Portuguese Cakes

Considered to be Madeira's oldest dessert, bolo de mel is a cake made with honey, almonds, walnuts, cinnamon, and other spices. This richly spiced cake is thought to have been invented in the 15th century, during the expansion of sugar plantations... READ MORE

Bolo Rei (lit. King’s cake) is a staple Portuguese dessert that is traditionally prepared and consumed during the Christmas holidays, from the 25th of December until the 6th of January. This round cake with a hole in the middle is typically ... READ MORE

Pão de Ló de Ovar may be the most famous Portuguese cake, dating back to the 18th century when it was made in convents by nuns. The earliest written evidence about this sponge cake dates back to 1781, in a book called Irmandade d... READ MORE

Toucinho do céu is one of many Portuguese sweets that were initially prepared at convents. In its simplest form, this traditional cake combines sugary syrup, lard, ground almonds, and a hefty amount of egg yolks, while the common additions ... READ MORE

Bolo-Rainha, translating to "Queen Cake" in English, is a traditional cake that is closely related to the more commonly known Bolo Rei, or "King Cake." It is especially popular during the Christmas season and the festivities of the Epiphany (Dia d... READ MORE

This Portuguese dessert combines sponge cake and creamy, sweet custard. Unlike similar desserts, the sponge cake in guardanapos is cut into squares, before it is filled with custard and folded in half. The custard is usually flavored with vanilla ... READ MORE

This light Portuguese sponge cake is prepared with fig-leaf squash, which is locally known as chila or gila. The cake combines already prepared squash jam or raw mashed squash with eggs, cocoa, and ground almonds, and the whole d... READ MORE

Hailing from Algarve, this traditional cake combines ground almonds, eggs, butter, and chila jam, which is prepared with fig-leaf squash that is locally known as chila or gila. The cake comes in many varieties which can be spiced... READ MORE

Pão de ló de Alfeizerão is a traditional sponge cake made with eggs, sugar, flour, and a touch of brandy. Known for its extremely light and fluffy texture, it is round with a concave center, and has a soft, creamy interior. Th... READ MORE

Morgado de figo is a traditional dessert from the Algarve region of Portugal, made with a dough of roasted figs, toasted almonds, sugar, and chocolate powder, often flavored with fennel, lemon zest, and cinnamon. It is typically shaped like a smal... READ MORE