Sweet treats always go down, well, a treat. And one thing’s for sure: there’s no lack of them in the Costa del Sol. Christmas specialities from Malaga include all sorts of desserts, pastries, biscuits and cakes that will satisfy your cravings for something sweet. In this post we’re going to list a selection of the best sweet treats from Malaga that you’ll want pride of place on your Christmas table. Keep reading to discover a wonderful way to sweeten up your festive season.
1. Pestiños
This delicious Christmas pastry really waves the flag for local cuisine. Pestiños de vino dulce are a Christmas sweet treat from Malaga par excellence. During the festive months, you’ll find them in every bakery across the Costa del Sol. Joyfully sweet and wonderfully boozy (thanks to the wine and anís), pestiños are a must-have on any festive table.
The traditional recipe features either honey or white or sweet wine. But whichever type you pick, pestiños have something in common: they’ll get you feeling nice and warm in no time. If you also love pastries with a filling, borrachuelos will be your new favourite. A version of a pestiño, borrachuelos are delicious pastries made from sweet potato or cabello de ángel, though in reality they can be made with anything you fancy.
2. Rosco de vino
Pestiños and borrachuelos are just the start of the traditional sweet treats consumed during the festive period in Malaga. Roscos de vinos are another tradition from the Costa del Sol. They are particularly popular in Monda, Yunquera and in and around Sierra de las Nieves natural park.
So what makes a good rosco de vino? The wine they are steeped in (you might start to be noticing a pattern here…). Given the rich wine making tradition in the province of Malaga, roscos de vinos are often made with some of the best local vintages. They are usually made with a sweet wine, or moscatel, but they can also be made with a good Pedro Ximénez.
3. Las yemas del Tajo
In the town of Ronda you’ll come across another traditional sweet treat from Malaga province. Yemas del Tajo are small cakes covered in icing sugar that melt in the mouth. This much-loved Christmas treat is made from eggs (hence its name, ‘yema’ means ‘yolk’) and syrup. The present-day recipe was patented by La Campana, a sweet shop, in 1934.
Source: Museo del Bandolero, Ronda
4. Turrón de almendras
Almonds are a prized nut in this land of mountains, brigands and the sea. They are used to make another traditional Christmas treat: turrones de almendra or almond nougat. If you’ve never tried it before, now is the time: they never disappoint.
All sorts of flavours of turrones can be found in the province, though they are all part of a shared gastronomic history and tradition. Casa Mira in Malaga has many years’ experience making supreme quality nougat and Ronda is also known for its delicious turrones. Give them a try!
5. Polvorones de Antequera
Last but by no means least, polvorones are a Christmas classic. Antequera bears the title of the home to the production of mantecados and polvorones, which adorn Christmas tables up and down the province during the festive season. Almond polvorones are the crowning glory of Christmas gastronomy from Malaga.
The sweet is prepared using traditional recipes from iconic places, such as Convento de San José, and is usually sprinkled with icing sugar. Unlike mantecado, which is made with lard, polvorones de Antequera are oval-shaped and filled with crunchy almond slices. La Antequerana and Convento de Belén are other famous places that make the sweet, keeping the Costa del Sol - and the whole of Spain! - stocked up over Christmas.
We hope that these delicious treats have inspired you to delve into the world of Christmas specialties from Malaga province. If you’re already hungry for more, why not also discover empanadilla de cabello de ángel and bienmesabe, which is made in convents in Antequera. So now comes the big question: which is your favourite?
