Prepare A Delicious Santiago Cake At Home

In the north of Spain, more specifically in Galicia, there is a typical, easy-to-make dessert that is worth trying. It is the delicious Santiago cake, which basically consists of 25% eggs and 50% almonds. 

It can be enjoyed in many local pastries, pastries and traditional food. But in the hostels that receive the pilgrims who make the Camino de Santiago, it is prepared with a very special touch.

For this reason, all recipes try to match or even exceed this flavor. Which is why some choose to add a few drops of sweet wine, brandy or pomace liqueur to the recipe.

Go ahead and make your own version and enjoy the delicious Santiago cake. We assure you that you will really enjoy both the process and the final result. In addition, you will be able to take a piece of Galician tradition to the palate.

A very easy recipe to prepare

Before explaining the recipe, a curiosity that has to do with the decoration of the cake. Among the icing sugar you can see the shape of the  cross of Santiago. This design was incorporated by José Mora Soto, a well-known pastry chef, in 1924. His intention was to give the dessert a distinctive and, above all, very Galician touch.

Ingredients

To prepare enough servings for about 8-10 people, you will need the following :

• 1 pinch of salt.
• 3 eggs (180 g).
• Lemon zest.
• 3 egg yolks (90 g).
• 1 cup of butter (150 g).
• 2 cups of almonds (200 g).
• 2 and a half cups of sugar (265 g).
• 1 tablespoon of icing sugar (10 g).
• 1 and a half cups of wheat flour (165 g).
• ½ teaspoon of vanilla essence (2 ml).

Preparation

You should start with the base dough, it is necessary to prepare it and then let it rest in the fridge so that it acquires body. Let’s see the steps in detail.

1. Soften the butter in a bowl. If it is not very soft, you can grate it.
2. Add ¾ cup of sugar, the vanilla essence and a pinch of salt. Stir this mixture until smooth.
3. Add an egg and keep stirring.When all the ingredients are well integrated, add the flour. Using your hands, make a very well integrated dough.
4. Wrap this dough in plastic wrap and let it rest in the fridge for 20 to 30 minutes to take shape.
5. While you wait, proceed to prepare the filling.
6. Mix the almonds, the rest of the sugar and the lemon zest.
7. Add two eggs making sure the first is mixed well before adding the second.
8. Then add the 3 egg yolks in the same way, dissolving one by one.
9. Add a tablespoon of butter and stir gently until you get a homogeneous mixture.
10. Return to the base that you have in the fridge and roll it out with a rolling pin.
11. Line a 22 cm circular mold with the base. Remove the excess with a knife and prick with a fork.
12. Pour the filling into the base and bake at 180 ° C for 40 to 45 minutes. Test with a toothpick until it comes out clean. If in one case the surface becomes too browned, cover it with aluminum foil.
13. Allow to cool to room temperature before unmolding.
14. Place a mold of the cross of Santiago and sprinkle with the icing sugar.
15. Take out of the mold and you have your delicious Santiago cake.

Side dishes for your delicious Santiago cake

This cake is an excellent dessert for that casual gathering between friends. For this reason, it is usually accompanied with a good coffee (in its various variants) or a glass of red wine. It can also be enjoyed with an infusion, a glass of milk or a glass of fruit juice.

The truth is that you can enjoy it as you like. Of course, remember that you should take it in moderation, since it includes a high amount of sugar. But everything can be done in moderation. So go ahead and prepare this dessert and share it with whoever you like. We are sure that everyone will love it!