Natillas (Spanish pronunciation: [naˈtiʎas]) is a term used to refer different delicacies in the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, this term refers to a custard dish made with milk and eggs. In Colombia, it does not include eggs and is called natilla instead of "natillas", and what in other countries is called "natilla" like Colombia.
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In Spain, natillas are a custard dish typically made with milk, sugar, vanilla, eggs, and cinnamon.[1] The dish is prepared by gently boiling the milk and slowly stirring in the eggs (often just the yolks) and other ingredients to create a sweet custard. This custard is similar to flan but is typically richer, makes generous use of cinnamon flavoring, and does not use caramel as flan normally does.[2]
In Colombia, natilla is the most popular Christmas dish and is eaten along with buñuelos and "manjar blanco", and it resembles a flan or pudding. Some of the ingredients include milk, "panela" (blocks of brown sugar), cinnamon sticks, and flour or cornstarch. Traditionally people like to add grated coconut but it's an optional ingredient. To garnish it, powdered cinammon is spread on top of the finished natilla. Natilla is found all throughout the Christmas season and usually stores sell pre-made natilla; but one of the best known Christmas traditions in Colombia is making natilla in an improvised campfire in the streets or home patios.
This term is used in Peru, especially the city of Piura, to refer to dulce de leche, a spread made of milk and sugar that is boiled until it is thick and the sugar has caramelized to a rich brown color. The Peruvian confection manjar blanco is arguably more similar to Spanish natillas except that it is somewhat thicker and has no eggs (and manjar blanco in Spain refers to yet another dish).
In México and New Mexico, Natillas are also found[3][4] and resemble a thicker version of the dessert drink called "Atole leche".[5]
In Costa Rica, the term is used for a sour cream-like dairy product used as a condiment with a variety of dishes. The product is homogenized and pasteurized milk with a lower fat content (about 12%) than normal sour cream, some brands add salt to the cream.[6][7]