Skip to main content
Top view of Tarta de Santiago, next to a pack of Billington's Golden Caster Sugar, next to two cups of tea
15Total Time
25Prep Time
40Bake Time
8Serves
Easy

Tarta de Santiago

45 Reviews

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.

15Total Time
25Prep Time
40Bake Time
8Serves
Easy

Method

  1. Step 1:

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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. Step 4:

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

  5. Step 5:

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

  6. 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.

  7. Step 7:

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

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)

Utensils

  • 28cm
  • 11in cake tin

Nutritional Information

per 96g
  • 400cal Energy
  • 21g Fat
  • 2.4g of which Saturates
  • 37g Carbohydrates
  • 36g of which Sugars
  • 13g Protein
  • 0.16g Salt

Great recipes and more at BakingMad.com

Exclusive gifts and kits to take your baking to the next level Competitions and baker of the month prizes More than 1,000 recipes to try.