Preparation Time
45
Note
Torrejas are a very popular dessert in Cuba. They are not eaten very often because their ingredients are difficult to obtain, especially since they require a lot of oil when frying. Despite this, they enjoy great popularity and are made as a way to utilize stale bread. If you decide to make Grandma's Torrejas at home, remember to share a photo with us.
Ingredients
- ½ litro de milk
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 cucharadas de sugar
- 1 lemon (peel)
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla
- 1/8 cup of rum or liqueur
- 1 pound of Cuban bread
- 2 eggs
- cooking oil
For the syrup:
- 1 cup of water
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 zest of lemon or orange
Instructions
Bring half a liter of milk to a boil with 2 or 3 tablespoons of sugar, a cinnamon stick, and a lemon peel. Once it boils, remove it from the heat and add rum or another liqueur and 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
Cut the bread into slices about one finger thick. Place it on a tray and soak it with the infused milk, being careful not to let it absorb too much or it will fall apart in the subsequent steps.
In a deep pan, heat some oil.
Beat the eggs and add a little milk to achieve a smoother consistency. Dip each slice of bread in milk, then in the beaten eggs, and fry them one by one in hot oil.
Adding milk to the beaten eggs prevents a thick crust from forming, similar to a tortilla, when frying the bread. Instead, you achieve a golden color and a thin, crispy layer.
As the torrejas turn golden brown, flip them over and fry them on the other side. Then remove them from the oil and fry the next batch. Drain them on a paper towel and set them aside.
Prepare the syrup:
In a saucepan, add all the ingredients. Let it simmer until it starts to thicken.
When lifting the spoon a thread of syrup forms, remove it from the heat as it is ready. Another way to tell is when it sticks to your fingers when touched.
To preserve the Grandma's Torrejas, wait for them to cool, place them in a container, and pour the syrup over them until they are covered. Keep them at a cold temperature, and if you want them to make it to dessert at dinner, hide them in the refrigerator, because they disappear quickly.
Enjoy your meal!
Servings
10