Leche Frita (Spanish Fried Milk)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Medium

Squares of firm cinnamon-lemon custard with a crisp golden crust and a creamy middle. Served warm, dusted with cinnamon sugar. Makes 12 pieces in about 5 hr 40 min.

Prep 30 min

Cook 10 min

Cooling 5 hr

Total 5 hr 40 min

Yield 12 pieces

Ingredients

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pieces

3 ¼ cups (750 ml)whole milk
1lemon peel, one wide strip
⅔ cup (120 g)granulated sugar, for the custard
½ cup (60 g)cornstarch
¼ cup (30 g)flour
3 (54 g)egg yolks
⅔ cup (80 g)all-purpose flour
2 (100 g)eggs, beaten
2 cups (500 ml)sunflower or olive oil, for frying
¼ cup (50 g)granulated sugar, for the to finish
1 ½ tsp (4 g)ground cinnamon

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Instructions

Warm 600 ml of the milk with the cinnamon stick and lemon peel. Simmer 5 minutes, then remove from the heat and steep 10 minutes. Remove the cinnamon and peel.
Whisk the sugar, cornstarch, flour, yolks and the remaining cold milk in a bowl until smooth.
Whisk the yolk mixture into the warm milk and cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until very thick and the spatula leaves a trail, about 6 minutes (160 F / 71 C).
Spread into an oiled 8-inch (20 cm) square pan, level, cover the surface with plastic and chill at least 5 hours or overnight, until very firm.
Cut into 12 rectangles. Dredge in flour, then dip in beaten egg.
Heat the oil to 350 F (175 C). Fry the pieces in batches 1 to 2 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels.
Mix the sugar and cinnamon and dust over the warm pieces.

Tips

The custard must be very firm; chill overnight for the best results.
Keep the oil at 350 F so the pieces brown before they melt.
Fry only a few pieces at a time.
The custard contains eggs; cook it to 160 F (71 C). Use a thermometer for the oil and keep hot oil away from children.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make leche frita (spanish fried milk)?

Plan on 30 minutes of prep and 10 minutes of cooking, plus 5 hours to chill. The recipe makes 12 pieces.

How should I store leche frita (spanish fried milk)?

Fry just before serving. Store the unfried custard refrigerated up to 2 days.

Can I make leche frita (spanish fried milk) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Serve it with coffee.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 12 servings this recipe makes.

246 Calories / serving

12.3g Fat

29.6g Carbs

4.8g Protein

17.7g Sugar

Whole recipe (12 servings): ~2952 cal · 148g fat · 355g carbs · 58g protein · 212g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.