Skip to content

Glorias

Linares' pecan and goat's milk caramel sweets wrapped in red cellophane

Linares, a small town in Nuevo León, is famous across Mexico for glorias: soft, chewy balls of goat's milk caramel packed with pecans, each wrapped in a twist of red cellophane. They are bought by the box at roadside sweet shops on the way to Monterrey and handed out at weddings and Christmas. Goat's milk gives them a gentle tang; a mix of goat's and cow's milk is milder. Chef's tip: the last ten minutes need constant stirring, as the caramel thickens and catches fast.
Total time
80 min
Difficulty
medium
Serves
20
One step at a time, big text, timers, read-aloud. Your screen stays on.

Ingredients

Serves20

Shop this recipe on Amazon

Fresh ingredients (1)

Links open Amazon in a new tab. As an Amazon Associate, WhatToEat.Today earns from qualifying purchases.

Method

0/5 done
  1. Step 1: Put 4 ¼ cups goat's milk, 9 oz sugar and 2 tbsp light corn syrup or glucose syrup in a wide, heavy pan and bring slowly to the boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Take off the heat and stir in ¼ tsp bicarbonate of soda; it will foam up.

    8 min
  2. Step 2: Return to a medium heat and simmer, stirring often, for 40–45 minutes, until it turns light caramel in colour and thickens like condensed milk.

    45 min
  3. Step 3: Lower the heat and stir constantly for 8–10 minutes more, until the caramel is thick enough to pull away from the sides and a spoonful holds its shape on a cold plate. Common mistake: stopping at sauce stage; the glorias then spread flat.

    10 min
  4. Step 4: Stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract and the chopped 5 ½ oz pecans. Spread on a buttered tray and leave for 30 minutes until cool enough to handle.

    30 min
  5. Step 5: With lightly buttered hands, roll into 20 walnut-sized balls, press a pecan half on each, and wrap in squares of cellophane or baking paper, twisting the ends. They keep 2 weeks in a cool place.

Nutrition per serving

Calories
150 kcal
Protein
3 g
Carbs
18 g
Fat
8 g
Fibre
1 g

Nutrition values are estimates.

K
Recipe by

KrazyBadal

All recipes by this chef →

Good to know

How long does glorias take?
About 80 minutes in total: 20 minutes to prepare and 60 minutes to cook.
How many people does it serve?
20 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
Is it vegetarian?
Yes. It has no meat or fish.
Is it gluten free?
Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
What can I use instead of goat's milk?
Oat, soy or almond milk, same amount (use unsweetened for savoury dishes).
What can I use instead of sugar?
Caster sugar, same amount.

Reviews

No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.

Rate this recipe

Sign in to rate and review this recipe.

Black bean tacos with lime slaw

Proof that a meat-free taco night can be the best one. The beans are mashed with chipotle and cumin so they hold together in the tortilla, and a quick lime slaw adds crunch.

by KrazyBadal 1 views

Baklava

The famous layered pastry: crisp sheets of buttered fillo sandwich a filling of almonds, pistachios and cashews spiced with cinnamon, cardamom and saffron. After baking, the hot baklava is soaked in a syrup of sugar, honey, lemon, rose and cardamom and decorated with almond and pistachio flakes. Cut into 40 diamonds; serve with fresh cream or ice cream.

by KrazyBadal 1 views

Nacho triangles (tortilla chips)

Home-made tortilla chips from a simple maize and wheat dough, rolled thin, cut into triangles and fried until crisp. They're lighter and fresher than packet chips. Serve them with salsa, sour cream dip or avocado dip, or use them for nachos.

by KrazyBadal 0 views