Today’s recipe is one of those sweet treats I grew up with. They are called papitas de leche, meaning “little milk potatoes” because they resemble mini peeled potatoes. And trust me: these are the most delicious sweet bite-sized milk truffles. Venezuelan milk truffles!
Note: This recipe is part of a collaboration with Nestlé NIDO®. As a member of the Amazon Associates Program and other affiliate programs, I receive compensation for products sold through the affiliate links in this post at no cost to the buyer.
Despite their name, these papitas de leche are made with three ingredients, and not one is potato related. They are made with powdered or dry milk, sweetened condensed milk, and confectioners’ sugar. That’s all! No need to cook or bake. And guess what? They make a beautiful homemade present too!
A family history that is written with NIDO
I said NIDO to refer to the powdered milk I grew up with. Saying NIDO is part of my history is an understatement. It was my grandma and mom’s favorite powdered milk, and now it’s mine.
When I stopped breastfeeding my two boys, and after a short period of baby formula, our pediatrician prescribed Nestlé NIDO® Kinder 1+. Later we switched to Nestlé NIDO® Full Cream Fortified Milk, commonly known as NIDO Fortificada. Up until now!
Later we switched to Nestlé NIDO® Full Cream Fortified Milk, commonly known as NIDO Fortificada. Up until now! Being the mother of two teenagers, NIDO remains a staple in my kitchen as the dry whole milk for my whole family, and it’s also a great source of vitamins A, C, D, Calcium, and Zinc!
A beloved treat and a Venezuelan tradition
Back to my papitas de leche. Originally from the Venezuelan Andean region, these milk truffles are hard to resist. They are part of any important Venezuelan celebration, including baby showers, baptisms, birthdays, first communions, bar mitzvahs, graduations, and weddings.
No sweet or dessert table is missing these petit fours on special occasions. The reason? They are to die for! These so delicious bolitas de leche (little milk balls) are not served as a dessert but more as a petit four.
Of course, you don’t need a special occasion to enjoy them. In Caracas, where I was born and raised, my mom used to buy papitas de leche and give them to my sister and me as a special treat after school. I loved not only the sweetness but the aroma and flavor infused by the clavo de olor (whole clove) inserted on each truffle,
More than a traditional Venezuelan dessert, these milk truffles are little pieces of heaven.
How to make Papitas de Leche
In my extended family, my cousin Adriana is the papitas de leche queen. Sometimes, depending on the occasion, she uses food coloring, and they look so pretty. The recipe that I’m sharing today is hers.
To make these truffles, traditionally combine the dry ingredients, add the sweetened condensed milk, and mix with a wooden spoon until a thick, homogeneous paste is formed.
However, I saved time and energy by mixing the dry ingredients in the bowl of a standing electric mixer. Then, with the kneading blade, I kneaded the dry mixture with the sweetened condensed milk until a firm but malleable dough was formed.
To make the papitas, I divided the dough into 36 pieces, each weighing 20 grams, and formed an equal number of little balls with my hands. Once the balls were made, I dusted my hands with confectioner’s sugar to give the truffles their matte appearance. The final touch is inserting a clove on each.
More milk-based yummy Venezuelan recipes
Are you into milk-based recipes? The Venezuelan repertoire is as extensive as delicious. Following is my list of traditional Venezuelan desserts and other recipes that you won’t want to miss:
- Venezuelan sweet curdled milk (dulce de leche cortada)
- Venezuelan oatmeal with milk and cinnamon
- Venezuelan milk and rice drink (chicha de arroz)
- Venezuelan rice pudding (arroz con leche)
- Venezuelan tres leches cake (pastel de tres leches)
- Venezuelan cuatro leches cups
- Venezuelan ponche crema
Easy-to-make papitas de leche recipe
Without further ado, the following is the recipe card for this super easy recipe.
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Papitas de Leche (Venezuelan Milk Truffles)
Ingredients
- 2 cups NIDO® Full Cream Fortified Milk
- 1 14- oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar plus 1 tablespoon for dusting
- 36 cloves
- Electric Standing Mixer
Instructions
- In the bowl of an electric standing mixer, combine the NIDO® Full Cream Fortified Milk with the confectioner’s sugar.
- Add the sweetened condensed milk and with the kneading blade, knead it until a firm but malleable dough was formed about 5 minutes.
- Divide the dough in 36 pieces of 20 grams each.
- With your hands, form the balls and place them on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper.
- Dust your hands with the reserved confectioner’s sugar and cover each ball.
- Place the balls in the baking sheet and insert a clove on each.
Nutrition
Did you make this recipe?
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Me encantan tus recetas, vaya descubrimiento de blog y de papitas de leche.
Eso se ve deli! Y me encanta el sabor de la leche en polvo! Lo voy a tratar 🙂
Gracias!
Yummy this really looks delicious. i have never tasted Papitas de Leche but am certainly trying it this weekend.
Thank you Nita!
These look insanely delicious, but also very rich. I love that they only have a few ingredients and don’t require cooking.
Yesssss!
Oh my gosh! I want to make these papitas de leche with my kids! We have a lot of stash of powdered milk that we can use. And for sure, they will enjoy rolling these! 😀
Yessssss!
The truffles look decadent. Love the presentation too. Would love to give it try.
Thank you my dear!
I have never heard of papitas de leche before! They turned out so cute. I don’t think I’ve ever tried truffle!
Awwwwwwww…..
Sweetened condensed milk makes treats so yummy! I’ve never seen any like your recipe, but it looks and sounds really good. It’s always fun to try treats from other cultures.
Yessss! Thank you Heidi.
I hope that you enjoyed cooking these and also eating them. They look too pretty to eat.
Yes! These are flavors of my childhood!
Extra nutrition is always a good thing. These truffles sound so amazing.
Thank you Tara.
These look so good… I wonder if I give my sister this recipe if she’ll make them for me…haha (I dont cook)
Hahahahaha! Pass it to her!
These are so pretty! I love that it is a no-cook recipe too. Very interesting.
Thank you my dear!
Oh those look absolutely darling. I totally want to try making those sometime. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us!
Thank you for stopping by Krysten!
Yum! I don’t think I’ve ever had these before. I’ll have to try them out for sure. They sound and look scrumptious.
Thank you Amber!
They seem so easy to do, but at the same time very good! I’ll try!
Go for them Cristina!
What a nutritious and tasty idea these milk truffles. Love that you call them papitas de leche. How cute. Thanks for the recipe.
Thanks Monica! They are delicious!
Enri!!! Qué delicia!!! Sabores de mi infancia! Y esa foto donde está la papita de leche mordida, se me hizo la boca agua!
Gracias mi Vicky!
Back in Mexico we have something similar to these papitas de leche, but they are made in the stove. I like how delicate the papitas look and how easy is to make them. Thank you for the recipe!
Thank you for stopping by Blanquita!
This is fantastic! I love these papitas de leche!!
Fantastic is your trick! Thanks for stopping by Pilarin!
My wife try to put me on a diet, but when I look this papitas de leche… well I think diet no more. Jejejeje.
Hahahaha Ni una dieta mas!
I just saw this in Instagram and I though: What a beauty!!! So I am so glad you are sharing this papitas de leche recipe. You never let us down. Thank you for that!
Awww Thanks for stopping by Laura!
Papitas de leches, Milk papitas or whatever name you give them, these are delirious memories from my childhood! I just love them. Thanks for sharing the recipe !
Thank you Leti!
Wow these papitas de leche are so cute! They me recuerdan a Mexican candy known as jamoncillo.
Now I’m curious about jamoncillo. I have to research about that…
Leche, leche de bebe para una receta, tu eres creativa mi amiga, gracias por esta receta y ya se el truco de porque de verdad las papitas de leche le gustan a grandes y chicos.
Hahahah gracias Andre!
It’s a pleasure to learn with you all the wonderful things of Venezuelan cuisine. In love with this Papitas de leche forever! .
Awwwwwww!
The last thing I would have imagined Papitas de Leche were!!! I love Venezuelan cuisine and this truffles look so original and yummy!
Thank you my dear!
Enriiii!!!! Yo las amo!!! Soy la que más come papitas de leche en las fiestas Jajajaja. Gracias por la receta!
Ya no tienes excusa para la próxima piñata del Joaco!
Que belleza!!!
Yo quiero comer papitas de leche !!!
Morocha! No sabes la delicia! Gracias por la receta prima!