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Two bowl of habichuelas con dulce topped with cookies
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4.93 from 13 votes

Habichuelas con Dulce (Dominican Sweet Beans)

Sweet and creamy, this habichuelas con dulce or sweet cream of beans is the most popular dessert in the Dominican Republic during Easter (Semana Santa), Holy Week, Lent (Cuaresma). Made with red beans and coconut milk, it's truly delicious!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time3 hours
Total Time3 hours 10 minutes
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Dominican, Latin
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 487kcal
Author: Vanessa

Ingredients

  • 4 cups red or pinto beans
  • 7 cups water in which the beans had boiled in
  • 1 can (13.5 ounces) coconut milk
  • 2 cans (24 ounces) evaporated milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 1/2 cups sugar
  • 1 pound batata, cubed
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and cut in one piece
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 1/2 cup raisins
  • 2 packs (6 ounces) small milk round crackers

Instructions

  • Soak dry beans in water overnight. The next day discard water in beans. Boil the beans in a large pot with plenty of water, adding water as needed, for about 2 hours, or until tender.
  • Blend together beans and water for about 30 seconds, or until smooth. If necessary, add more water. Pass the mixture through a strainer into a large bowl and set aside.
  • Combine the beans, the coconut milk, and the evaporated milk in a large pot over medium heat.
  • When it breaks a boil, stir in the salt, sugar, sweet potatoes, ginger, vanilla, cinnamon sticks, clove, and raisins.
  • Let simmer, stirring occasionally, for about 45-50 minutes, or until the liquid reduces to desired thickness and the sweet potato is tender. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  • Serve warm or cold, add crackers when ready to eat. If eating cold, place it in the refrigerator after cooling until it is cold.

Notes

This dessert can be enjoyed warm or cold. Some people prefer it cold, but I like both ways. Once the habichuelas con dulce is chilled it becomes a lot thicker. Keep that in mind when letting it reduce down while cooking.

Nutrition

Calories: 487kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 834mg | Fiber: 10g | Sugar: 39g | Vitamin A: 6598IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 247mg | Iron: 3mg