Postres Deliciosos Por La Navidad (n1)

     While the holidays are always a time to enjoy culinary family favorites, they can also be times of complete and utter despair shared by your loved ones as you sit down to [insert horrible family dish that continues to be made every year regardless of the lack of affection expressed for it, *cough fruitcake cough*] again. This year, let's be proactive about the situation. Here are some dishes that should be sure to add some zip to the dessert table this year.

Pan Dulce: Literally "sweet bread", this common sweet and delicious carbohydrate found often in Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Brazil, Peru,  countries is light and fluffy, with a hint of sweetness. Variations of the recipe exist, but here's one containing one of my all time favorite ingredients, raisins. Bonus: this version also requires translating. Christmas break may be coming...but the language nerd never stops learning. (Yeah, that was a tacky rhyme.)

 Los Polvorones: These "dusty" almond cookies, popular in España, are so simple yet melt in the mouths of every party guest as they reach for seconds, thirds, and maybe even fourths ( or fifths if you indulge like I do). Incorporate them into your Christmas cookie repertoire for something less complicated than those raspberry-anise-frosted-chocolate-twisted-sea salt-caramel-cracker-peppermint-log-bark-sandwich cookie things thrown around every holiday. 

La Rosca de Reyes: This dessert, translating to something like "king's bread/cake", is traditionally eaten across España and Latinoamérica during the celebration of the Epiphany (you know, that holiday that occurs 12 days after Christmas commemorating the arrival of the Three Kings at the manger where baby Jesus was hanging out?). The custom of eating la rosa de reyes comes with a number of meanings and observances. For me, the best part is the consumption of such a revered dish!

Biscoito de Goiabada: These shortbread bookies found in Brazil basic enough for anyone to master, and have the cutest little dollop of guava paste to give it an exotic touch. Guava paste (or guava jelly as a substitute) can be found in the Latin aisle of any grocery store worth its salt. (You know what else is in that aisle? These. Cookies. I can polish off a package of Goya wafers faster than Calle 13 can bust out lyrics. Anyway...). These fruity treats can cut through some of the more intense desserts very well.  

Coquito: This creamy holiday drink from Puerto Rico is comparable to eggnog as we know it, but with a richer and sweeter consistency. In place of heavy cream, whole milk, and bourbon, coquito contains sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cream of coconut. Hints of vanilla and cinnamon round out the sweetness, and rum added just at the end cuts through the intense flavors. Certainly, it's a cheerful drink.

     There are, of course, a multitude of other delectable treats found in both hemispheres of the Spanish speaking world that can help make those cut out cookies seem a little less...aburrido. Enjoy these recetas, and eat all that you wish...it is the holidays after all!