Looking to taste some of the most delightful Peruvian Desserts during your trip to Lima?
From the creamy Suspiro a la Limeña and Mazamorra to the ever-popular Alfajores, we can many incredible desserts when exploring the Peruvian capital. There are also many other lesser-known dishes which are worth trying too such as King Kong and Ranfañote, which helps us to have a more local and cultural experience while enjoying the country’s sweetest treats.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Peruvian desserts in Lima. This includes our list of the very best sweet treats to try, as well as where you can find each one within the Peruvian capital. Later we’ll also answer some of your most asked questions in our FAQ section.
Do you love sweets and desserts? Then Lima is the perfect destination for you! Here you will find a huge variety of unique desserts that will make a lasting impression in your taste buds. Read our list to find out our recommendations!
Table of Contents
13 Of The Tastiest Peruvian Desserts To Try In Lima Peru
Picarones
This dessert looks like a doughnut. It is made by frying a mix of sweet potato and squash and served with “chancaca”, a syrup prepared of raw unrefined sugar, and usually flavored with the essence of orange and cinnamon.
Where can you try it?
In Kennedy park! Here you will find many dessert street vendors that offer a variety of Peruvian desserts for a very cheap price
Mazamorra Morada
Believe it or not this purple pudding is made of corn! It has a thick texture that is obtained by mixing potato flour or cornstarch, purple corn, and fruits like pineapple and quince. Cinnamon and cloves are also included to make it spicy.
Where can you try it?
This dessert is also sold by street vendors in Kennedy Park. So you’d better visit it with an empty stomach!
Alfajores
This is a sandwich cookie filled with manjar blanco (a sweet caramel cream) and topped with powdered sugar. There are many varieties of this dessert; the cookie is sometimes made with flour or cornstarch. And the filling can also vary. Some use chocolate and others use honey. Make sure to try them all!
Where can you try it?
There is a famous Alfajor place in Lima called “La Casa del Alfajor”. It has many shops and also one in Miraflores near Kennedy Park in Balta shopping mall (Av. Bajada Balta # 650)
Crema Volteada
The translation of this dessert’s name is “upside down cream”. It is a flan made from ingredients such as whole milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla and topped off with caramel.
Where can you try it?
You can find this dessert in many restaurants and even supermarkets like Wong, Plaza Vea or Metro.
Suspiro A La Limeña
The name of this dessert translates as “Sigh of Lima Lady”. This is a super sweet dessert made of manjar blanco (caramel), egg yolks, and meringue. The poet, Jose Galvez, (whose wife invented the recipe) named it so for its light texture, which reminded him of the sigh of a woman.
Where can you try it?
This dessert is also sold by street vendors in Kennedy Park.
Turrón De Doña Pepa
This is a colorful nougat with anise and sesame seeds as its main ingredients. It also has candy sprinkles as decoration. This dessert is very popular during the holy month of October to honor “El Senor de Los Milagros” or the “Lord of miracles”.
Where can you try it?
You can buy this dessert in supermarkets and also at San José shops (the most popular brand). You can find one in Miraflores at Av. Petit Thouars 5092
Arroz Con Leche
This is a rice pudding that combines rice, milk, cinnamon and sometimes raisins. It is a sweet comfort food that is very popular in Lima.
Where can you try it?
This dessert is also sold by street vendors in Kennedy Park and is sometimes served with mazamorra morada.
Desserts Made Of Lúcuma
Lucuma is a typical creamy fruit from Peru and tastes like a mellow sweet potato that’s laced with caramel and maple. Any things are made of Lucuma, such as milkshares, ice cream and other desserts that combine it with chocolate.
Where can you try it?
You can try lucuma milkshakes at some restaurants like La Bodega Verde in Barranco. Lucuma Ice cream is also sold in every ice cream place in Lima.
Ranfañote
Rafañote is one of Lima’s oldest traditional desserts, combining bread, chancaca syrup, raisins, cinnamon, cheese and spices. Despite its unusual list of ingredients, it has a rich flavour and is best enjoyed during the cooler months in Lima.
Where can you try it?
Some traditional Peruvian restaurants and dessert cafés serve Rafañote, such as Dulcería Santa Rosa in Magdalena which specialises in classic Limeño cuisine.
Champús
Now we have the unique Champús, which are actually more like dessert drinks than any others mentioned on this list. Made from purple corn (like the Mazamorra Morada), pineapple, apples, cinnamon and cloves, it has a thick fruity consistency and is best served warm.
Where can you try it?
You can find Champús at traditional markets and restaurants that specialise in classic Peruvian desserts, as well as within the food carts in the popular Kennedy Park of Miraflores.
Queso Helado
Originating from Arequipa (where it’s the most popular dessert dish of the region), Queso Helado is a frozen ice cream dish that features vanilla ice cream, along with coconut and cinnamon toppings. Despite its name, there is no use of cheese at all in this Peruvian dessert!
Where can you try it?
While easier to find in Arequipa, within Lima you can find Queso Helado in local markets, some ice cream stores and in traditional dessert shops such as Cream & Co. within the historic centre district.
King Kong
A giant version of the standard Alfajor dessert, King Kong originates from Northern Peru. It’s made like Alfajores but includes pineapple jam and peanut candy, with its large size perfect for sharing with friends and family.
Where can you try it?
You can find King Kong in many supermarkets, bakeries and even souvenir shops around Lima such as Productos San Roque in Miraflores.
Frejol Colado
This unique Peruvian dessert is definitely one for those with an adventurous appetite. Made from black beans cooked with milk, sugar, cinnamon and sesame seeds, it has a rich caramel-like flavour and is especially popular in the southern regions of Peru.
Where can you try it?
Mostly a dessert found during festivals and special celebrations in Lima, there are some traditional Peruvian restaurants serve Frejol Colado such as Dulcería Santa Rosa in Magdalena (which also serves Ranfañote).
The Best Peruvian Desserts In Lima Peru FAQ
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about the very best Peruvian desserts in Lima, as well as anything else you need to know.
What Is The Most Popular Dessert In Peru?
The most popular local dessert in Peru is Mazamorra Morada, which is an exotic and fruity dish that is made out of purple corn. First originating in Lima during the colonial period, its popularity quickly spread across the country – and in the capital you can find this dish in tourists restaurants, local restaurants and in food carts around the Kennedy Park with ease.
Which Typical Peruvian Desserts Are Worth Trying For Tourists?
This really depends on what takes your fancy the most, however there are definitely a few you must try to experience Peru’s dessert scene properly. This includes Mazamorra Morada for a fruity juicy dessert, Picarones which are great when served with the local chancaca honey sauce, as well as the rich and delicious Suspiro a la Limeña dessert.
What Pastries Is Peru Known For?
Pastries are a huge part of Peru’s dessert culture, which are popular in regions all over the country. Picarones are the most popular of all which are served with a warm chancaca sauce, while Alfajores are also a tasty treat which are shortbread cookies filled with caramel sauce. Another popular pasty in Peru is the Turrón de Doña Pepa – which is an anise-flavoured pastry which is covered with colourful candies.
Overview Of The Most Popular Peruvian Desserts To Try In Lima Peru
And that’s all for this guide on our comprehensive list of the very best Peruvian desserts worth trying when in Lima.
Already famous and known worldwide for its food scene which includes award-winning restaurants, Peru’s local dessert scene is also a big surprise for tourists arriving here. While most famous internationally for its Cacao exports, here within Peru there are many other tasty treats worth trying either in restaurants or from street vendors – which includes the purple Mazamorra Morada, succulent Picarones as well as the rich caramel Alfajores.
Looking for the most fun experience trying all kinds of authentic Peruvian desserts and cuisine? Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we organise a Food Tasting And City Walking Tour, where your expert tour guide will lead your group to try some of Peru’s most delicious dishes.
