Picarones are addictively good, and not just because they are fried dough. They have an intriguing spicy sweet flavor, kind of like a spice cake, but they are crispy and warm and dripping with syrup. They are probably an adaptation of buñuelos, but they evolved into something quite different and unique.

The runny dough is shaped into lopsided rings and deep-fried. Experienced picarón makers use only one hand to throw perfect rings of dough into the oil, but don't worry if it takes some practice