What are milhojas?
Milhojas (also known as mil hojas) are a traditional Latin American pastry made of layers of puff pastry and creamy pastry. The English translation of mihojas is “one thousand layers” or “one thousand leaves”. It can be seen as a South American version of the French and Japanese lasagna.
It is traditionally served at birthday parties and holidays in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela and other celebrations.
Milhojas are thought to have originated in the 18th century in the Spanish city of Valencia. The pastry quickly became a popular dessert throughout Spain and Portugal, and eventually made its way to Latin America, where it remains a popular treat today.
What are milhojas?
At its simplest, mil horas consist of just two ingredients: puff pastry and cream. The dough is rolled out into thin sheets, stacked on top of each other, creamed between each layer and then baked until golden brown.
There are many variants of milhojas, both in terms of the dough used and the filling. In addition to shortbread pastry, some recipes call for multiple types of dough, such as shortcrust pastry or kilo dough. Fillings can range from chocolate to fruit to nuts.
Whatever variations you encounter, one thing is certain: milhojas are a delicious and enduring pastry that is popular at every party.
Where can I buy milhojas?
You can usually buy custom mil hojas cakes at many Latin American bakeries. Sometimes Latin American restaurants will serve them in sliced form for dessert. Here are some places to try this layered pastry cake. Be sure to contact them in advance, as availability may be seasonal.
