Amarillos en Almibar

Name: Amarillos en Almibar
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6 servings
Cuisine: Puerto Rican
Ingredients: 4 very ripe plantains, peeled and halved lengthwise; 1 cup brown sugar; 1 cup water; 2 cinnamon sticks; 4 whole cloves; 2 tbsp butter; 1 tsp vanilla extract; Pinch of salt

Amarillos en Almibar (ah-mah-REE-yohs en ahl-MEE-bar)

Plantains in Syrup

⏱ Prep Time 40 min

📈 Difficulty Easy

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 293 kcal

⭐ Rating 5.0 (1)

Ripe plantains baked in a cinnamon and clove syrup with butter, creating a sweet, sticky dessert with warm Caribbean spices.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 1.0g

Carbs 52.0g

Fat 9.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian gluten-free nut-free

Allergen Warnings

⚠ dairy

Equipment Needed

baking dish saucepan oven

Presentation Guide

Vessel: dessert plate

Garnishes: cinnamon stick, syrup drizzle

Accompaniments: vanilla ice cream, whipped cream

Ingredients

4 very ripe plantains, peeled and halved lengthwise
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
2 cinnamon sticks
4 whole cloves
2 tbsp butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Instructions

1
Preheat oven to 375F. Arrange plantain halves in a single layer in a buttered baking dish.
2
Combine brown sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, butter, vanilla, and salt in a saucepan.
3
Heat over medium, stirring until sugar dissolves and syrup comes to a gentle boil.
4
Pour hot syrup over the plantains in the baking dish.
5
Bake thirty minutes, basting plantains with syrup every ten minutes, until soft and deeply caramelized.
6
Serve warm with the reduced syrup spooned over the top.

💡

Did You Know?

This dessert is so simple and beloved that many Puerto Rican grandmothers can make it with their eyes closed, adjusting the syrup by smell alone.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

baking dish
saucepan
oven

Garnishing

cinnamon stick, syrup drizzle

Accompaniments

vanilla ice cream, whipped cream

The Story Behind Amarillos en Almibar

Amarillos en almibar represent the sweet side of Puerto Rico's deep relationship with plantains. This simple dessert transforms ripe plantains into an elegant finish to any meal through the magic of spiced sugar syrup. The technique of baking fruit in syrup came from Spanish confection traditions and found its perfect match in the naturally sweet Caribbean plantain. The warm cinnamon and clove notes make this a comforting dessert particularly popular during cooler evenings.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed dessert after family dinner 📜 Origins: Spanish-Caribbean colonial

Comments (1)

Tim Mar 24, 2026 14:38

Tasty