Guatemala Christmas Recipes

Savor Delicious Recipes to celebrate Christmas in Guatemala, no matter where you are!

Looking to celebrate an authentic Guatemala Christmas? Get in the Christmas spirit with some easy-to-prepare recipes typical of the holiday season in Guatemala.

Plátanos (Plaintains)

These large banana fruits are not as sweet as regular bananas and tend to be a little more mealy in texture. They aren't suitable for eating raw, but are quite divine when cooked.

There are a few ways to prepare plátano, but by far the most common is to fry it and serve with a sprinkle of sugar and a little cream drizzled on top. This is very simple to make at home and can be served as part of a Guatemalan breakfast, with refried beans, scrambled eggs and salsa ranchera on the side.

What you need:

3-4 ripe plantain

Sugar

Heavy Cream

Oil for frying

Instructions:

Peel the plantain and slice on the diagonal. The slices should be about 2 cm thick. If you prefer, cut lengthwise, but this is more difficult to cook and eat.

Heat a little oil in the frying pan and lay your plantain slices in it. Fry for about 2 minutes, then flip over and fry for another two or three minutes or until the plantain is starting to look translucent and the slices are golden brown.

Drain on paper towels and serve with sugar and cream for a traditional sweet dish.

See below a video of how to cook plátano.

Guatemala Christmas Recipes - Plátano Frito

Buñuelos

These tasty fried balls are a hit any time of year, but they are particularly popular at Christmas time.

What you need:

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup water

1/2 cup butter

3 eggs

1/2 teaspoon salt

Oil for frying

Instructions:

Mix flour, baking powder and salt together.

In a medium pot, boil the water and butter together until the butter is melted. Remove from the stove and stir in the flour mixture to form a paste.

Beat in the eggs one at a time and set the mixture aside. Heat oil in a deep pot until a bit of dough turns golden within 20 seconds when dropped in.

Form balls from the dough, about the size of a golf ball and carefully drop into the oil. Only cook a few at a time so they aren’t touching. Use a wooden spoon to gently turn the buñuelos so they cook and puff up evenly. Remove and drain on paper towels once they are golden brown. Drizzle with honey or a thin icing made of milk and icing sugar before serving.

Making Buñuelos Video

Other Popular Spanish Christmas Carols:

List of all Spanish Christmas Carols

Jingle Bells in Spanish

Away in a Manger in Spanish

Silent Night in Spanish

More Guatemala Holiday Resources: