Tapa Thursdays: Huesos de Santos

As a self-confessed Halloweenie, I love things spooky, from cemeteries to haunted houses. Lucky for me, Spain celebrates a national holiday, Día de Todos los Santos, or All Saint’s Day, so I can celebrate my Anglo holiday with a day off.

Todos Los Santos is celebrated in the Catholic world on November 1st, where family members of the deceased visit their final resting places. Many cities around Spain have their own traditional fiesta. In a country that loves its reliquía, there could be no other dessert on All Saint’s Day served but huesos de santos. These marzipan pastries are rolled to look like bones and stuffed with egg yolk cream, called  yema, or fig, yogurt or chocolate. It’s kind of like a Spanish type of cannoli, made in a similar way.

What it is: An almond pastry typically eaten during the All Saint’s Day feasts.

Where it’s from: The origins of this sweet are still unknown, but it’s believed they were first made in Madird. Still, their popularity is widespread, making it the de facto treat for the holiday.

Where to get it in Seville: Practically any pastry shop will have huesos de santos between the week leading up to Todos Los Santos and up to a fortnight afterwards. I bought a half-dozen at Cafetería Ochoa (locations on Sierpes, Repúblic Argentina and Eduardo Dato) for 36€/kilo.

Goes perfectly with: a hot coffee with milk. Sevillanos have their afternoon coffee often accompanied by something sweet.

If you like tapas, why not tell me which ones you’d like to see featured on Sunshine and Siestas? Alternately, there are more pictures on Sunshine and Siestas’s Facebook page.

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About Cat Gaa

As a beef-loving Chicago girl living amongst pigs, bullfighters, and a whole lotta canis, Cat Gaa writes about expat life in Seville, Spain. When not cavorting with adorable Spanish grandpas or struggling with Spanish prepositions, she works in higher education at an American university in Madrid and freelances with other publications, like Rough Guides and The Spain Scoop.

Comments

  1. Not quite as anatomically accurate as some of the foods Americans come up with to serve on Haolloween, but I like the idea of it. Adds a bit of fun to the day off!

  2. Que ricooooo!

  3. blast. I love Ochoa (although you know Lidia on San Jacinto is my true love) and I love huesos santos… have one for me, por fa!

  4. I love marzipan so I was so excited to eat these … not so good. We got a variety pack from the panaderia ’round the corner, and there was a chocolate and raspberry flavor? Ewww. I’ll stick with plain marzipan from Toledo from now on!
    Kaley [Y Mucho Más] recently posted..CurrentlyMy Profile

  5. I hadn’t noticed them last year but have been seen them in all the pastelerias here in Vitoria. Thought they were a Basque thing but realize it’s for the holiday. oops. I sampled one and man, they’re sweet. Even the woman told me she didn’t like them, when I asked if they were different flavors to correspond to the various colors…
    Lauren @ roamingtheworld recently posted..Road tripping to ToulousseMy Profile

  6. Literally LOL’d when I saw this post on your Facebook yesterday. Saint’s bones…bahahahaha! But in all seriousness if these are almond-based I have to try them. Do you know if they’re a national treat or only Sevillan/Andalucían?

  7. They even sell the pre-packaged kind at Carrefour! I noticed a huge display of these at the register the other day. Must be that time o´ year!
    Cassandra recently posted..Last-Minute Quest: Usaquén MarketMy Profile

Trackbacks

  1. […] of the glory) and November 1st is Día de Todos los Santos Difuntos (don’t forget to eat your huesos de santos!), so hotels typically up their prices a weeeee […]

  2. […] of the glory) and November 1st is Día de Todos los Santos Difuntos (don’t forget to eat your huesos de santos!), so hotels typically up their prices a weeeee […]

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