Desserts
Easy
Frozen pancake dessert
30 min
Desserts
Easy
Recipe of Little birds
Vida Recetas Editorial
Pajaritos (Little Birds) are a classic homemade dessert, perfect for sharing with family during snack time or after a hearty lunch. They are soft, fluffy dough balls, fried or baked, covered with a meringue glaze and decorated with chocolate sprinkles or colorful candies. Their name evokes the shape of little birds, although they are simply sweet buns.
Origin and characteristics
This sweet treat is popular in several Latin American countries, especially Chile and Argentina, where it is traditionally prepared for celebrations and gatherings. The dough, enriched with lemon and orange zest, has a delicious citrus aroma, and its texture is tender and slightly sticky. The meringue topping provides a sweet and fluffy contrast that makes it irresistible.
Who is it ideal for?
It is perfect for those looking for a homemade, economical dessert that yields a lot. Its preparation is of easy difficulty, making it suitable for beginners in the kitchen. You can also customize it with different decorations, such as colorful sprinkles, shredded coconut, or even melted chocolate.
Cook
120 min
Servings
15
Ingredients
Directions
-
1
Add all the dry ingredients to a bowl, sift the flour and make a crown (or volcano).
-
2
Add to the center of the crown the wet ingredients together with the lemon and orange zest (it should only be the peel without the white part as it turns bitter). Only the egg yolks should be used and the whites should be reserved for the meringue.
-
3
Mix the dough little by little and add the warm water to the dough. It should be a soft, sticky dough (not dry). Once the dough has been formed, it must be kneaded for 10 minutes and after that it must be left to rest in a warm place covered with a damp cloth for 1 hour to wash the mixture and increase in volume.
-
4
After the hour has passed, you have to knead the dough again on a floured surface and make balls of the same size (approx. 100-120 grams each). Leave it to rest for 15 minutes with a damp cloth on top so that the surface does not dry out.
-
5
Preheat oven to 180°C
-
6
Bake rolls in a floured or silicone tin for 20 minutes at 180°C. The surface must be equipped, after the time has passed, they must be removed from the oven and allowed to cool.
-
7
While they are cooling, the meringue must be made with syrup, for this purpose it must be placed in a pot on low heat with the amount of water and sugar and let it boil until when a wooden spoon is inserted, the syrup falls “bareback”. Do not stir or use any metal utensils.
-
8
While the syrup is being formed by the hair, the 4 egg whites are whipped. When the syrup is ready, gradually add it to the eggs and it will form a firm meringue and double in size.
-
9
Finally, the masses must be sprinkled on top with the meringue. Some people put colored sprinkles, beads, or chocolate sticks on them. I prefer them only with meringue. The most important thing is that they should place the meringue when the bird is cold. Let's enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to prepare Little birds?
This recipe has a easy difficulty level, which means it's accessible for cooks of all levels.
How long does it take to prepare Little birds?
The preparation time is minutes and the cooking time is 120 minutes.
How many people does this recipe serve?
This recipe is designed for 15 servings.
Can I substitute some ingredients?
Yes, many ingredients can be substituted with similar alternatives. We recommend checking the recipe variations.
How should I store this preparation?
Store the preparation in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Some preparations can be frozen for up to 3 months.
