Christmas deserts and sweets in Spain

One of the things that everyone looks forward to during the Christmas season are the Christmas sweets! As we've said before, Spain might be a small country but each region is like a country unto itself. The food is merely a reflection of the great variety of cultures that exist here. Christmas in Spain is another reflection of that. Christmas is celebrated differently depending on the region you are in. A great example of this: Christmas sweets! Let's take a look at a few of the most typical and traditional ones:

Mantecados from Vitoria.
Characterized by kneading the dough with lard. 

Marzipan from Toledo.

Pan de Cádiz.
This is a marzipan treat filled with candied fruit that is
also called the 'Turrón de Cádiz'. 

Polvorones de almendra from Seville.
Almond shortbread. 

Roscón de Reyes from Madrid.
Although this dessert is now widespread throughout Spain, in Madrid they prefer it
with a whipped cream filling. It is traditionally eaten for 3 Kings Day,
on January 6 after the family dinner. 

Tronco de Navidad from Barcelona. The Christmas Log.
This cake is rolled with chocolate in the shape of a
tree trunk, remeniscent of another Catalan Christmas tradition:
'Caga Tio'. A few days before Christmas, the kids gather around a
big log covered by a blanket. The blanket hides gifts for the children.
They sing a traditional song while they beat the log with a stick
and then discover that the log (tió) has left them presents. 

Turrón from Alicante.
Although its origins are in Alicante, turron is now eaten
throughout Spain. This traditional sweet is a hard nougat
(you break it apart with a pestle or something similar)
and it's main ingredient is almonds. 

Contact us for more information or to book one of our ChristmasTours:

The Spanish Touch

1580 E. Butler Pike
Ambler, PA 19002

Toll free: 1-888-480-0013
E-mail: info@thespanishtouch.com