Tricks to make the emblematic Habichuelas con Dulce

[Dolores]

If you happen to be in the Dominican Republic in March or April ask, ask and ask until you find where you can try the famous Habichuelas con Dulce. The dessert is unique to the country.

Call it a second cousin to the US baked beans, the strange combination is strange, but actually delicious.

If you feel up to it, supermarkets will sell you a package with all the ingredients needed to make the sweet.

Chef Wandy shares his secrets with El Nacional. Meanwhile, you can also check the online recipe by Dominican Cooking.

Read more:Dominican Cooking El Nacional

15 April 2025

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[AlterEgo]

I love this dessert. My husband’s aunt was the queen of this, we always visited her this time of year to enjoy some. She must have had a secret ingredient, no one else’s tasted as good as hers. I think my mother-in-law got annoyed when family praised her sister’s habichuelas con dulce. 😊

 

[josh2203]

I love this dessert. My husband’s aunt was the queen of this, we always visited her this time of year to enjoy some. She must have had a secret ingredient, no one else’s tasted as good as hers. I think my mother-in-law got annoyed when family praised her sister’s habichuelas con dulce. 😊

Same here, and the kids go crazy on this one, we always have to stock up on the cookies as those tend to disappear... First time ever, still recall, deep in the campo, in pitch black as it was close to midnight and the luz had gone hours before that, my wife's aunt had already spent hours next to the the freaking hot stove and the huge pot (it was meant for like 10 people), majority of the family sitting next to her. All you could see was like two candles and the blue flame from the stove and a crowd talking and laughing... When it was finally ready, it was a huge ceremony when the distribution began. I was warned that it's hot... Semana Santa is not Semana Santa without this...

 

[AlterEgo]

Which reminds me….. do you like it warm from the stove or cold from the fridge?

(I know there are some haters here, not asking you, hahaha).

 

[RDKNIGHT]

not for nothing but I think that tastes horrible disgusting but to each his own

 

[AlterEgo]

not for nothing but I think that tastes horrible disgusting but to each his own

That’s because you never tasted Tia Ramona’s!! 😂

 

[RDKNIGHT]

That’s because you never tasted Tia Ramona’s!! 😂

ok for me its taste bland and the texture is gross

 

[Jan]

The Plan Social de la Presidente made deliveries of their Easter gifts to the poor yesterday in my neighborhood. 2 cans of carnation, bag of red beans, bag of vanilla cookies and a small bag of sugar. Some of the Habichuelas con Dulce fixings. I already got a cup, nice and hot, from 2 neighbors. It's good but I wouldn't go out of my way for it

 

[josh2203]

Which reminds me….. do you like it warm from the stove or cold from the fridge?

So, when I was new to this dessert back in the day, my wife taught me a few things: For me it was natural to enjoy the first serving relatively hot, my wife actually dislikes it hot and taught me that once it cools down and settles a bit, the flavor changes a bit, becomes sort of fuller, and she was obviously right. So I'm really the only one having one serving hot, others in the family wait for it to cool down, and the best you get when it has been a few hours in the fridge.

 

[josh2203]

and the texture is gross

The texture isn't something I was used to, it's different from any other desserts, I agree with you on that (not that it's gross but that it's different).

 

[reilleyp]

Have several bowls of it after it has been sitting out at room temperature for about 8 hours, and you will be all ready for your colonoscopy the next day.

 

[Meemselle]

The trick to making it is not to.

 

[JLSawmam]

The trick to making it is not to.

I agree! Way too much work in my opinion, but I don't turn down a serving or two Don't remember ever having it hot, but I would guess just like spaghetti sauce or a stew, it's always better the next day.

 

[Meemselle]

I agree! Way too much work in my opinion, but I don't turn down a serving or two Don't remember ever having it hot, but I would guess just like spaghetti sauce or a stew, it's always better the next day.

I am always so grateful when habichuelas dulce season coincides with Passover so that I can legitimately refuse it. (No beans during Pesach!) Otherwise, I'm stuck accepting it and then privately chucking it down the inodoro. And then having to lie about how delicious it was.

 

[Seamonkey]

One of the most disgusting things on earth.