Top 27 Spanish Sweet Pastries

Pain au chocolat is a French viennoiserie roll made with a combination of rectangular, yeast-leavened dough and a few chocolate sticks or chocolate ganache. The filled dough is rolled, baked, then served, ideally while still hot or warm. This flaky pastry can be bought at numerous French bakeries and supermarkets. Interestingly, another name for pain au chocolat is chocolatine, and it is mostly used in the southwest of the country. In Bordeaux, there is even a case where customers had to pay more if they ordered a pain au chocolat rather than a chocolatine. It is believed that the southwest stuck with chocolatine because it is similar to the Occitan word chicolatina. Regardless of these "name wars", in France, one should never refer to pain au chocolat as a chocolate croissant.Expand

Ensaimada de Mallorca is a spiral-shaped sweet pastry made with yeast dough that is combined with eggs and lard. This type of pastry has been made on the island of Mallorca since the 17th century and the recipe has remained unchanged to this day. The word ensaïmada comes from saïm, meaning lard, which is the essential ingredient in this recipe. The base recipe for ensaimada de Mallorca is very simple and includes only flour, sugar, eggs, yeast, and water. However, there are many variations of this recipe which had been developed during the centuries, including the likes of those with pumpkin, cream, or chocolate.Expand

Elongated, crispy, crunchy and intensely fragrant, churros consist of deep-fried yeast dough encrusted with sugar. Although some may argue against consuming these sweet treats, warning others about the dangerous effects of sugar and fat on human bodies, the popularity of churros throughout the world doesn't seem to wane. Originally invented by Spanish shepherds who could easily cook them in a pan over an open fire, today these unusually shaped, cinnamon sugar sprinkled twists are most commonly eaten in Spain and Latin America as a hot breakfast food, accompanied by a strong cup of coffee or a cup of thick hot chocolate. Their characteristical shape is achieved by pressing the dough through plastic tubes so it emerges on the other side in thin, ridged ropes. Although churros are a Madrid specialty, the ones found in Seville are often praised because they differ in a lighter and more delicate texture. In Cuba, they may be filled with guava, in Mexico with dulce de leche, and in Uruguay with cheese. Regardless of the varieties, churros are an indulgence that must be tried at least once.Expand

Piononos are traditional Spanish pastries originating from Santa Fé in Granada. This syrupy sponge cake filled with cream and cinnamon is rolled up into a cylinder, drenched with rum-laced syrup, and crowned with toasted cream and sugar. The pastry was invented by pastry chef Ceferino Isla, who wanted to pay tribute to Pope Pius IX (Pio Nono). That's why the pastry has the name pionono and it also visually recalls the Pope – a cylindrical and chubby appearance, served in white paper that represents the cassock, and the upper part which represents the solide with which the Pope covers his crown. Piononos are usually eaten for merienda in the afternoon, with a cup of coffee on the side.Expand

Considered the star of Catalan baked goods, coca is a traditional pastry prepared in a few varieties: sweet, savory, open, and closed. Depending on the variety, coca may take on various shapes and forms and resemble a flatbread, a pizza, or even a cake. The sweet variety usually consists of flour, sugar, butter, and eggs, and it is typically topped or filled with candied fruit, marzipan, cream, or pine nuts. The savory variety is prepared in the same way, but sugar and eggs are replaced by yeast and salt. A wide range of ingredients may go on top or inside savory cocas, including vegetables, fish, meat, and mushrooms, among others. Savory varieties include pizza-like cocas or coques as they’re called in Catalan, such as coca de recapte (topped with vegetables and fish) and coca de xulla (with bacon and other meat). There is also a variety that combines sweet and savory flavors such as coca de llardons, a flat coca which is made with pork cracklings, pine nuts, and sugar. In Spain, special varieties of coca are prepared for almost all important festivities and celebrations, and even national holidays such as La Mercè (Festival of the Virgin of Mercy) and La Diada de Cataluña (National Day of Catalonia) have their own unique cocas. Some of these include coca de San Juan (a sweet cake for the eve of St. John’s Day), mona de Pascua (an Easter cake eaten during the Semana Santa), and coca de reyes (a sweet Christmas cake for the Day of the Kings).Expand

Rosquillas are traditional Spanish deep-fried donuts, characterized by their fluffy texture and a hole in the middle. They are typically prepared during the Holy Week festivities. Although there are many varieties of rosquillas, the classic ones are prepared with a combination of eggs, sugar, milk, oil, lemon zest, flour, baking powder, and anisette, which imparts a unique flavor to these tasty donuts. Another classic variety of rosquillas is made with sweet muscat wine (moscatel), and those donuts are known as rosquillas de vino. After they have been deep-fried, rosquillas are typically served as a sweet snack, topped with cinnamon sugar. Interestingly, in Honduras, the rosquillas are made with corn masa and curd cheese, and they are not deep-fried but baked in the oven.Expand

Roscos fritos are typical Spanish desserts that are similar to donuts, but they have a different texture and are a bit sweeter than regular donuts. Also, roscos are often rolled in sugar after being fried. The dough is prepared with a combination of eggs, sugar, flour, oil, and grated lemon rind. It is shaped into donut rings, then fried until golden. Although the place of origin of roscos fritos is thought to be in Andalusia, these sweet treats are nowadays consumed throughout the country, especially during the Easter festivities.Expand

Xuixo (pronounced shoo-shoo) is a Catalan dessert originating from the city of Girona. Dating back to the 1920s, this pastry is cylindrical-shaped and filled with the delectable crema catalana. It's probably best to describe it as a cross between a croissant and a churro, but filled with cream. The xuixo is then deep-fried and sprinkled with crystallized sugar. According to the city's lore, an acrobat named Tarlá fell in love with a pastry chef's daughter, and one day when the chef entered his bakery he heard a sneeze, leading him to Tarlá's hiding spot. The acrobat then promised to marry the chef's daughter and gave him a recipe for this special pastry, which was named after the sneeze that gave the acrobat away. Nowadays, xuixo is usually eaten for breakfast or tea, and it's so popular that there is even a xuixo parade that goes through the city's streets, and when it's finished, the participants are given a treat of fresh xuixos.Expand

Flores de hojaldre is a specialty of the Spanish city of Alcalá de Henares, consisting of puff pastry (hojaldre) that has been rolled into beautiful shapes of flowers or roses. It is the unique shape of the pastry that has given it its name, which translates to flowers of puff pastry. At its simplest, flores de hojaldre are distinguished by a light, airy, and flaky texture, and they are usually served dusted with powdered sugar and accompanied by a cup of coffee on the side. Although it's most commonly made in the sweet version, this traditional Spanish pastry can also be savory, depending on the ingredients used for its preparation. Typical ingredients used for making the sweet flores de hojaldre include thin slices of apples or pears, fruit jam, cinnamon, honey, chocolate, powdered sugar, and cocoa cream, while the savory versions usually contain zucchini, salmon, cheese, bacon, or mushrooms. Depending on whether it’s sweet or savory, this simple pastry may be enjoyed as a dessert, a sweet or savory snack, or as an appetizer.Expand

Pestiños are Spanish pastries fried in olive oil. The dough is made with flour, yeast, sesame, and sometimes orange juice and cinnamon. After the dough has been fried, it is traditionally topped with honey or sugar. These crunchy fritters have been prepared during the Holy Week and Christmas since the 16th century. Serve them with sweet wine, tea, hot chocolate, or coffee.Expand

Mantecados Felipe II is one of the most recognizable brands of traditional Spanish mantecados, with an identity deeply rooted in history and artisanal production. Its origin is linked to the 16th century and a story associated with Philip II of Spain, after whom the brand is named, reinforcing its historical and cultural significance. Today, production is managed by Confitería Blancanieves Tejedor, based in Vitoria-Gasteiz, which continues to preserve the original recipe and handcrafted approach. The brand is often regarded as one of the oldest references in the mantecado category in Spain, positioning it as a benchmark product. The recipe relies on a limited number of high-quality ingredients, including wheat flour, powdered sugar, pork lard, and Marcona almonds, resulting in a distinctive crumbly texture and pronounced almond character. Production remains largely artisanal, maintaining the traditional format of individually wrapped small cakes, a presentation that has been preserved for over a century. Rather than focusing on innovation, the brand’s value lies in continuity, combining historical heritage, established ingredients, and traditional craftsmanship. Mantecados Felipe II stands as a reference within Spanish seasonal confectionery, particularly associated with festive periods, while maintaining relevance through its clear connection to origin and long-standing production practices.Expand