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Homemade Cajeta is Mexican caramel sauce made from goat’s milk. It goes great on just about anything.
Add it to toast, pancakes, or French toast.
You’ll love these sweet tamales. They are perfect for the Holidays and special occasions.
- Start by creaming the shortening and sugar.
- Add the baking powder and cinnamon.
- Add the masa harina in stages.
Mix on low or the masa harina will fly out everywhere. You can also use a hand mixer.
Swap Out: Yes, you can use lard instead of shortening. Using butter is not recommended.
More Tamales Recipes:
Tamales de Rajas con Queso
Beef Tamales
Tamales Dulces
Be sure to scrape down the sides of the Kitchen Aid bowl, or the shortening will not fully cream.
- Add the milk and cajeta.
- Mix well.
This is homemade cajeta, but you can also get it on Amazon. The most popular brand in Mexico is Cajeta Coronado .
You can also make this recipe with dulce de leche or regular caramel, but then they would not be Tamales de Cajeta. They would be called Tamales de Dulce de Leche or Caramel Tamales.
Know the Differences:
Dulce de Leche is made with cow’s milk.
Regular Caramel is made with sweetened condensed milk.
Cajeta is made with goat’s milk.
- Add the chopped pecans.
- Mix on low or fold by hand with a spatula.
The nuts add texture to the tamales de cajeta. This is totally optional in case you are feeding someone with a nut allergy.
Other options: you can use chopped walnuts, almonds, pistachio, cashews, macadamia nuts, or none at all.
You might also like:
Chicken Mole Tamales
Red Pork Tamales
Chicken Salsa Verde Tamales
Northern Style Bean Tamales
- Once everything is mixed well.
- Set this aside.
Make sure to keep this cool or refrigerated. You can even make this days ahead of time.
Check out these masa recipes: Masa for Tamales and Masa with Olive Oil
- Separate the corn husks and remove any hair. The corn husks like to stick to together.
- Add hot water and place a heavy object (like a heavy plate) on top of them so they completely under the water.
The corn husks take time to soak and become pliable. About 30 minutes in hot water.
Pro Tip: Do this ahead of time, even the night before. That way they are ready for you when you are about to start the tamale assembling.
- Shake off any excess water and add a large tablespoon to the center of the corn husk.
- Fold one side over.
- Fold the other side in.
- Take the pointy top and fold it in.
- Place the tamales open-side up while you finish assembling.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you don’t place the tamales open-side up while you’re assembling, the filling will fall out.
- Add water and tamales to a large steamer.
- Steam for 1 ½ hours – 2 hours.
Tamales are ready when the tamal peels away from the corn husks easily.
Instant Pot Instructions:
Add steamer crate to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Add 1 cup water and place the tamales open-side up.
Place lid and close. Move valve to sealing.
Press High Pressure button. 35 minutes. Full release.
Also check out: Instant Pot Red Pork Tamales and Instant Pot Chicken Tamales.
How long do Tamales last?
- Fresh tamales last up to 5 days in the fridge.
- Frozen tamales last up to 4 months.
Tamales are often eaten with a big cup of Champurrado or Atole de Chocolate. Hope you enjoy!
Table of Contents
Tamales de Cajeta
Ingredients
- ½ cup shortening
- 6 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ tspn baking powder
- 1 tspn cinnamon ground
- 2 cups masa harina
- 1 ½ cup cajeta
- 1 ½ cup milk
- ½ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Add shortening and sugar to a mixing bowl.
- Whip until creamy. About 2 minutes.
- Add baking powder, cinnamon, and ½ the masa harina.
- Mix on low. About 2 minutes.
- Add remaining masa harina.
- Change mixing handles, or use a spatula.
- Add the cajeta and milk.
- Mix thoroughly. Be sure to scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Add the chopped pecans.
- Fold them in gently, or low on the mixer.
- Soak the corn husks in hot water for 30 minutes.
- Once the corn husks are pliable, add a large tablespoon to the center of the corn husks.
- Use your best judgement as to how much to add to each corn husk.
- Place standing with the open-side up while you finish assembling the rest of the tamales.
- Add water to a steamer.
- Add the tamales with the open-side up.
- Steam for 1 ½ hours.
- Tamales are ready when the peel away from the corn husks easily.
Video
Notes
Add steamer crate to the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Add 1 cup water and place the tamales open-side up.
Place lid and close. Move valve to sealing.
Press High Pressure button. 35 minutes. Full release.
Nutrition
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Maggie Unzueta is the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer, videographer, and creator of In Mama Maggie's Kitchen. She has been developing easy and authentic Mexican food, Mexican-inspired recipes, and traveling tips since 2010. From family recipes to her extensive travels throughout Mexico, she brings traditional Mexican flavors from South of the Border and into your kitchen. Maggie has been featured in notable culinary websites and other media outlets. For more details, check out her About page.
CAN YOU USE PREMADE MASA AND ADD THE CAJETA AND SUGAR?
Yes, but since we don’t know how the masa is made, I wouldn’t advise it. If you try it and the masa doesn’t come together, try putting them in the fridge. Let me know how it goes.
I’ve never had anything like this before. I don’t even think I’ve ever heard of this before. I can’t wait to try it for the grandkids.
You’re going to love the tamales. Happy cooking!
My husband loves tamales, but he always just had the ones from the supermarket. Homemade is always better. Will tell him about your recipe.
Hope you guys try this recipe!
I adore regular tamales so I cannot image how wonderful these will be when I get a chance to try them. Thanks for sharing!
So good right? We love this one too
These look delicious. I have never had a sweet tamale before. I definitely want to try one now.
It’s delicious. Hope you try it!
I have never heard of a sweet version of Tamales. Must try them now.
These tamales de cajeta are delicious! You’re going to love them!
What an interesting treat. It sounds delicious and the preparation is fascinating!
It’s amazing! Hope you try it!
The moment I saw this, I started craving them immediately! I would love to try and make these for my family. I’m sure they’d love these tamales!
Your family will really enjoy them. Happy cooking!
I am going crazy to try this. It looks super delicious and well prepared. I am super into this.
It’s delicious! Glad you enjoyed this
It has been way to long since I’ve had tamales. I’ve never made them myself before though. I’ve always wanted to try making them though. Looks like I’ll be saving this so I can try them out soon.
Hope you try this recipe Kathy! It’s amazing.
I have never heard of this, but I LOVE it! I SOOO need to make this! My mouth is drooling over here!
This recipe it’s really yummy! Hope you try it!
I’ve never had tamales of any sort, these do look like a yummy idea though! I’m glad you shared this recipe. Now I get to try something new in the house, finally!
So yummy! Hope you try it.
This recipe looks divine. I can’t wait to make it for my friends and family this holiday season.
It’s delicious. Glad you liked it!
These look incredible! I’ve never tried to make tamales, so I might have to try it out.
Hope you try this recipe!
What a delicious looking treat. Thank you for the very simple step by step instructions, I bet they’ll be helpful.
Glad you enjoyed this Lori!
Now this is a sauce I have definitely not heard of before, it is interesting that it is so versatile! I will have to try making it for myself and see what I think!
The sauce is amazing. Hope you try it!
I never tried to cook with tamales but this dessert does sound so good. I will need to get some of these ingredients in the market and make this one soon.
Hope you try this recipe!