Leche Frita
Fried custard squares dusted with cinnamon sugar.
Ingredients
- 500 ml Milk
- 60 g Cornstarch
- 120 g Sugar
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 Egg
- 60 g All-purpose flour
- 300 ml Neutral oil
Method
- Infuse the milk with the cinnamon stick over low heat, then whisk in the cornstarch and half the sugar and cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens into a smooth custard.
- Spread the custard in a tray and chill until firm, then cut into squares.
- Coat the squares in the flour and beaten egg and fry in the neutral oil until golden on both sides.
- Dust with the remaining cinnamon sugar and serve warm.
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About Leche Frita
Leche frita, literally "fried milk," is a beloved Spanish dessert found across the north of the country and especially popular during Lent and Easter. Despite the name, there is no milk fried on its own — instead, milk is cooked with sugar and cornstarch into a thick, sliceable custard, chilled until firm, then cut into squares, breaded, and fried. The result is a small marvel of contrast: a crisp golden shell giving way to a molten, almost pudding-like center that stays loose and creamy inside.
The custard is infused with a cinnamon stick as it cooks, and the finished squares are dusted with cinnamon sugar while still warm, so the spice runs through the whole dessert. It is comforting rather than fancy, the kind of thing served at bar counters and family tables alongside coffee. Because the base can be made and chilled in advance, the frying is a quick final step, making it a good make-ahead sweet. Eat leche frita warm, when the outside is at its crispest and the inside is at its most yielding.
Leche Frita: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Leche Frita?
A serving has about 278 calories — 5.9g protein, 41.5g carbs, 10.1g fat, 0.4g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Leche Frita gluten-free?
As written, no — it contains All-purpose flour. You'd need a certified gluten-free swap for that ingredient to make it gluten-free.
Is Leche Frita dairy-free?
Not as written — it uses Milk. Swapping it for a plant-based alternative makes it dairy-free.
How long does Leche Frita take to make?
About 40 minutes start to finish, but only around 18 of those are hands-on — the rest is largely unattended cooking time you can step away from. In the Homecooked app the timers and parallel steps are sequenced for you so the hands-on part feels even shorter.
How many servings does Leche Frita make?
This recipe makes 6 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.