Flores de hojaldre

Flores de hojaldre is a specialty of the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares, consisting of puff pastry (hojaldre) that has been rolled into beautiful shapes of flowers or roses. It is the unique shape of the pastry that has given it its name, which translates to flowers of puff pastry.

At its simplest, flores de hojaldre are distinguished by a light, airy, and flaky texture, and they are usually served dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied by a cup of coffee on the side. Although it's most commonly made in the sweet version, this traditional Spanish pastry can also be savory, depending on the ingredients used for its preparation.

Typical ingredients used for making the sweet flores de hojaldre include thin slices of apples or pears, fruit jam, cinnamon, honey, chocolate, powdered sugar, and cocoa cream, while the savory versions usually contain zucchini, salmon, cheese, bacon, or mushrooms.

Depending on whether it’s sweet or savory, this simple pastry may be enjoyed as a dessert, a sweet or savory snack, or as an appetizer.