Recipes

Sherry Tres Leches Gelatina

Milky Oaxacan gelatinas—similar to Italian panna cotta—are a refreshing warm-weather dessert.

  • Serves

    serves 20

  • Cook

    4 hours 30 minutes

PHOTOGRAPHY BY QUENTIN BACON

By Bricia Lopez


Published on May 4, 2020

This recipe is adapted from the book Oaxaca: Home Cooking from the Heart of Mexico by Bricia Lopez and Javier Cabral. Get the recipe for Sherry Tres Leches Gelatina

Gelatina is a lifestyle in Oaxaca, where it can be found in all shapes, colors, and flavors. Combined with the creamy tres leches layer, sherry creates a boozy and refreshing Creamsicle-like effect.

Featured in: Return to Oaxaca

Equipment

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. plus 1 tsp. (2 oz.) powdered gelatin, divided
  • 34 cup sugar
  • 1½ cups Mexican sherry, or substitute another sweet sherry
  • 2 cups sweetened condensed milk
  • 1½ cups evaporated milk
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ¼ tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 cup half-and-half

Instructions

Step 1

First, prepare the sherry gelatin: To a medium, heatproof bowl, add ½ cup cold water and 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons gelatin. Stir to hydrate and set aside until it has completely absorbed the liquid, about 5 minutes.

Step 2

In a small pot over high heat, bring 3 cups water and the sugar to a boil, stirring occasionally until the sugar dissolves. Remove from the heat and add the sherry and the gelatin mixture, stirring to completely dissolve. Divide evenly among twenty 5-ounce ramekins. Transfer to the fridge and chill until the liquid has gelled, at least 2 hours.

Step 3

Meanwhile, prepare the tres leches gelatin: To a medium, heatproof bowl, add ½ cup cold water and the remaining 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons gelatin. Stir to hydrate and set aside until it has completely absorbed the liquid, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

To a small pot over medium-high heat, add 2 cups water, the sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and cinnamon stick, and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and the gelatin mixture. Cool to room temperature, then remove and discard the cinnamon stick and stir in the half-and-half. Retrieve the ramekins from the fridge and carefully divide the milk mixture over the sherry layer. Refrigerate until the second layer is set, at least 2 hours or up to overnight. (If refrigerating longer than 2 hours, cover with plastic wrap.)

Step 5

To serve, dip the bottom of each ramekin in a bowl of hot water to loosen, then invert onto dessert plates and serve cold.

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