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Pastel de Gloria is a Colombian dessert consisting of puff pastry that is traditionally filled with guava paste, dulce de leche, and (most often than not) cheese. These tiny treats are baked until golden brown and puffy. Before serving, warm pasteles de gloria are typically sprinkled with sugar.
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Sacramentos is a type of Argentine factura or pastry that is similar to medialunas but usually shorter in size and without the distinctive crescent shape. These soft rolls can be made plain or with sweet or savory fillings such as quince paste (dulce de membrillo), sweet potato jam (dulce de batata), melted chocolate, or ham and cheese.
Another difference between sacramentos and medialunas is that the first have their corners closed inwards before rolling, whereas the latter have open corners. The pastry’s name means sacraments, and it is one of many traditional Argentine pastries which were given blasphemous and anti-state names by anti-clergy anarchists who wanted to oppose the church, the state, and the police.
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Bolas de fraile is the Argentine and Uruguayan version of a doughnut. It is made without a hole in the center, and the doughnut is usually filled with dulce de leche, then dusted with powdered sugar. It is believed that bolas de fraile is derived from a popular Germany pastry called Berliner Pfannkuchen.
The name of these tasty doughnuts means balls of weakness, and it is said that the name was invented by anti-clergy anarchists who wanted to oppose a harsh regime that was imposed by the Catholic church.
Although empanadas are traditionally associated with savory fillings, in the case of empanada de manzana the filling is a sweet combination of cinnamon-spiced apples. Sliced, preferably tart apples are wrapped inside the buttery dough, shaped in small crescent forms and baked until golden and crispy.
Whether they are served as a dessert, a filling sweet breakfast, or a light afternoon snack, empanadas de manzana are a signature treat of the Chiloé Island and can occasionally be found in traditional Mexican cuisine.
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Chipa so'o is a savory cake that is popular in Paraguay and Argentina. The dough is prepared with a combination of pork fat, corn flour, corn starch, milk, salt, and cheese. Once prepared, the dough is shaped into balls and filled with a mixture of eggs and ground or finely chopped meat.
Before baking, chipa so'o is brushed with milk in order to develop a nice color on the exterior. This chipa variety is consumed as a hearty snack, but it can also make for a calorie-laden lunch.
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Arabian empanadas are pretty different from traditional Argentine empanadas. They are shaped into a triangle, and a portion of the filling remains visible in the center of the empanada. The filling consists of ground beef or lamb, chopped red and green peppers, green onions, and tomatoes.
It is typically flavored with oregano, chili powder, paprika, and black pepper. Interestingly, many people like to squeeze a bit of lemon juice in the center for an extra zing. As the name suggests, these empanadas are a result of Arabian influence, i.e., Arab immigrants moving to South America.
MOST ICONIC Arabian Empanadas
Hailing from Argentina, empanada catamarqueña is an empanada variety characterized by its garlicky kick. The empanadas are typically made with beef or goat meat, onions, and garlic. Raisins and green olives are also often included in these empanadas for extra flavor and texture.
Baked until golden brown, these flavorful parcels are best when served with local beverages.
MOST ICONIC Empanada Catamarqueña
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Conejitos or conejos are popular Chilean sweet treats consisting of pastry dough made with sugar, flour, milk, eggs, leavening agents, and butter, which is then filled with crema pastelera, a type of pastry cream made with milk, sugar, egg yolks, corn starch, and vanilla.
The pastry is typically dusted with powdered sugar before consumption. When translated, the name conejitos means rabbits.
TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “8 Worst Rated South American Pastries” list until April 19, 2025, 1,927 ratings were recorded, of which 1,144 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.