Buñuelos

Buñuelos are perhaps the most beloved holiday treat in all of Colombia, golden, perfectly spherical cheese fritters that are as much a symbol of Christmas as the nativity scene itself. Every December, Colombian homes fill with the aroma of these crispy, airy balls frying to perfection, and no Christmas Eve celebration is complete without a towering pile of them. The dough is astonishingly simple: fresh white cheese, cornstarch, a touch of sugar, and eggs, mixed until smooth and then deep-fried until they puff into perfect golden orbs. The texture is extraordinary, a thin, crispy shell that gives way to a soft, cheesy, slightly sweet interior. While they are associated with the holidays, buñuelos are available year-round at bakeries and street stalls across Colombia, each claiming their recipe is the best.