happens when you try them fresh, in a local pastelería, at a family table, or even from a food cart in the middle of a festival.
With Peruvian Sunrise, you will have free time to experience the best Peruvian desserts right where they come from — Lima,  Cusco, Arequipa, Ica, and beyond. We offer custom tours where you can combine culture, adventure, and sweet delights.

Want to try these desserts in a trip to Peru?
Contact us and start planning your Trip with Peruvian Sunrise today!