Not to be confused with the savory Mexican gorditas, these are sweet, thick, fried pastries coated in sugar—a traditional treat in many parts of Mexico. They’re soft inside, slightly crisp outside, and perfect with coffee or hot chocolate.
Ingredients
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2 cups all-purpose flour
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½ cup sugar (plus extra for rolling)
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2 tsp baking powder
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¼ tsp salt
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¼ cup vegetable oil or melted butter
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2/3 cup milk (adjust as needed)
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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Oil for frying
Instructions
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Mix dry ingredients: Flour, sugar, baking powder, salt.
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Add wet ingredients: Mix in oil/butter, milk, and vanilla. Knead lightly until a soft, pliable dough forms.
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Shape gorditas: Divide dough into golf-ball-sized portions. Flatten slightly into thick disks (~½ inch).
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Fry: Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Fry disks 2–3 minutes per side, until golden but not burnt. Drain on paper towels.
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Coat in sugar: While still warm, roll or sprinkle generously with sugar.
Optional twists
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Add cinnamon to the sugar for a warm flavor
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Fill with dulce de leche or jam for a surprise center
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Brush with a little melted butter before sugar for extra richness
These are crispy outside, soft and sweet inside—basically the ultimate comfort treat.
If you want, I can give a modern oven-baked version that’s lighter but still keeps the sugary goodness. Do you want me to do that?