Mexico is a hot country but luckily, there is a range of tasty treats to enjoy. From popsicles to ice cream sandwiches, there are plenty of sweet foods to cool you down on a hot Mexican summer day. Many of their desserts have ingredients such as cinnamon, chocolate and various fruits. There are men selling the Mexican treats on the streets, like in America where you can see ice cream trucks in the summer.

Paletas – The Refreshing Mexican Popsicle

Mexicans love popsicles. Paletas means “little shovels” in Spanish and you can buy them from Mexican grocery stores. They are similar to American popsicles in shape but their flavors vary. Some are icy and tart and others include tropical fruits and milk. Some paletas have uncommon flavors, such as chili and cucumber.

The chili-flavored paleta is quite piquant so if you like spices, you might find it surprisingly refreshing. It is easy to make paletas at home and they are virtually fat-free. If you prefer to buy them, you can buy paletas from street vendors in Hispanic areas. There is a company based in California called Palapa Azul, which makes paletas and distributes them widely. You might even find some in your local Wal-Mart!

Mexican Fried Ice Cream – Yes Fried

If you have not already tried Mexican fried ice cream, you have missed out! It is a rather Americanized snack and is widely available at Mexican restaurants in America and also at festivals. The ice cream used in the Mexican fried ice cream recipe is more deep frozen than other ice creams. The ball of Mexican ice cream is rolled in cookie crumbs or Corn Flakes before being deep-fried at a very low temperature. The low temperature means the ice cream will not melt. When it is cooked, various toppings such as cinnamon or sugar are added. Fried ice cream is also served in Chinese and Japanese restaurants but you might be served a more Asian ice cream flavor such as green tea flavored ice cream.

Mexican Ice Cream with Cajeta Topping

If in the mood for just regular vanilla ice cream, cajeta would be a great topping. Cajeta is a Mexican confection of syrup most commonly made from caramelized milk that is sweetened. The syrup is made by the sweetened liquid being cooked slowly and breaking down until it is very thick. Some people use different liquids instead of sweetened milk.

Cajeta can be made with goat’s milk, cow’s milk, or juice. It has different names in different Mexican neighborhoods, including crema de cajeta, dulce de leche, and leche quemada. Cajeta is great served on ice cream. The Hershey Company makes its own cajeta to please the Mexican population and Mexican food aficionados. If the day is warm and you want to cool off, cajeta on vanilla ice cream is sure to do the job.

These cold treats are quite straightforward to make yourself, if you want to have a go. You could research some different techniques and flavors and see what the results are like. If you have kids, it is a lot of fun for them to help you in the kitchen with your Mexican fried ice cream, paletas, or cajeta recipe and, of course, they will love the finished products. Cool Mexican sweet snacks are perfect on a hot day or on any other day of the year.