While normally I have the Blogger Spotlight feature on Fridays, we are interupting our regularly scheduled posting to bring you not one, but two recipes that you can put on your Cinco de Mayo menu for tomorrow. And if you are in Utah, I’ll be making these today on KUTV’s Fresh Living at 1pm!
Let’s start with these empanadas. I know, I know. When I say “empanada”, this is not what you picture. I can already hear you saying – “aren’t they supposed to be half moon shaped, and made from a pastry dough? And aren’t they usually filled with savory ingredients?” True, true. That is what a traditional empanada is. But these aren’t traditional. These empanadas are actually a knock off of a dessert empanada that is sold at a fast food Mexican restaurant. And I love them. I can’t remember the last time I bought one of these, but I have always wanted to try making them at home. And guess what? They are super easy, and just as tasty!!
They are as simple as a flour tortilla, filled with pie filling, fried, and then rolled in cinnamon sugar. I find that with fried, rolled things like this, it is best if they are made and then refrigerated for awhile before you fry them. It just helps the whole thing to stay together better. Which is why these would be so easy to whip up tonight, and then fry tomorrow. But if you want them now, they still work beautifully if you prepare them and fry them all in one go. And they are super adaptable. Don’t like cherry? Try a different flavor! A perfect dessert for your Cinco de Mayo party!
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And don’t forget the drink! I don’t drink alcohol, but that is not a reason to not have a festive drink for the holiday! These frozen margaritas come together in just minutes, and both kids and adults would love them! They are a bit tart from the lime and a bit bitter from the grapefruit juice, but combined with the sugar-rimmed glass, it all just came together perfectly. I can’t tell you how it compares to an actual margarita, but I know I’d be happy sipping one of these alongside my tacos and chips and salsa!
And if you need more ideas for Cinco de Mayo, don’t forget to check out my 47 favorites!
Cherry pie filling is wrapped in a flour tortilla, fried, and rolled in cinnamon sugar for a decadent dessert.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 tablespoon cinnamon
- 8 (8-inch) flour tortillas
- 1 (21-oz) can cherry pie filling
- vegetable oil, for frying
- Sweetened whipped cream, for serving
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, mix together the cinnamon and sugar. Set aside.
- Lay the tortillas out on a work surface. Put about 1/4 cup of filling down the center of each tortilla. Fold the ends in, then roll up like a burrito. Make sure they are rolled tightly. Lay seam side down on a baking sheet. (At this point, you can refrigerate them. It makes them a little easier to fry, but it's not required.)
- Heat about 3/4" of oil to 350F in a heavy duty skillet or Dutch oven. Once hot, add the empanadas, 2 or 3 at a time, to the oil. Cook until browned on one side, then turn to brown the other side. When browned, immediately roll in the cinnamon sugar mixture, then place on a clean plate. Continue until all empanadas are cooked.
- Serve with sweetened whipped cream.
An easy recipe for non-alcoholic frozen margaritas.
Ingredients
- Lime wedge
- coarse sugar
- 1 (6-oz) can frozen limeade concentrate
- 3/4 cup orange juice
- 2/3 cup unsweetened grapefruit juice
- 4 cups ice cubes
Instructions
- Rub the edge of margarita glasses with the lime wedge. Dip rims in the coarse sugar.
- In a blender, combine the limeade concentrate, orange juice, unsweetened grapefruit juice and ice cubes. Blend until slushy. Serve in the margarita glasses.
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- from Recipe.com
Add these other Mexican recipes to your Cinco de Mayo menu:
Grilled Pineapple Guacamole from Confections of a Foodie Bride
Shrimp Tacos with Avocado-Chimichurri Sauce from RecipeGirl
Chili Relleno Tart from Urban Baker
Huevos Rancheros Breakfast Enchiladas from Ambitious Kitchen
Coconut Tres Leches Cake from Mel’s Kitchen Cafe
A divine drink and dessert! I’d love to taste those sweet empanadas.
Cheers,
Rosa
Love these ideas! We are having a little Cinco de Mayo soiree tomorrow so these would be great on the menu! I love the frozen margaritas! I don’t like tequila so these are perfect and refreshing for me!
Oh my! I’ll have one of each please
Cherry empandas?! They look amazing!
These would be the perfect addition to my tacos for Cinco de Mayo.
Those empanadas took like my kind of food. When I was pregnant with my first child, for me, it was all about cherry everything. These would have been consumed daily. Thanks for including my Chili Rellano Tart in your fabulous meal!
Those empanadas look so delicious. That cherry filling is calling my name. And so is the drink!
One of each, please! The non-traditional empanada looks great and I don’t drink alcohol either, so thanks for the virgin drink option.
Super cute empanadas! LOVE the shape
I can’t WAIT for Cinco de Mayo. I’m making my grocery list and gearing up for a day of celebrating.
Feliz Cinco de Mayo!!!
Deep fried cherry-pie filling wrapped in tortilla and then slathered in cinnamon sugar?! Really?!!!! I’m dying here!
I want a few of both, Deborah. What a great combo, so festive. Love it!
three years ago I had a similar Cherry Empanadas in CA. They were so good! I think they were baked not fried, but I love your version too!
Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I would never have thought to create a dessert empanada before, but these look amazing! Almost like a stuffed churros more than an empanada, but what’s in a name, really?
Now those are my kind of empanadas! Happy Cinco de Mayo! It looks like you’ll be having a delicious day.
i love how the cinnamon sugar coating just glistens.
Oh my gosh, I am in love with these empanadas. I am so trying them soon. Wowsers.
o-m-g. love this concept of a fried tortilla rolled in sugar and stuffed with cherries! must make stat.
Wow, do these look YUM. Probably just as yummy on the 7th of May, right??? Thanks for posting these.
These are all great ways to ring in Derby de Mayo!! I celebrated the Derby and Cinco de Mayo last weekend. I’ve never made empanadas, but now I’m thinking it should be a priority!
You so had me fooled! I can’t believe those are flour tortillas! You rock my world!
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