Welcome to the world of Portuguese sweets and desserts, where every bite is a journey to flavor town and every calorie is worth it. In this blog post, we’ll be exploring the delicious world of Portuguese treats that will make your taste buds dance with joy and your waistline expand with happiness. Portugal is known for many things: beautiful beaches, historic cities, and Cristiano Ronaldo’s abs. But one thing that often gets overlooked is the country’s amazing sweets and desserts.

From egg-based custard tarts to almond-filled pastries, Portugal has a sweet treat for every taste.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “I’m on a diet. I can’t indulge in sweets.” But let me tell you something: life is short and dessert is delicious. So put down that celery stick and pick up a pastel de nata. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you.

In this blog post, we’ll be exploring some of the most famous Portuguese sweets and desserts. We’ll take a look at their history, their ingredients and most importantly, their taste. So sit back, loosen your belt buckle and get ready for a mouth-watering journey through the world of Portuguese sweets and desserts.

Portuguese Desserts

Pastel de Nata

They are puff pastry filled with a cream that is prepared with egg yolk, sugar and very soft milk. You can find them everywhere (we were almost addicted to the ones we saw selling in the market near the hotel, for just 0.20!), but the most famous are, without a doubt, the Pastéis de Belém, which are prepared in a super famous pastry shop in Lisbon.

Portuguese Desserts: Toucinho do Céu

Toucinho do Céu is the traditional Portuguese dessert has a rich history and a name that translates to “bacon from heaven” – how fun is that?
Toucinho do céu originated in Portuguese convents and is part of a category of sweets known as “conventual sweets.”

The original recipe was made with pork lard instead of butter, giving it its unique name. The dessert is made with a base of eggs
and sugar and has an intense yellow color.

There are many variations of toucinho do céu throughout Portugal, with some regions using different ingredients or techniques. One popular variation is from Alentejo, which uses spices in its recipe. Despite its variations, the core ingredients remain the same: sugar, eggs, and almonds. Some recipes also include gila jam (a type of squash jam).

Portuguese Desserts

Bola de Berlim

Bola de Berlim is a popular treat in Portugal and can be found in many pastry shops around the country. The dough is fluffy on the outside and fried until golden brown.
It’s then sprinkled with sugar for the finishing touch.

Making Bola de Berlim at home can be a bit challenging, but it’s definitely worth it if you’re up for the task.

The dough is made with flour, sugar, butter, eggs, yeast, milk, and a pinch of salt. The pastry cream filling can be made with milk, sugar, flour, and egg yolks.

Once the dough has been prepared and allowed to rise, it’s shaped into balls and fried until golden brown. The balls are then sliced in half and filled with the pastry cream. The result is a delicious treat that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.

Encharcada de Évora

This dessert is of conventual origin and its recipes vary between the convents of Évora, Beja, and Mourão, with Évora being the most common of them all.

Encharcada de Évora is made with sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, lemon peel, and egg yolks. The sugar and water are boiled together with the cinnamon and lemon peel until they reach a pearl stage.

Egg yolks are then added to the mixture and cooked until they are set but still have a bit of syrup.

The mixture is then poured into a deep dish, sprinkled with cinnamon, and placed in a hot oven to toast. The result is a delicious dessert that’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat with a unique flavor and texture, Encharcada de Évora is definitely worth trying.

Leite creme

Leite Creme is a delicious Portuguese dessert that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth. This creamy and irresistible dessert is one of the most popular in the country and can be found in many national restaurants.

Leite Creme is made with simple ingredients such as milk, egg yolks, sugar, flour, lemon peel, and cinnamon sticks. The milk is boiled with the cinnamon and lemon peel to infuse the flavors.

The sugar and flour are then mixed with the egg yolks to create a smooth mixture. This mixture is then added to the milk and cooked until it thickens.

Once the mixture has thickened, it is poured into a dish and allowed to cool. The dish is then sprinkled with sugar and burned with a kitchen torch or iron to create a crispy sugar crust on top. This adds a delightful crunch to the creamy dessert.

Leite Creme is a versatile dessert that can be enjoyed on its own or served with fresh fruit or a drizzle of honey. It’s perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth and is sure to impress your guests.

Queijadas de Sintra

Queijadas de Sintra: a delicious treat that will make you forget all about your diet and have you saying “calories, who?” in no time. These little tarts are a traditional sweet from the majestic town of Sintra, Portugal.

They’re made with cheese, egg and cinnamon and have a crunchy outer layer that will make your taste buds dance with joy.

Now, you might be thinking “cheese in a dessert? That’s madness!” But trust me, it’s a match made in heaven. The cheese adds a subtle savory flavor that perfectly balances out the sweetness of the tart. And let’s not forget about the cinnamon. Oh, the cinnamon. It adds a warm and comforting flavor that will make you feel like you’re being hugged by a giant teddy bear.

The best part? You can find these tarts at Piriquita or Queijada da Sapa, two pastry shops in Sintra that have been preparing this local delicacy for over 200 years! That’s right, these tarts have been around for longer than your great-great-grandparents.
Talk about standing the test of time.

You can read: Melhores doces do mundo: conheça 15 para você experimentar nas suas viagens