Everyone loves tortillas. Soft corn flour tortillas, crispy toasted tortilla corners, we love them all! Have you ever wondered how you can turn your favorite food into a dessert?
Here’s how to spruce up your tortillas into the perfect dessert dishes.
The perfect tortilla recipe
The key to any dish that requires tortillas is the tortilla itself. Traditionally tortillas are made with a tortilla press (here is an example of a tortilla press: https://unocasa.com/products/tortilla-press ) or a thin rolling pin.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups flour (all-purpose, or gluten-free all-purpose blend with xanthan gum)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp salt
- 3/4 cup shortening
- 3/4 cup hot water
Method:
Use a large mixing bowl, and sieve the dry ingredients together. Drop the shortening into the flour mixture; using a butter knife or a pastry cutter, cut the shortening into the flour. If you used a knife, switch to using your hands, crumble until the mixture is crumbly. Gently shake the bowl to allow larger chunks of shortening to rise to the top, reduce these down further.
Add the hot water to the mixture bit by bit until the mixture looks moist. By hand or using a fork, knead the mixture, mixing from the bowl’s edges to incorporate any loose or clinging dough. If the dough is sticky, add a dash of extra flour. The dough should form a large round shape in the bowl. Cover it with a clean kitchen towel. Place your dough in a warm area, and allow it to rest for at least an hour.
Remove the dough from the bowl. Place it onto a lightly floured area, cut the dough into 10 to 12 pieces. Roll each into a light ball. Place baking paper onto a tortilla press, and then place the dough ball there, with another sheet on top. Close the press firmly. Prepare all of your tortillas, leaving them between the parchment paper sheets. Once all tortillas are prepared, place the tortilla press on the stovetop to heat. Remove the parchment paper, and put your tortillas in the press, and cook until golden brown.
If you don’t have a tortilla press, you can simply roll your dough ball out onto a flat tortilla; it should be thin and light. Place between two sheets of parchment paper before rolling out; this helps the tortilla not to stick. Toast tortillas in a pan until browned on each side. It should take 30 – 40 seconds.
1. Strawberry and cream cheese roll-ups
These light and refreshing roll-ups are perfect for picnics, bridal showers, or simply as lunch box treats.
Ingredients:
- 1 package of softened cream cheese for the filling
- 6 tortillas
- 1 punnet of strawberries, chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla essence
- 1 cup powdered/icing sugar
- Icing sugar for dusting
Method:
Put the cream cheese and the icing sugar in a large bowl, cream it all together, drizzle in the vanilla essence. Gently fold in the strawberries. Carefully spoon the filling onto a tortilla, covering the entire surface of the tortilla. Use your judgment to gauge how much filling you need for each tortilla. Try to spread it evenly; this will make it easier to roll.
Roll the tortilla up into a tight roll. Slice the roll into 3/4 inch rounds, place on a serving plate, dust with powdered sugar. Serve with a chocolate sauce or a fruit coulis.
2. Cinnamon tortilla chips
These baked sweet chips are a delicious snack that is perfect for any occasion.
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup butter
- 6 – 8 tortillas – cut into slices (Any shape that you like. Do not cut too small)
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar – brown works perfect for this recipe
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Method:
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Place wire cooling racks on top. This step is crucial.
Melt butter completely. Place the tortillas into the bowl with the butter. Covering the dish with a lid, toss the tortillas until they are completely coated. Mix the cinnamon and sugar, and spoon over the tortillas, shaking the bowl to coat evenly. Separate any tortillas stuck together and shake again until they are all coated.
Arrange the tortillas on the cooling racks, try not to overlap them, give them enough space. Bake for 8 – 10 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the racks from the oven and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, store in an airtight jar.
3. Dessert quesadillas with caramel and bananas
Ingredients:
- 6 tortillas
- 1/2 cup Carmel sauce for spreading and drizzling
- 1/4 cup mini marshmallows/chocolate chips
- 2 bananas – chopped
- Cooking spray
Method:
Place a tortilla on a flat griddle or in a skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Spoon caramel sauce over the tortilla, and add mini marshmallows or chocolate chips onto the caramel sauce. Spread caramel sauce onto another tortilla, and place it on top of the first tortilla. Cook in the pan until the tortilla is golden brown, flip the tortilla over and cook on the other side until golden brown.
The marshmallows/chocolate chips should be melted and oozy on the inside. Cut the quesadilla into slices, serve with ice-cream or with whipped cream.
4. Tortilla churros
Churros are delicious doughy desserts often topped with cinnamon sugar, chocolate or filled with dulce de leche. Try this delicious churros recipe made with tortillas!
Tortillas make the world go round
There is nothing as simple as “just a tortilla” for dinner. These floury, soft, and tasty rounds are made for every kind of meal, from sweet to savory. There truly is nothing you cannot do with a tortilla.
