Tarte de Santiago

[scruffy1]

One of the most lovely discoveries on the Camino MAY be the Tarte de Santiago however far too often it is a tasteless lump of dough with a sugared cross on the top offered with your coffee or as desert. At its finest this cake can taste like marzipan. Shall we open a thread concerned with cake? Sure!

Tarte de Santiago

225 grams peeled blanched almonds
200 grams sugar
25-50 grams vanilla sugar
5 eggs
Zest from 1 lemon
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons self rising flour
Powdered sugar
Stencil of Santiago cross/sword downloaded from internet
2 tablespoons powdered sugar

Preheat oven 180 degrees. Beat eggs at least five minutes adding a spoonful of the sugars from time to time, should form a ribbon dripping from the beaters after 5 minutes. Add self rising flour and beat another minute. Grind the almonds fine in a food processer and add to mixture. Stir in lemon zest and cinnamon until well mixed. Pour into cake pan 24 centimeters. Bake in pre-heated oven 180 degrees 45 minutes. Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before attempting to remove. When cool place stencil in center of cake hold in place with toothpicks into cake on the edges of the cross to hold straight and sprinkle with powdered sugar. Should be crispy on the crust and soft inside but not too thick. Non-traditionalists may add a tablespoon of rum or amaretto likewise a thin layer of chocolate may grace the top however this is not the classic Tarte de Santiago!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

More recipes in this thread:
food-on-the-camino-de-santiago/topic9791.html?hilit=tarta#p59285

 

[Mmc_56]

Thanks for posting this recipe ! I am allergic to almonds and probably would have tried this, not realizing they were in it. I love anything sweet, but am careful when I am away in a foreign country, because like this recipe, nuts can be ground up and added, so not noticeable.

 

[t2andreo]

Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a rigid, washable St. James Cross template for decorating a Tarta de Santiago? We've made the cake from a recipe found through the forum. It was wonderful!

However, and as many of you may have already found, the most difficult part of the entire experience is cutting out the paper template that comes with the printed recipes. So, I am hoping there is an easier way.

I will finish my next Camino at the end of May at Santiago. Does anyone know if and where in Santiago de Compostela one might find a plastic, aluminum, or tin template? It does seem rather logical that someone would be making and selling them.

I told my mom I would bring her back a template. Cutting out the paper design is beyond her dexterity. Also, the woodworking needed to produce on locally is not an option. So, I am going to scour the Camino Frances for said template.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

 

[miguel_gp]

Or print the paper template on to an acetate sheet rather than paper, cut it out and then you can rinse under the tap each time and reuse.

 

[weekjchammings]

Does anyone know if it is possible to buy a rigid, washable St. James Cross template for decorating a Tarta de Santiago? We've made the cake from a recipe found through the forum. It was wonderful!

However, and as many of you may have already found, the most difficult part of the entire experience is cutting out the paper template that comes with the printed recipes. So, I am hoping there is an easier way.

I will finish my next Camino at the end of May at Santiago. Does anyone know if and where in Santiago de Compostela one might find a plastic, aluminum, or tin template? It does seem rather logical that someone would be making and selling them.

I told my mom I would bring her back a template. Cutting out the paper design is beyond her dexterity. Also, the woodworking needed to produce on locally is not an option. So, I am going to scour the Camino Frances for said template.

Thanks in advance for any and all suggestions.

Yes I bought a set of three in a general gift shop in the old part of town down one of the streets south of the Cathedral ( metal ).

 

[fraluchi]

One of the most lovely discoveries on the Camino MAY be the Tarte de Santiago however far too often it is a tasteless lump of dough with a sugared cross on the top offered with your coffee or as desert.

Thank you for the recipe of this delightful tart, which has been corrupted ad nauseam along the Camino.

 

[t2andreo]

Thank you for the recipe of this delightful tart, which has been corrupted ad nauseam along the Camino.

Having sampled many of the Tarta de Santiago offerings along the Camino Frances, and then having had the REAL THING prepared by the best cook in the world - my mother - I think I know the reason for Fraluchi's comment.

I think, and this is my opinion based on repeated and frequent observation and "field tests," that many places replaced the authentic recipe with a simple yellow cake mix, flavored with almond extract.

To the pilgrims and tourists, as long as the top is browned (done with egg white brushed on) and has the St. James Cross shape dusted with confectionary sugar, they think they are having authentic Tarta de Santiago. In any event, I am partial to anything baked. So, I liked any and all versions I had. No harm was done...

It was not until I obtained this recipe via the forum, and asked mom to make it, did I fully appreciate the difference. See this link: http://www.thevintagemixer.com/2013/03/tarta-de-santiago-recipe-a-spanish-almond-cake-from-spain/

I know that everyone has an option on what the PERFECT Tarta de Santiago would be. But to me, this seems the best. I know it must be good, because my mother, who has been baking all manner of things for 70 years says so..PERIOD.

That is why she asked me to find a template for the Cross if possible. She wants to include it in her library of favorite recipes.

I hope this helps someone...

 

[t2andreo]

Yes I bought a set of three in a general gift shop in the old part of town down one of the streets south of the Cathedral ( metal ).

Thank you very much for the lead on finding the Santiago Cross template.

You don't happen to recall the street the shop was on do you?

Also, was it like a tourist gift shop / souvenir shop OR was it a general merchandise oriental Bazaar type of shop?

Thanks again.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I hate to be a poop, but I just didn't like that Santiago tarte at all.
I must have had the tasteless version...

 

[weekjchammings]

Thank you very much for the lead on finding the Santiago Cross template.

You don't happen to recall the street the shop was on do you?

Also, was it like a tourist gift shop / souvenir shop OR was it a general merchandise oriental Bazaar type of shop?

Thanks again.

Hi andreo,

I'm sure it was the latter quite a way down from the Cathedral on your right hand side.................Rua do Franco, Rua do Vilar or Rua Nova.
Although I bed to disagree with Anniesantiago....................You can't beat a good piece of tarte or even tart................Happy hunting.

 

[t2andreo]

Hi andreo,

I'm sure it was the latter quite a way down from the Cathedral on your right hand side.................Rua do Franco, Rua do Vilar or Rua Nova.
Although I bed to disagree with Anniesantiago....................You can't beat a good piece of tarte or even tart................Happy hunting.

Personally, in 60 plus years, I never met a baked dessert I did NOT like. I suppose that is my cross to bear...

So, I will hunt-and-peck in every touristy gift shop starting from the Cathedral on Rua do Vilar, Rua do Franco, and parallel streets - to the extent that any two roads can possibly be parallel in Santiago.

Thank you again for the general area.

 

[fraluchi]

[...]I will hunt-and-peck in every touristy gift shop starting from the Cathedral on Rua do Vilar, Rua do Franco, and parallel streets [...]

There is a tiny place, not far from the Praterías, which offers freshly baked "tarta". Walk to the end of Rua do Vilar, keep turning left (past the supermarket) and into the beginning of Rua Nova. A small, family run, bread and confectionary shop on the left.

 

[StuartM]

Strangely I made Tarte de Santiago years ago, long before I'd even considered walking the Camino. Never even made the connection and promptly forgot about it until I started walking in 2012.

There is an interesting discussion in one of Claudia Roden's books where she theorises that it might actually have been an old Jewish recipe that survived the diaspora.

Thank you very much for the lead on finding the Santiago Cross template.

You don't happen to recall the street the shop was on do you?

Also, was it like a tourist gift shop / souvenir shop OR was it a general merchandise oriental Bazaar type of shop?

Thanks again.

There is a cookwares shop on Rua das Orfas which had them. They sold pots, pans, knives, etc., and had a selection of stainless steel St James crosses in the window. If I recall right it was on the left hand side, near the bottom (Plaza Galicia end) assuming you were facing north. This was a couple of years ago so who knows if it is still there with the Spanish economy as it is.

 

[Camino Yogini]

The shop that StuartM mentions was still there this past November. They had the set of St James Crosses in MendiWalker's link. Definitely easier (and less lopsided!) than the paper stencils I used to cut out!

 

[t2andreo]

Thank you very much for the additional lead. I've made a note of the possible locations.

 

[Camino Yogini]

T2andreo,
You don't have to schlep into every two-bit tourist shop in old Santiago. As StuartM rightly pointed out, the Cruz de Santiago templates are in a housewares shop and I only remember seeing two such shops (I first saw the templates in the window when the shop was closed).