I Tried Making Homemade Gansitos – Mexico’s Iconic Snack Cake | Claire Recreates
Join Claire Saffitz in this episode of Claire Recreates as she takes on the beloved Mexican snack cake, Gansitos. From fluffy sponge cake to rich strawberry jam, creamy filling, and a decadent chocolate coating, Claire shows you how to recreate this nostalgic treat from scratch. Whether you grew up with Gansitos or are discovering them for the first time, this recipe is a delicious trip down memory lane.
Filmed with baking techniques and inspired by the original Marinela Gansito, Claire walks through every step, sharing tips, baking science, and fun behind-the-scenes moments. Perfect for fans of Mexican desserts, snack cake lovers, and anyone curious about making iconic treats at home.
#gansitos #cake #clairesaffitz #snackcake #chocolatedessert #strawberry
MARSHMALLOW FILLING
¼ teaspoon gelatin → softened in 1½ teaspoons ice water
38g water
75g granulated sugar
117g light corn syrup
30g egg whites, at room temperature
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
STRAWBERRY JELLY
SPONGE CAKE
4 large eggs, whites and yolks separated, at room temperature
½ cup (100g) granulated sugar, divided
4 tablespoons whole milk (60ml)
½ teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon cream of tartar
¼ cup neutral oil
⅔ cup (85g) all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:29 Gansitos
00:58 First impressions
01:19 Smell test
01:29 Taste test
01:57 Measurements
03:17 Reading the Ingredients
06:26 Game plan
06:42 Make sprinkles
09:50 Strawberry jelly
10:57 Trip to apple orchard
11:44 Strawberry jelly continued
12:38 Bake sponge
21:55 Creme filling
25:40 Chocolate poured fondant + assembly
29:37 Comparison
31:42 Cat cam
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Video Series:
Producer/Director: Vincent Cross
Camera Operator: Calvin Robertson
Editor/Motion Graphics: Hal McFall
Animation Credits:
Character Designer/Animator/Backgrounds: Jack Sherry
Character Rigger: Johara Dutton
31 Comments
Se me antojo un Gansito, pero están carísimos. Igual conviene comprarlos por caja, pero no los he visto en el Zorro Abarrotero.
Gotta eat em after they been in the freezer for bout an hour. They taste waaayy better that way! my parents love these and i grew up on them they're pretty damn good lol!
Did you have them at room temp? You're supposed to have them very cold.
El gansito no es solo de México existe en varios paises igual que los pingüinos … Gansito is not a Mexican exclusive, it does exist in a lot of countries from like 3 decades. It's always the ignorant gringo of course
I’ll take the boxed one 😂
Es tan tierno el gancito de Claire
You have to try it frozen 😩 just give it a chance
Mexican here. I don't like gansitos. But I would definitely enjoy your version 🙂
How about filipino Polvoron!
Ritz Bits
Like others have said the recipe has changed quite a bit. Believe or not when I was a kid it really was jam in them and the ingredients list was much smaller. When they started getting marketed and made more in the U.S. the ingredients changed.
Unfortunately a lot of the Mexican treats I grew up with have been changed for U.S. markets to be cheaper to manufacture. That's where you get all those additional fats and sugars.
If you get some that are actually from Mexico, that have been manufactured over there,the ingredients are different and even the flavor is entirely different.
No chocobananos? 😳😂♥️
The ingredients 😭🤢 they’re so good frozen though, that’s the right way to eat them. I’ve always wanted to make them myself, so, thank you for this video. 🩷
I have one suggestion De La Rosa Mazapan. I enjoy your videos . 😃
I waited all day to watch this with my mom and we absolutely loved it. Gracias for being intentional with all your selections across snacks globally. Gansitos are a childhood favorite but definitely agree that you must try it frozen!
CARVEL ICE CREAM CAKE!!!
Now do some chocotorros or dalmatas lol
Since you can't do Good Humor Toasted Almond Bars (boo, discontinued. An outrage!) I'd love to see you recreate Garibaldi Biscuits. They're from England, and are similar to the old Sunshine Golden Fruit cookies.
Id love to see you do wagon wheels
I've never liked Gansitos 😅 born and raised in Mx I prefer pan dulce.. Eating them cold makes the artificial taste better
You need to make Sonho de Valsa from Brasil
Freeze the ones you made see if they hold up. That’s the real test
My suggestion for a future episode is Ballerina biscuits from Sweden
So, the cake fell even when it cooled upside down. Would it have fallen even more right side up? Honestly just curious.
Love the tip about the film on top.
Thank you for this!!! Love Gansito!!! ❤❤❤
Mexican here. It made me drool cuz I also think they're too sweet haha but yes, try them frozen and also… what about Bubulubu? 👀 next challenge?
OMG I NEEEDED THIS SOOOO BAAAAAD
I think , just by watching the way you bake these and the ingredients used. I would definitely buy urs instead . I bet they probably taste better.
Pd You are also right … they are waaaay too sweet!
❤
Homemade morochas plis
Claire should make some arcoiris cookies
I would love to see you try and make Caplico ice cream cookies for this series!