Traditional Portuguese desserts: Toucinho Do Céu

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Toucinho Do Céu


       Toucinho Do Céu, translated literally as "Bacon from Heaven", is a delicious Portuguese almond cake, originating in the Guimarães region of Portugal. It is translated as Bacon from Heaven for two reasons. First, because it uses pork lard to make the cake and secondly, because it is unbelievably delicious. It is one of the most popular and traditional Portuguese dessert, typically seen at many restaurants, and any festivals or events. This is because of its unbelievable flavor coming from such simplicity, making it an integral Portuguese dessert making.

       Most Portuguese desserts use egg yolk and sugar. Why mostly egg yolks? It's because the egg whites are used to clarify wine (like a filter), acting like a brush to sweep out impurities. The wine makers, in the local region, would save the yolks and give them to the nuns at the convents, who make desserts, which were sold, to raise money for the poor.

       There are different versions of this classic dessert sold in pastry shops all over Portugal. There is one made with almonds and one made with gila, a sweet pumpkin jelly.

Toucinho Do Céu with pumpkin jelly
Toucinho Do Céu with almonds



A Little story about Toucino Do Céu

       A convent in the city of Murça, Portugal, is rumored to have first invented this version for the dessert using gila. Some believe the recipe came from the convent of Santa Clara in Guimarães, Portugal. The convent closed in 1910, but 3 displaced nuns carried on the traditional recipes by making pastries to support themselves.

Convent of Santa Clara in Guimarães


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