Spanish Almond Cake (Tarta de Santiago)

This traditional recipe is a simple but delicious sweet treat to have after any meal or with a cup of coffee. It needs one bowl and comes together with eggs, sugar, almond flour and vanilla which keeps the cake moist, tender and fresh for days. It happens to be flourless hence gluten free.

Story time: I first tried this cake years ago when I was young all thanks to my aunt who is a nun (Sister Catherine), she was part of a convent with nuns in Bombay who were from Spain and one of them would make this cake, which she learned to make and shared with us. As a child I was in love, the cake was so soft and tender and tasted so delicious. The access to “almond flour” was not there back then and they would just grind almonds into a powder in the blender and sift it, same with the sugar – there was no access to castor or fine sugar, they would have to grind granulated sugar. But it was one of the most nostalgic recipes for me growing up.

Coming back to present day: I am desperately in search of comfort through nostalgic recipes that created memories of joy, hence sharing this recipe only seemed fitting. Now its strange because I have been making this cake for years and never thought of sharing a recipe for it. However here we are. It is a wonderful treat to make and have in your kitchen so you have something delicious to nibble on all through the week. Also you could take it to a dinner party as well – its naturally gluten and fat free making it appealing to most. So lets get to it.

What is Spanish almond cake?

Spanish almond cake or Tarta de Santiago (St. James Cake) is a simple almond cake made with eggs, sugar, almond flour and vanilla extract. There are many variations where some recipes use orange or lemon zest to add an additional layer of flavor while others use almond extract, cinnamon powder or even cardamom powder but I kept this one classic and simple. A fat pinch of salt makes it even better. The cake dates back to to 1577 from the middle ages. The cake is meant to carry the cross of a legend on the top which is featuring a stencil of the Cruz de Santiago (Cross of Saint James), Representing St James, it comes from the region of Galicia and it is named after Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Galicia which in turn honors Saint James (Santiago in Spanish), the patron saint of Spain.

What ingredients needed to make Spanish almond cake?

This ancient Spanish cake uses eggs, sugar, almond flour/almond meal. However many recipes have used various flavor additions like vanilla, orange/lemon zest, cinnamon powder etc. If you are using fresh zest, make sure to rub it into the sugar before whisking with the eggs to extract maximum flavor. The cake is dusted with powdered sugar on the top.

What equipment do you need to make Spanish almond cake?

The cake batter is made with a large mixing bowl and whisk. A silicon spatula helps scrape down the sides of the bowl. Bake the cake in an 8inch round tin lined with baking paper and oil in an oven.

How to serve and store leftover Spanish almond cake?

The cake is served dusted with powdered sugar on top but it is delicious with a cup of coffee or tea. Alternatively you can serve this with a dollop of whipped cream and macerated strawberries/fresh apricots/blackberries which would be delicious here. I also like is with blueberry jam and a pouring on heavy cream.

Looking for more easy cake recipes?

Now that we have covered how to make this cake recipe, you can have a look at the recipe video on my socials but let’s get to it. Don’t forget to follow along for more fun recipe inspiration.

If you try this recipe out, don’t forget to share it with me on pinterest & instagram so I can see how it turned out. I’d love nothing more than to chat with you on your cooking/baking.