Pastillas de Leche (Milk Candies)
Updated Oct. 12, 2023
- Total Time
- 45 minutes
- Prep Time
- 5 minutes
- Cook Time
- 40 minutes
- Rating
- Notes
- Read community notes
Advertisement
Ingredients
Yield:32 pastillas
- 2¼cups/240 grams whole milk powder (see Tip), plus more if needed
- 2tablespoons matcha powder (optional)
- ½teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) or ¼ teaspoon coarse kosher salt
- 1(14-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
- ¼cup granulated sugar
- 32(6-inch) squares of papel de hapon (Japanese tissue paper; see Tip) or cellophane (optional)
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (32 servings)
83 calories; 3 grams fat; 2 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 1 gram monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 11 grams carbohydrates; 0 grams dietary fiber; 11 grams sugars; 3 grams protein; 50 milligrams sodium
Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Powered byPreparation
- Step 1
Using a large sieve, sift the milk powder, matcha powder (if using) and salt into a medium bowl. Mix the condensed milk into the dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until fully incorporated, 1 to 2 minutes. The dough will be quite sticky but will firm up slightly as it sits. If necessary, add 1 to 2 tablespoons milk powder.
- Step 2
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Pour the sugar into a small shallow bowl.
- Step 3
Using a 1-tablespoon measure or a 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop the dough into mounds onto the lined baking sheet. (You can use a small rubber spatula or the back of a second spoon to help remove the dough from the tablespoon.)
- Step 4
Pick up 1 mound of dough and roll between your palms until it forms a log that is about 2½ inches long and ½ inch wide. Roll the finished log in the sugar and return to the sheet. Repeat until all the logs are formed and coated in sugar. (You should have about 32.)
- Step 5
If you’d like, you can wrap each pastilla in a 6-inch square of papel de hapon or cellophane. If wrapping, center each log at the bottom edge of the square and roll up. Twist the ends to seal. Store at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
Tips
- Whole milk powder can be found online and in some specialty stores. Look for brands made with cow’s milk (such as Judee’s and Anthony’s Goods), as goat’s milk powder will not work.
- In the Philippines, papel de hapon (Japanese tissue paper) is cut into intricate designs to make pastilla wrappers with elaborate tails; both the wrappers and the art of making them are called pabalat. Pastillas may also be simply wrapped in uncut tissue paper or cellophane, with the ends twisted or tucked in.
Private Notes
Leave a Private Note on this recipe and see it here.
Cooking Notes
James
Made these tonight, subbing cocoa powder for matcha - turned out very nice. Like soft Tootsie Rolls.
MtnNewf
If using cocoa powder works, I think I'll try freeze-dried fruits (reduced to a powder in the blender). Not traditional, but I'll bet they're good!
leah
My Filipino Dad makes a similar sweet but with margarine back in the day. He adds a few drops of food coloring and then shapes them into roses. Wrapped in clear cellophane, they make beautiful posies. Pretty and delicious.
F H Llego
We used to make this as a child in Bolosan, Pangasinan. Public schools at the time would get cartons of powdered milk from the USA which are then distributed to school children. My mother taught us how to make pastilyas de gatas with the powdered milk we had brought home by mixing it with sugar and water and then rolling a wad between our palms into balls the size of marbles.
WL
There is no caramelization (other than any that previously occurred in the manufacture of the condensed milk). The accompanying article states: "Unlike dulce de leche, in which milk is cooked down with sugar until it thickens into gold, the milk stays white here — burfi comes from the Persian word for snow — for a purer flavor."
James
Trying to make all things chocolate (haha) - I wonder if substituting cocoa powder for the matcha would give it a nice chocolate flavor.
FrankW`
I used low fat milk powder, it’s all I had, and I’m not a big Candy guy but I liked what I made. Next time I’ll source out the whole milk powder and some matcha or use cocoa powder as some suggest in the comments. If the recipe was adapted from someone other than Ligaya I probably wouldn’t have tried making this but after making her cheese cake bars I decided I needed to try this, I’m glad I did.
Lore
I tried another batch with rose water and powdered raspberry. Yum! Trick was to add rose water to condensed milk and raspberry powder to powdered milk,
Lore
I was dubious of the matcha powder but it was a delicious addition. Not overly strong, just counteracts the sweetness nicely. We loved these and will try w other flavorings.
K
Ok, I only have low fat milk powder, and don't really feel like getting a huge can of whole milk powder just for this recipe, can I use low fat milk powder or is this one of those things where the fat gives it like structure or something?
janisani
Simple and delicious. Allow time and patience for the shaping and wrapping. Mine look pretty in irridescent cellophane.
janisani
P.S. these are actually way better in taste and texture the next day!
Orspindoc
I did not care for these. I made them as written except added dried fruit powder instead of matcha. I wish I’d tried chocolate.
FrankW`
I used low fat milk powder, it’s all I had, and I’m not a big Candy guy but I liked what I made. Next time I’ll source out the whole milk powder and some matcha or use cocoa powder as some suggest in the comments. If the recipe was adapted from someone other than Ligaya I probably wouldn’t have tried making this but after making her cheese cake bars I decided I needed to try this, I’m glad I did.
Ute
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=h2dWTShyAME This is a wonderful video about a special art of wrapping these pastilles de leche in traditionally cut out wrappings. Beautiful!
Mark
Delightful! Didn’t roll in sugar, which I suspect would help with stickiness. But they seemed more than sweet enough without that extra layer.
Heather
out of curiosity, would nonfat milk powder work? (I imagine they'd taste...lean, but mostly curious as to whether it'd physically come together, as I have some at home I'd like to use up.)
James
That's what I used for mine! Worked great!
Naomi
is whole milk powder hard to find in the US?
F H Llego
We used to make this as a child in Bolosan, Pangasinan. Public schools at the time would get cartons of powdered milk from the USA which are then distributed to school children. My mother taught us how to make pastilyas de gatas with the powdered milk we had brought home by mixing it with sugar and water and then rolling a wad between our palms into balls the size of marbles.
F H Llego
We used to make this as children in the 60s in Bolosan, Pangasinan. At the time public schools would receive cartons of powdered milk from the USA which were then distributed among the children. My mother taught me how to make pastilyas de gatas, mixing the powdered milk with sugar and adding water to make a doughy mixture. I would then roll a wad between my palms into balls the size of glass marbles. I'd make a pile and eat them while reading the comics section of the latest Liwayway magazine
Elisa
Where do you find the colorful cellophane paper? I prefer this to the papel de Japon
Ann
Colorful cellophane is sold in rolls in the gift-wrap section in many stores.
Patti Travaglio
why will goat's mik powder not work? That's what I have
James
Trying to make all things chocolate (haha) - I wonder if substituting cocoa powder for the matcha would give it a nice chocolate flavor.
James
Made these tonight, subbing cocoa powder for matcha - turned out very nice. Like soft Tootsie Rolls.
MtnNewf
If using cocoa powder works, I think I'll try freeze-dried fruits (reduced to a powder in the blender). Not traditional, but I'll bet they're good!
Private notes are only visible to you.
Advertisement
