Chulas de Calabaza Recipe: Easy Galician Pumpkin Fritters 2026

Chulas de calabaza are traditional sweet fritters from Galicia, soft little pumpkin cakes that sit somewhere between a pancake and a doughnut. They are lightly sweet, warmly spiced with cinnamon, and dusted with powdered sugar just before serving.

This version keeps things light by cooking the batter in a barely greased skillet instead of deep-frying, so the fritters come out tender rather than heavy. You only need nine everyday ingredients and about half an hour, plus a short rest for the batter.

They are at their best served warm, freshly made, when the edges are still crisp and the inside is soft and pumpkin-scented. A generous snowfall of powdered sugar on top is the classic finish.

Ingredients for Chulas de Calabaza

This makes 12 fritters.

• 350 g pumpkin
• 2 medium eggs
• 50 g sugar
• 1 pinch ground cinnamon
• 100 g wheat flour
• 1 pinch salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder (6 grams)
• Olive oil, for frying
• Powdered sugar, to serve

How to Make Chulas de Calabaza Step by Step

1. Cook the Pumpkin

First, cook enough pumpkin — around 400 to 500 g — to end up with the 350 g needed for the fritters. You can microwave it for 10 minutes at 850 W in a suitable container covered with perforated microwave film, or boil it cut into pieces for 10 minutes in boiling water. Once cooked, drain it and blend it or mash it with a fork, then let it cool.

2. Beat the Eggs with Sugar and Cinnamon

In a bowl, beat 2 medium eggs with 50 g sugar and 1 pinch ground cinnamon.

3. Add the Pumpkin

Next, add the cooked, mashed pumpkin and mix it into the egg mixture.

4. Mix in the Flour and Baking Powder

Add 100 g wheat flour with 1 pinch salt and 1 teaspoon baking powder, and mix until you have a smooth, homogeneous batter. Let it rest for 30 minutes.

5. Fry the Pumpkin Fritters

Heat a little oil in a skillet over medium heat. Spoon small mounds of batter into the pan, shaping them into rounds, and brown the chulas de calabaza for a few minutes on both sides, covered so the heat helps them cook through. Repeat until all the batter is used. At this point you can make them thicker or thinner, depending on your preference.

6. Serve Them Fresh

Serve the chulas de calabaza or calacú sprinkled with a little powdered sugar.

Tips for the Best Chulas de Calabaza

Choose the Right Pumpkin

A smooth, dense variety works best here, and the peanut squash is a great choice because its soft texture is ideal for this recipe. Cook it any way you like — boiled, roasted, microwaved, or even in an air fryer — as long as it ends up well drained and mashed.

Fry or Griddle Them

Traditionally the chulas are fried in a skillet with about a finger of oil. This version cooks them on a barely greased griddle, like pancakes, to keep them lighter. If you prefer the traditional method, just use more oil for frying and drain the fritters on paper towels afterward to remove the excess.

Serve Them Warm

These fritters are at their best freshly made, while the outside is still slightly crisp. A dusting of powdered sugar right before serving is all they need, and it makes them absolutely delicious.

30 Home-Cooked Recipes I Keep Coming Back To

If you're anything like me, your kitchen rotation probably includes a little bit of everything — cozy comfort plates, tried-and-true dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

When a rich, indulgent treat is calling my name, I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luxurious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only something fruity and soothing will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my go-to.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

Tapas and Mediterranean flavors are a constant craving, so I switch between this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. And when the occasion begs for something a touch fancier, this elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is what I serve.

Come lunch or dinnertime, these are the dishes I hand out to friends most often: a soul-warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. For something more substantial, out comes this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, boldly seasoned Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also make an effortless appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks alongside a full menu, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing the table with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for the Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes are built on three things: simplicity, techniques you can trust, and flavor that really pops.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over — whether it's a fast solo meal or a spread I'm putting together for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a favorite of mine when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled after the celebrated Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture pays off, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and unfussy sounds right, I tend to go with the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for cozier, heartier fare, I'm quick to suggest the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine — among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, golden Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it delivers great texture while saving time. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for anyone steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and completely gratifying without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado

Best Products We’ve Tested and Rated

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of glute resistance bands, resistance band set door anchor, smart jump rope, heart rate monitor armband, and ems machine. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.

Our testing team has hands-on reviews of tens unit, olympic weight plate set, olympic barbell, speed bag boxing, and plyometric box set. Every option below was compared across price, build quality, and real-world performance, with honest pros and cons. We update these guides regularly as new models arrive, so the recommendations stay current.