Masa Harina Dessert Recipes-Quick Sweet Tamal

If you are looking for Masa Harina Dessert recipes, look no further as we have a unique sweet dish for you! Listed below, in step-by-step details, is a dessert recipe that uses masa harina to bake a delicious and sweet treat- sweet tamales. This recipe is great for beginners who are still learning how to cook Mexican recipes.

The delicious outcome is a tamale, stuffed with cinnamon, crème, and sugar. Although usually, you may eat tamales as a hot and savory dish during the holidays, you can still make them as a sweet treat any time you want! If you are not a fan of crème, for instance, you can make it your own twist by adding your favorite flavors as a filling.

What Is Masa Harina?

Masa Harina is an important part of all Mexican households, but what is it? To understand what Masa Harina is, we need to break down the words. ‘Masa Harina’ is Spanish for ‘dough flour.’ You see, ‘Masa‘ is a dough that you use to make the outside of the tamales. ‘Harina’ means flour, the masa for Mexican masa desserts is made from flour.

The flour typically used in masa harina recipes is yellow corn. This is very similar to the regular tamales we consume around the holidays. While you can use white corn flour or white wheat flour to make the dough, it takes away the authenticity.

Have you ever wondered to yourself, why are many Mexican dishes made with corn or corn flour? This is because corn has a rich history in Mesa, America. The indigenous populations of Mexico and North America regularly grew corn as it was easy and quick. The first record of corn in Mexico dates back to 9,000 years ago! It was so popular that it is still a big part of Mexican food culture today.

What You Will Need To Make Masa Harina Dessert Recipes (Sweet Tamal)

Ingredients

• 1 cup Masa Harina
• 1 tsp of Baking Powder
• 2 tsp of Ground Cinnamon
• 4 Cups of Frozen Corn

If you prefer to buy corn fresh. You can do this. Just make sure to shuck the corn and remove all the kernels as that is what is going to be used in the recipe.

• 1 Stick (1 cup) of Unsalted Butter at Room temperature

Don’t microwave or melt the butter down to a liquid. This will make it more difficult when stirring in the ingredients as it melts the rest of the ingredients. Instead, take out one stick of butter and leave it on a counter for a minimum of 30 minutes as it softens.

• 1 Cup of Sugar
• 1/2 Cup of Vanilla Crème
• 1/2 Cup of Whole Milk

You can substitute the whole milk out for any milk of your choosing. Using milk is a preference because it makes the filling of the masa harina dessert sweet and smooth.

Equipment

• Oven
• Spatula
• 2 Large Bowls
• Metal Baking Pan
• Non-Stick Butter Spray
• Blender or Food Processor
• Whisk

Step By Step Instructions

Step 1: preheat the oven and whisk dry ingredients

During the first step, you need to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. As it warms up, spray the metal pan with nonstick spray. This will help you take out the sweet Tamal easier when it is complete. Gather the dry ingredients and whisk them into a large bowl. Set aside.

Step 2: blend the corn

Taking the corn kernels you have, place them into the blender or your food processor and grind until very fine. You shouldn’t blend for longer than 20 seconds.

Step 3: whisk the wet ingredients while adding sugar

Take the butter and sugar into a new bowl and whisk the ingredients together until they are well blended. Make sure to not microwave the butter as it will melt the sugar and change the flavor. After the sugar and butter and smooth, add in the corn and mix well.  After about two minutes of whisking, add the dry ingredients.

Step 4: place onto the metal baking pan and set it in the oven

Place the mixture into the baking pan. Then add foil on top, so the top does not cook too fast. Place it into the oven for a minimum of 20 minutes. Set a timer, so you don’t forget. When it is finished, add the vanilla crème on top with sprinkled sugar and let it cool. Enjoy!

Tips And Tricks For Making Masa Harina Dessert Recipes

This recipe is quick and easy! If you are looking for tips on making Masa Harina Dessert recipes, look no further. My first tip for you is to try and bake the Tamal desert with a larger baking pan in water. The water helps the dish not burn quickly, which brings out the naturally sweet flavors from the ingredients.

When making a puree from corn kernels, blenders work, but food processors do a much better job. I recommend buying and using a food processor as it can grind the bits smaller than a blender can. It is convenient and can be reused over and over again.

If you want to, you can also make corn puree in advance and simply store it until you are ready to use it. This can save you time in the long run when making recipes that require Masa Harina. Store the corn into jars; in its dry form, it has a long shelf life. However, you should refrain from exposing the corn puree to too much oxygen as it can mold and lose its flavor.

Servings And Preparation Time

All in all, Masa Harina Dessert Recipes should not be frightening! There are many recipes to choose from when using Masa Harina. The recipe listed above is a quick and easy dessert Tamal that you can share with your whole family. What do you think of this recipe? If you liked it or have any comments for us, please let us know down below!

Masa dessert is made to be shared. If you know someone who has a sweet tooth and appreciates authentic Mexican cuisine, share this recipe with them!

Read more about What To Make With Tamales?