Traditional Candy: Canillitas de Leche {Recipe}

I have very fond memories of long weekends spent in Guatemala City, a five-hour drive from San Salvador where I grew up. Perhaps my favorite part of going to Guatemala was stopping by the local market and buying bags of canillitas de leche to take back home with me.

This traditional candy from Guatemala is made with condensed milk that hardens into a stick, or canillita, and then just melts in your mouth. So simple, sweet and delicious.

I still get ridiculously excited when someone brings me a box of canillitas from their travels.  It had never occured to me that I could actually attempt to make them myself! I just know it’ll be a treat for my girl and we could have fun making them this Halloween and Día de Muertos season.

I recently received in my inbox this canillitas recipe made with a bit of honey. Let’s make them and let me know what you think!

Canillitas de Leche

Makes 24 pieces

Ingredients

½ cup honey

4 cups powdered milk

1 ½ cans condensed milk (sweetened)

1 tsp vanilla extract

½ cup powdered sugar

Cornstarch (for kneading)

Preparation

1. Place all of the ingredients except the cornstarch in a stand or hand mixer with a paddle attachment and mix on low for 30 seconds. Change the mixer to medium speed and mix for approximately 1 minute or until mix forms a stiff consistency.

2. Place the sugar mixture on a clean work surface dusted with a bit of cornstarch. Knead the dough for a minute with your hands, using cornstarch in order to prevent sticking.

3. Roll or pipe the mixture into 24 desired shapes, dusting with a little cornstarch as you go.

4. Wrap the shapes in cellophane or other desired wrapping.