Portuguese Desserts

Portuguese desserts, usually quite sweet and high in egg content, have never been a nightly habit. But bring on a special occasion or holiday, and you can find the dessert table over laden with puddings of rice, custard, meringue, platters of cookies and cakes and of course sweet bread, some will call “massa sovada” and others “pão doce”. Usually the flavoring consists of grated lemon peel or orange peel and of course cinnamon. Today you will find some cooks using vanilla more frequently. Cookies are typically brushed with beaten egg wash. They aren’t usually fancy but they’re the perfect match with hot tea or coffee. Modern versions are including the use of baking powder in recipes that previously relied solely on a beaten quantity of eggs for leavening. Eggs are separated, yolks incorporated into the batter and the stiffly beaten whites are folded in the batter before pouring into the prepared cake pan.

Port Wine Cake

Port Wine Cake (Bolo de Vinho) is one cake I reserve to bake for a special occasion. This cake is flexible.  Great ruby port wine can be used on the fly, if that is all you have, but port can make this cake really delicious. Serves 10 …

Sweet Puff Pillows - Travesseiras

Serve  Sweet Puff Pillows - Travesseiras as a light dessert or as a snack with an espresso! This delicately light pillow of puff pastry is filled with the traditional almond egg sweet cream, but you can update it by using a custard cream, lemon…
Pastels de Belem
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Pastels de Belem/Custard Tarts of Belem

Pasteis de Belem is a highly sought after dessert. The secret recipe of these famous custard tarts of the Belem district of Lisbon is well protected.  Throngs of visitors to the bakery line up to enjoy the luscious custard tarts. If you…

Fritters (Filhós)

These Fritters (Filhós) are different.  Rather than a dough that is stretched and deep fried, these are more of a very thick batter that is spoon dropped into hot oil. The finishing touch is, of course, a dusting of cinnamon and sugar. Beat…
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Cavacas (Sweet Iced Popovers)

Cavacas (Sweet Iced Popovers) are a very popular dessert or snack, especially around Christmas and Carnival time.   For an added treat, drizzle a tablespoon of the Portuguese Beirao liquor. Makes about a 12 or more depending on the size…