Postre de Natas
Colombian Milk Skin Custard
A traditional Colombian dessert featuring layers of delicate milk skin (nata) sweetened with sugar and studded with raisins, often finished with a rich caramel sauce. It's a rich, creamy, and subtly spiced treat.
🧂 Ingredients
- 2 liters Whole milk(Using whole milk is crucial for forming a good cream skin.)
- 200g Granulated sugar(Divided for layering and caramel.)
- 1 Cinnamon stick(For infusing the milk.)
- 50g Raisins(Optional, but traditional.)
- 50ml Water(For making the caramel sauce.)
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Prepare the milk skin (nata). Pour the whole milk into a wide, shallow pot or pan. Add the cinnamon stick. Heat the milk over medium-low heat until it just begins to simmer, around 85-90°C (185-195°F). Do not boil. As a skin (nata) forms on the surface, carefully lift it off with a slotted spoon or spatula and place it onto a clean plate. Repeat this process, allowing the milk to heat and a new skin to form, collecting each layer of nata. This will take approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes, yielding about 8-10 layers.
⏱️ 1 hour 15 minutes - 2
Assemble the layers. In a serving dish or individual ramekins, begin layering the collected natas. Sprinkle a thin layer of granulated sugar (about 1 tablespoon per layer) and a few raisins (if using) between each nata layer. Continue until all natas are used, finishing with a layer of nata.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 3
Make the caramel sauce. In a separate saucepan, combine the remaining granulated sugar (approximately 150g) with the water. Heat over medium heat, swirling the pan occasionally, until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns a deep amber color. Be careful not to burn it, as it will become bitter. Immediately and carefully pour the hot caramel sauce over the top layer of nata in the serving dish. The caramel will seep down through the layers as it cools.
⏱️ 15 minutes - 4
Chill and serve. Allow the Postre de Natas to cool at room temperature for about 30 minutes, then cover and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours, or until completely chilled and set. Serve cold.
⏱️ 3-4 hours (chilling)
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Patience is key when collecting the natas; the process requires gentle heating and careful removal of each skin.
- ✓This dessert is a testament to traditional Colombian culinary techniques.
- ✓The resulting texture is incredibly rich, creamy, and smooth, with a delightful sweetness.
- ✓Ensure the caramel is poured while hot for best distribution.
✨ Twist Ideas
Inspiration for your own version of this recipe
- For an even richer dessert, drizzle with 'arequipe' (dulce de leche) before serving.
- Omit the raisins for a purer milk skin and caramel flavor profile.