Taste our sweetest Christmas recipes
Go to content
  1. Discovery Basque Country
  2. Blog Turista Maitea
  3. Blog

Taste our sweetest Christmas recipes

Basque cake
28th October, 2024
Image of some basque cakes

Food and wine

In Euskadi there has always been a very active confectionery tradition, in fact, the first Basque confectioneries date back to the time when sugar and honey were discovered, in the 18th century. 

Our gastronomy not only has magnificent dishes, also has delicious sweets and desserts. The carolina, the Basque Cake, the tiles and cigarettes or the delights of Tolosa are more than well known in our confectionery. 

In addition, some sweets are made solely and exclusively at Christmas, they are typical Christmas foods that cannot be missing from any table. 

Do you want to discover the most exquisite delicacies of these holidays? Well, keep reading the post and save it so you don't miss any on your next visit. 

1. Goxua

This typical dessert means “sweet” in Basque and is eaten upside down: from the bottom up. It is a typical dessert from Vitoria-Gasteiz, although today it has spread throughout the three historical territories. 

It is made up of a base of whipped cream, a layer of sponge cake and another of pastry cream, and this last layer is caramelized with a blowtorch. You can't come to Euskadi and not try it... 

Goxua
Image of Goxua

2. Intxaur-saltsa

It literally means "walnut sauce" in Basque and it is a great tradition to serve it at Christmas. It is made with milk, cream, cinnamon, nuts and little else sugar and can be eaten alone or as an accompaniment to some other dessert. It is also very typical to make nougat by creating a paste from the sauce. 

A recipe that is never missing at Christmas parties. 

Dare to discover Christmas in the Basque Country and taste the typical Christmas sweets! 

3. Compote

Compote is a broth made with a variety of fruit: apples, figs, plums, dried apricots, peaches and pears soaked in water and red wine with a handful of sugar and cinnamon sticks. 

Mix all the ingredients and cook over low heat until the broth thickens. 

4. Marzipan eel

This traditional sweet is not so popular today, but it is still sold in the most traditional confectioneries. It is a round box containing a coiled marzipan eel or snake decorated with candies, chocolate and/or sugar. 

It was a tradition to give it to the most "txikis" of the family. 

Discover where to buy these marvelous sweets:

Cake shops and confectioners

Related posts