Tarta de Santiago is a traditional Spanish almond cake from Galicia, known for its simple ingredients and iconic powdered sugar cross on top. It’s naturally gluten-free and has a soft, slightly dense texture with a rich almond flavor. You’ll often see it served with coffee in cafés across Spain. This cake is all about simplicity – just a few ingredients, but a very distinctive look and taste that makes it feel special.
😌 Difficulty: Easy
⏱️ Preparation time: 10 min
🔥 Cooking time: 30 min
⏳ Total time: 40 min
👥 Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 200 g almond flour
- 200 g sugar
- 4 eggs
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- butter (for greasing)
- powdered sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180°C.
- Grease a round baking pan with butter.
- In a bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until light and slightly fluffy.
- Add lemon zest and cinnamon, mix well.
- Fold in almond flour until fully combined.
- Pour batter into the prepared pan.
- Bake for about 30 minutes until golden and set.
- Let the cake cool completely.
- Place a cross stencil in the center (optional but traditional).
- Dust generously with powdered sugar.
- Remove stencil carefully to reveal the pattern.
SpinThatCuisine Tip 💡
Let the cake cool fully before adding powdered sugar – otherwise it will melt and lose that clean, iconic look.
Print a Tarta de Santiago cross template or draw one on paper, then cut it out carefully to create a simple stencil.
Place it on the cooled cake, dust with powdered sugar, and gently lift it off to reveal the pattern.