Sweet Tooth of the Mediterranean

When it comes to what’s for dessert in Spain, the Spanish have a sophisticated and uncomplicated sweet tooth. For instance, the Basque cheesecakes hailing from the Basque region of Spain were quite popular online several years ago. This crust-less, almost burnt cheesecake is made in such a way that it allows the simple ingredients to really shine. If you have never made it before, I recommend this recipe. It may make your holidays a little bit easier to have this delicious recipe on hand!

Churros are also a favorite dessert in Spain. The word “churro” means flour fritter in Spanish. These long strips of fried dough are easy to make and usually are served for breakfast or dessert in Spain. They can be covered with cinnamon and sugar or left plain. The one big difference is that Spanish churros are often served with a cup of sweet melted chocolate for dipping.

But if we want to look at one of the biggest gifts to the dessert world from Spain, we can’t forget marzipan. 

Marzipan, if you don’t know, is a sweet made from ground almonds, sugar and water. It can be molded and shaped into all kinds of amazing designs, shapes and figures and is very popular around the holiday season. 

The history of marzipan is shrouded in mystery and legend but it is believed to have first been created in Toledo, Spain. It is still made there to this day and enjoyed year around. Perhaps brought with the Muslim invaders from the Middle East, Spain began to make this delicious confection. From Spain, marzipan spread out to Europe and became a favorite among the nobility especially during the Middle Ages.