Pastel de nata is a traditional egg custard tart that is popular throughout the world. It is believed that for the best result, the filling should not be too sweet and should not have flavors of lemon nor vanilla. Instead, the tarts should be sprinkled with cinnamon and, ideally, paired with a cup of coffee.
Originally, this treat was made before the 18th century by Catholic monks and nuns in Santa Maria de Belém in Lisbon. The tart was made from leftover egg yolks that were used in the clearing of wines and starching of clothes. Later on, the clerics made a deal with a nearby bakery to start selling pastel de nata commercially, and the product was a huge success.
VARIATIONS OF Pastel de nata
MOST ICONIC Pastel de nata
View morePastel de Belém is a traditional egg custard tart and a predecessor to the famous pastel de nata. The tarts are made with a pastry shell that's filled with a combination of milk, eggs, sugar, lemon, and cinnamon. The first recipe for pastel de Belém dates back to 1837 when it was produced by the monks of the Jerónimos monastery.
Only the custard tarts produced at the Fábrica Pastéis de Belém can be called pastel de Belém, while all the others, produced by other patisseries in Lisbon are called pastel de nata. Regardless of the name, these tarts can be served hot or cold and in 2009, The Guardian listed pastel de Belém as one of the 50 'best things to eat' in the world.
MOST ICONIC Pastel de Belém
MAIN INGREDIENTS
This delicious German sweet pastry is traditionally served with a cup of coffee on the side. Initially made only in the Hamburg area, it is now also available in other German cities. The original recipe for these little pastries includes flour, butter, milk, yeast, and sugar, with a filling consisting of sugar and cinnamon.
However, raisins, chocolate, or pumpkin seeds may also be added. The dough is folded multiple times and glazed with butter, developing a sticky coating and rich flavor in the process. The name of this dish is possibly related to the French, who had occupied Hamburg during Napoleon's rule.
MOST ICONIC Franzbrötchen
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Austrian cuisine prides in their old traditional pastry desserts, and the delicate strudels are surely the most popular variety. Even though it is not as famous as the apple filled version, topfenstrudel is regarded as one of Austria’s favorites.
Made with soft, mildly sweetened quark cheese which is folded with the elastic and almost see-through dough or puff pastry, the strudel is baked until a crispy golden crust is formed on top. Raisins, apricots, and peaches are occasionally added to the quark cheese mixture, which is gently spiced with vanilla or lemon.
MOST ICONIC Topfenstrudel
View moreThese crispy, sweet treats are made with a combination of puff pastry and a rich cream that consists of almonds and egg yolks. Travesseiros, which translates to pillows or cushions, is a signature dessert of Sintra. They are produced and sold at Piriquita, the same bakery where they were invented in the 1940s, and the original recipe is still a closely guarded secret.
Travesseiros are best served freshly baked and lightly dusted with powdered sugar.
MOST ICONIC Travesseiros
Pirukas is a typical Estonian snack consisting of dough pockets filled with a variety of ingredients. It can be classified into three categories: küpsetatud (small, baked), praetud (small, fried), and plaadipirukad (large, baked).
The dough can be made with a crumbly, flaky puff pastry, or with regular bread dough. The fillings range from meat, ham, and cabbage to rice, mushrooms, and carrots. Small pirukas can be filled with a variety of different ingredients, but the large ones are filled exclusively with cabbage, meat, and carrots.
MOST ICONIC Pirukas
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Creamy, flaky, and delicate, this French dessert can be literally translated as a thousand leaves. Mille-feuille consists of thin layers of pastry and fillings topped with cocoa, almond, or vanilla icing. Fillings may include jam, whipped cream, custard, puréed fruit, or nut paste.
The first recipe for this decadent dessert appeared in La Varenne’s 1651 cookbook Le Cuisinier François. Mille-feuille’s alternative name, the Napoleon, refers not to the emperor but to the Italian city of Naples, which is known for its layered desserts.
MOST ICONIC Mille-feuille
View moreA traditional, sweet Dutch pastry known as appelflap consists of pastry dough that is filled with apples, raisins, sugar, and cinnamon. The dessert is traditionally covered with sugar granules on top. It can be found throughout the country in numerous bakeries or places where coffee and tea are served.
The crispy appelflap is also often served for breakfast as a hot and tasty treat.
MOST ICONIC Appelflap
MAIN INGREDIENTS
Translated as Christmas tart, the Finnish joulutorttu is a traditional, crispy pastry that is usually consumed during the Christmas period. It is prepared with thin puff pastry sheets filled with plum jam, with each corner wrapped to resemble a star or a pinwheel.
Baked until golden brown in color, this festive pastry is usually served dusted with powdered sugar. Apart from Finland, it is also popular in some parts of Sweden, where it is also enjoyed as a traditional Christmas treat.
Jalousies are simple sweet pastries originating from France. They consist of bands of puff pastry filled with either jam or apple purée. They can be large or small. Jalousies are slashed in order to resemble a window shutter or horizontal blinds (also jalousie in French).
Once baked, the pastries are left to cool down to room temperature, and they're then served, sometimes with a scoop of ice cream for the best experience. Nowadays, jalousies are also filled with non-traditional ingredients such as other types of fruit, walnuts, almonds, or mascarpone, and there are even some savory versions filled with potatoes, onions, bacon, and cheese.
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