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A bag of Billington's Golden Caster Sugar next to a Tarta de Santiago shot from above with a couple of mugs of coffee to the right.
Top view of Tarta de Santiago next to cups of tea, and a plate with forks ready to serve
Tarta de Santiago with three slices cut out of it, served on a linen cloth, next to two cups of tea and cutlery ready to serve
Close up slice of Tarta de Santiago dusted with icing sugar, on a plate with a fork with a bite taken out of it

Tarta de Santiago Recipe

PREP

25 mins

BAKE

40 mins

TOTAL

1h 5m

Serves 8

Easy

About the bake

Originating from Galicia in North-Western Spain during the time of medieval pilgrimage, this tart is traditionally decorated with the St James cross. With its wonderfully moist almond and citrus flavours, this torte makes a perfect dessert or partner to an afternoon café con leche (milky coffee). This recipe was taken from World's best cakes by Roger Pizey, published by Jacqui Small.

This bake is a perfect option for a gluten free dessert to share with friends or family as its made with ground almonds instead of flour.

8 Ingredients

7 Steps

GF

Gluten Free

Ingredients

  • 260g Almonds (ground)
  • 255g Billington's Unrefined Golden Caster Sugar
  • 1 Orange(s) (zest only)
  • 1 Lemon (zest only)
  • 6 Egg(s) (free range) (separated)
  • 0.5 tsp Almond extract
  • 0.5 tsp Cinnamon
  • Icing sugar (to dust)

Nutritional information per 96g serving

  • 400kcal Energy
  • 21g Fat
  • 2.4g of which Saturates
  • 37g Carbohydrates
  • 36g of which Sugars
  • 13g Protein
  • 0.16g Salt

Method


  • Step 1

    Preheat the oven to 170°C (fan 150°C, gas mark 3) and grease an 28cm (11in) springform cake tin.  


  • Step 2

    Cream 180g (6½oz) of the sugar, zests and egg yolks together until light and fluffy. Next, stir in the ground almonds, almond extract and the cinnamon.


  • Step 3

    In a separate bowl, beat the eggs whites with the remaining sugar until stiff. Add about one-quarter of the egg whites into the thick almond mixture and beat. Add a further quarter and repeat. Add the remaining egg white mixture and fold in until fully combined.


  • Step 4

    Turn the mixture into the prepared tin and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes.


  • Step 5

    Remove from the oven, allow to cool for 10 minutes in the tin and then turn out onto a wire rack.


  • Step 6

    To follow the time-honoured tradition of decoration, find the shape of the St James cross using the internet and print it out. Cut out the middle of the cross to use as a stencil.


  • Step 7

    Once the cake is cooled, dust the cake with icing sugar and serve straightaway

“This cake is amazing, I have tried other recipes in the past and this one is my favourite - I've made it so many times. Perfect taste and texture, its absolutely delicious. Thank you so much for this recipe!!”