Traditional Buñuelos de Rodilla
These crispy, golden treats have been passed down in our family and were taught to my mom by her neighbors in Monterrey. Known as “buñuelos de rodilla” because they’re traditionally stretched on the knee, these buñuelos are thin, crispy, and coated in a sweet cinnamon-sugar mixture. Adding tomatillo shells to the boiling water (as our Monterrey neighbors advised) helps make the dough more pliable for stretching. Thank you for trying our family recipe! 😋
Ingredients
Buñuelos
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 eggs, beaten
- Canola or vegetable oil for frying
Cinnamon-Sugar Coating
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Directions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Prepare Milk Mixture: In a small saucepan, heat the milk, butter, and vanilla until it reaches a boil. Set aside to cool to room temperature.
- Mix Eggs and Milk: In a separate bowl, whisk the beaten eggs. Once the milk mixture is cool, add the eggs and whisk quickly to combine.
- Form the Dough: Pour the liquid mixture into the dry ingredients, mixing well to form a dough.
- Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 2–3 minutes until smooth.
- Shape the Dough: Divide the dough into 20 small balls. Roll each one into a thin tortilla.
- Dry the Tortillas: Place the rolled tortillas on a tablecloth and let them dry slightly. Turn them once to ensure both sides dry evenly—this step helps remove moisture for a crispy fry.
- Fry the Buñuelos: Heat about one inch of oil in a wide skillet. When the oil is hot, carefully place each tortilla in the oil and fry until golden brown, turning once. Remove and stand them vertically in a paper towel-lined bowl to drain excess oil.
- Coat with Cinnamon Sugar: While still warm, sprinkle the buñuelos on both sides with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
Enjoy!
These buñuelos are a festive, crunchy delight, perfect for sharing with family and friends.