A traditional Guatemalan dish — Manjar Blanco is the silky milk custard that Guatemalan vendors sell in little cups at markets and fairs. Milk, sugar, and cinnamon cook slowly with a touch of cornstarch and egg yolk until the pudding turns thick and spoonable, then it is chilled and dusted with cinnamon. Plain, gentle, and nostalgic, it is dessert at its most comforting.
Manjar Blanco Guatemalteco
A traditional Guatemalan dish — Manjar Blanco is the silky milk custard that Guatemalan vendors sell in little cups at markets and fairs.

Step by stepInstructions
- Whisk the cornstarch into 1/2 cup of the milk until completely smooth; whisk in the egg yolks.
- Combine the remaining milk, sugar, cinnamon stick, and salt in a pot and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring to dissolve the sugar.
- Slowly whisk the cornstarch mixture into the hot milk and cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the custard thickens and just begins to bubble, 10 to 12 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and cook for 5 minutes more, stirring, until velvety; the mixture will thicken further as it cools.
- Stir in the vanilla, remove the cinnamon stick, and pour the manjar into small cups or a serving dish.
- Chill for at least 3 hours, until set, and dust with ground cinnamon before serving.
💡 Chef tips & storage
Stir constantly once the cornstarch goes in — milk custard scorches easily. For a firmer, sliceable manjar, add an extra tablespoon of cornstarch.

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