Ponche Segoviano

Ponche Segoviano is a traditional cake originating from Segovia. This layer cake looks like a big rectangle of custard and marzipan that are topped with caramelized sugar which is decorated with a criss-cross design. The recipe of the original cake is a patent-protected secret, but it's probably made with a combination of eggs, sugar, milk, flour, lemon peel, cinnamon, and almonds.

The cake was invented in 1926 by a confectioner named Frutos García Martín at the El Alcázar cafe. It soon became popular in the town, and King Alfonso XIII (who loved the ponche) told the inventor to take the cake to the Universal Exhibition in Barcelona, where it won the gold medal in 1929.