Tamales dulces
Sweet tamales
Tamales de dulce: pink-tinted sweet corn-husk tamales with raisins for posadas and Candelaria
Every tamal tray in Mexico City has a few pink ones tucked in among the green and red, and these sweet tamales are what children reach for first at December posadas and on 2 February, Día de la Candelaria. The masa is beaten with butter and sugar, tinted the colour of a sugared almond and studded with raisins, then steamed in husks until soft and cakey; they are eaten warm with atole or hot chocolate. This version uses butter and vegetable shortening, not lard. Chef's tip: add a few drops of colour at a time; the pink deepens as it steams.
- Total time
- 115 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 9
Ingredients
- 3 ½ oz unsalted buttersoft
- 3 ½ oz vegetable shorteningsoft
- 5 ½ oz sugar
- 14 oz masa harina for tamales
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 cups warm milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 3 drops red or pink food colouring
- 3 ½ oz raisins
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Soak the 18 dried corn husks in hot water for 30 minutes until pliable.
30 minStep 2: Beat 3 ½ oz unsalted butter, 3 ½ oz vegetable shortening and 5 ½ oz sugar with an electric mixer for 4 minutes until pale and fluffy.
5 minStep 3: Mix 14 oz masa harina for tamales, 2 tsp gluten-free baking powder, ½ tsp salt and ½ tsp ground cinnamon. Beat into the butter alternately with the 2 cups warm milk and 1 tsp vanilla extract until smooth, then beat 5 minutes more until a pinch floats in cold water. Beat in the 3 drops red or pink food colouring, then fold in the 3 ½ oz raisins.
10 minStep 4: Spread 2 tablespoons of masa on each patted-dry husk, fold the sides over and the tail up. A common mistake is overfilling; the masa swells, so leave a good border.
20 minStep 5: Stand upright in a steamer over boiling water, cover with spare husks and a lid, and steam 60–70 minutes until the masa comes away cleanly from the husk. Rest 10 minutes.
70 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 430 kcal
- Protein
- 5 g
- Carbs
- 58 g
- Fat
- 20 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does tamales dulces take?
- About 115 minutes in total: 45 minutes to prepare and 70 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 9 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 unsalted butter?
- The same weight of ghee or coconut oil (for frying and most baking).
- What can I use instead of sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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