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 with something sweet.
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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!
Que ricooooo!
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!
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..Currently
Yeah, I’m not a huge fan, either! What’s typical in Zamora, sweets-wise?
Oooh, aceitadas (http://la-cocina-paso-a-paso.blogspot.com.es/2006/05/aceitadas-zamoranas.html), made with anis and very hard, so much the better to dip them in coffee/tea/milk. I don’t actually like anis, so I don’t like these too much.
Cañas zamoranas, cream filled hojaldre (http://www.recetin.com/canas-zamoranas-de-hojaldre-y-crema.html).
Rebojos: http://www.espesaavedra.com/2010/12/rebojos-zamoranos.html
I’m not a huge Spanish-style-dessert fan, but I do love marzipan! Studying abroad in Toledo introduced me to it, and yummm!
Kaley [Y Mucho Más] recently posted..Not Just a Flyover
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 Toulousse
Agreed! It took us a week to finish just six, as we were taking little nibbles.