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    Home » Dessert Recipes

    Sweet Empanada Dough

    BY: Ben Rayl PUBLISHED: 15 Mar, '23 UPDATED: 15 Mar, '23 Leave a Comment

    RecipePrintComments
    5 from 2 votes
    Sweet empanada dough - socials

    This sweet empanada dough is quick and easy to make, perfect for enjoying delicious treats with minimal effort. With just 5 ingredients, you’ll have homemade empanada dough ready in no time to fill with your favorite sweet fillings!

    Sweet empanada dough - featured
    Contents
    • 🌟 Why this recipe works
    • 🍽 Key Ingredients
    • 🔪 How to make
    • 💭 Cooking tips
    • 📖 Recipe Variations
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🙋 Frequently asked questions
    • 🧊 Storing
    • 🍳 Related recipes
    • 👪 Serving size
    • 📋 Recipe

    🌟 Why this recipe works

    Sweet empanadas are a Mexican and Spanish favorite that are eaten year-round, often as part of a special event or celebration.

    There are many types of empanada dough recipes for different cooking needs. You can make savory empanada dough – perfect for baking savory empanadas such as beef empanadas or empanada dough for frying – the best dough that holds firm and produces a super crisp exterior when fried.

    This sweet empanada dough recipe is not only simple and easy to make - but it also results in an irresistibly flaky, buttery pastry that is perfect for filling with your favorite sweet fillings.

    The key to successful sweet pastry dough is the combination of all-purpose flour and butter, which, when combined, create a luxurious texture with just the right amount of crispiness. Adding sugar to the mix helps craft that perfect sweet flavor, while a pinch of salt helps to bring out all the other flavors.

    What makes sweet empanada dough even better is that you can make it ahead and fill and bake them when you're in the mood for something sweet.

    🍽 Key Ingredients

    With 5 pantry staples and an oven, you can make the best sweet empanada dough that is buttery and flaky.

    Sweet empanada doughingredients

    Flour - All-purpose flour gives you the best texture for empanada dough.

    Sugar - To give the dough the sweetness they need for all your tasty fillings.

    Salt - Just a pinch of salt will help round out the flavors.

    Butter - Unsalted butter helps give the pastry that lovely golden hue and flaky texture.

    Egg - The egg will act as a binding agent, helping the pastry dough come together and stay together.

    Liquid - Cold water or cold milk helps to bind the dough together and gives it that perfect softness.

    Substitutions

    If you don’t have the exact ingredients on hand, fear not! Here are some great substitutions to make this recipe work for you.

    Butter

    Substitute the butter for lard. Lard has a higher fat content than butter, so it’s great for making extra flaky pastry.

    Sugar

    If you’re looking for a healthier option, use coconut sugar or 2 teaspoons of monk fruit. You can also use brown sugar.

    🔪 How to make

    Making sweet empanada dough is easy and can be done in a few simple steps. All you need to do is combine the ingredients together and knead the dough until it's pliable. Here's how to do it!

    Preparations

    Step 1
    Combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar in the food processor bowl.

    Empanada dough steps 8

    Step 2
    Add the unsalted butter, eggs, and liquid to the flour mixture until a large ball of dough forms.

    Add the egg first, then pour the milk

    Step 3
    Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 3 to 4 minutes to make it soft.

    Step 4
    Cut the dough in half and flatten the 2 balls into thick discs. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to chill.

    Empanada dough steps 6

    Step 5
    Lightly flour the surface again and roll out each dough disc until they are flat. You want them to be as thin as a coin.

    Step 6
    Cut rounds out of the flattened dough with a pastry cutter, a small plate/bowl, or a cup. Choose the size of your preference.

    Cut out round disc shapes using a pastry cutter, round molds

    Step 7
    Fill the empanadas dough immediately or cover them with plastic wrap and store them to use later. Or you can bake them right away!

    Sweet empanada dough6

    💭 Cooking tips

    Don't overdo the sugar

    It's important to not add too much sugar when making sweet empanadas because it will become harder to roll out the dough. It becomes softer, the more sugar is added to it - if you want to make it sweeter, sprinkle sugar over the dough once it is filled.

    Cold butter

    To ensure a light and flaky pastry, it’s important to incorporate cold butter into your dough. Cut up the butter into small pieces and then use a pastry cutter or mixer until you have pea-sized pieces of butter throughout. Coldness is key here - if the butter starts to melt, just pop the dough in the fridge for a few minutes before continuing with your recipe.

    Filling and baking

    Once you have your empanada discs, it’s time to fill and bake them. Fill each disc with your favorite filling, then brush the edges of each disc with some egg wash to help it stick together and again on top to give them a nice shine before baking them for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F until golden brown.

    📖 Recipe Variations

    If you want to give your sweet empanada dough more flavor without changing the recipe, you can do with some of these great variations.

    Chocolate empanada dough

    For a chocolatey flavor, add ½ cup of cacao powder to the flour mixture.

    Cinnamon empanada dough

    Add 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and ½ teaspoon of nutmeg to the flour for a bit of sweet and savory spice.

    Pumpkin empanada dough

    Making pumpkin empanada dough is perfect with pumpkin pie filling. Just add 2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice and ½ teaspoon of allspice to the mixture for the best pumpkin dessert empanadas.

    Sweet empanada dough2

    🥗 What to serve with

    Once have the sweet empanada dough ready, you will need to fill them with something sweet! Here are a few empanada recipes suggestions to try at home:

    Chocolate

    Chocolate is one of the best fillings for empanadas, pies, cakes, and basically anything! Everyone loves it, and it can be mixed with other ingredients, like chocolate and banana, chocolate and strawberry, or chocolate and nuts.

    Use white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or Nutella. No matter the combo, I am sure it will be a hit!

    Dairy ingredients

    Another favorite is condensed milk, sweetened cream cheese, or dulce de leche! They're sweet and creamy, making them perfect for filling dessert empanadas. You can also add some nuts or fruit to the mix, making a delicious and unique empanada.

    Fruit empanadas

    If you want to make apple empanadas, use finely chopped apples mixed with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. You can also try cherry pie filling (check out these cherry pie chimichangas for the filling recipe). Blueberry, strawberry, or raspberry jam are also great sweet filling options.

    🙋 Frequently asked questions

    Why is my empanada dough tough?

    If your dough is too tough, it means that you used too much flour when making the dough. Try adding a bit more liquid to the dough to make it softer.

    Can I use this dough recipe to make pie dough?

    Yes, you can use this dough to make a sweet pie crust or other pastries. Just remove the egg from the mixture and use 12 ounces of butter. You may need a tablespoon or two extra of liquid to bind the dough.

    🧊 Storing

    This sweet empanada recipe is perfect for refrigerating and freezing purposes if you're preparing the sweet dough in advance.

    Fridge - Leftover dough can be refrigerated for up to five days. Make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap before placing it in the fridge.

    Freezer - The dough can also be frozen in an airtight container or bag for up to three months. Wrap the discs first in plastic wrap, then transfer them to your container or freezer bag.

    Note: Allow the cooled discs to come to room temperature before you fill and bake empanadas.

    🍳 Related recipes

    These tasty sweet empanadas are typical Mexican cuisine that is served for breakfast, lunch, or a tasty after-dinner snack.

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    For more delicious Mexican breakfast ideas, try these 30 easy Mexican breakfast recipes, or for a sweeter breakfast - give one of these 35 best sweet breakfast ideas a try. There's something for everyone!

    👪 Serving size

    This sweet empanada dough recipe yields around 18 medium-sized discs, but depending on the size of your pastry cutter or plate, you could make more or less.

    This easy pastry dough is an excellent base that can be used to create a delicious variety of treats. Whether you are looking for a quick snack or a special dessert, this empanada dough is sure to please! With endless possibilities of fillings and variations, you can make empanadas that are sure to become a family favorite.

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    Try one of my comfort dessert recipes for your next meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

    📋 Recipe

    Sweet empanada dough - featured

    Sweet Empanada Dough

    This sweet empanada dough is quick and easy to make, perfect for enjoying delicious treats with minimal effort. With just 5 ingredients, you’ll have homemade empanada dough ready in no time to fill with your favorite sweet fillings!
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Saved! Share
    Course: Appetizer, Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: latin
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 15 medium sized empanada discs
    Calories: 131kcal
    Author: Ben Rayl

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 cups All-purpose flour
    • ¼ to ½ cup Sugar
    • pinch Salt
    • 16 ounces Butter - 2 sticks, 8 ounces (225grams) per stick, cut into pieces
    • 2 Eggs
    • 2 to 4 tablespoons Cold water - or cold milk

    Instructions

    • Combine the all-purpose flour, salt, and sugar in the food processor bowl.
    • Add the unsalted butter, eggs, and liquid to the flour mixture until a large ball of dough forms.
    • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it for 3 to 4 minutes to make it soft.
    • Cut the dough in half and flatten the 2 balls into thick discs. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 to 30 minutes to chill.
    • Lightly flour the surface again and roll out each dough disc until they are flat. You want them to be as thin as a coin.
    • Cut rounds out of the flattened dough with a pastry cutter, a small plate/bowl, or a cup. Choose the size of your preference.
    • Fill the empanadas dough immediately or cover them with plastic wrap and store them to use later.

    Notes

    Don't overdo the sugar
    It's important to not add too much sugar when making sweet empanadas because it will become harder to roll out the dough. It becomes softer, the more sugar is added to it - if you want to make it sweeter, sprinkle sugar over the dough once it is filled.
    Cold butter
    To ensure a light and flaky pastry, it’s important to incorporate cold butter into your dough. Cut up the butter into small pieces and then use a pastry cutter or mixer until you have pea-sized pieces of butter throughout. Coldness is key here - if the butter starts to melt, just pop the dough in the fridge for a few minutes before continuing with your recipe.
    Filling and baking
    Once you have your empanada discs, it’s time to fill and bake them. Fill each disc with your favorite filling, then brush the edges of each disc with some egg wash to help it stick together and again on top to give them a nice shine before baking them for 15 minutes at 375 degrees F until golden brown.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 131kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g

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    Chef Ben Rayl

    Hi, I'm Ben!

    I believe comfort food unites us, and I want to inspire you to cook at home with everyday ingredients. It is easier and takes less time than you think, costs less than eating out, and tastes a million times better.Read More

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