The Algarve is famous for its sweets and desserts. From honey cake and almond pie to rice pudding and empanadilhas, these traditional desserts will delight your senses. If you are heading down to this region of Portugal for your next holiday, make sure you try some of the many delicious treats that are made there. These flavorful desserts are inspired by the region’s Moorish past and have been passed down for generations.
Dom Rodrigos
Dom Rodrigos is a traditional dessert made from eggs, cinnamon, almond, and sugar. True icons of Algarve confectionery, these tiny cakes are usually decorated with regional motifs.
Queijinhos de Amêndoas
Queijinhos de amêndoas or “little almond cheeses” are made with eggs, sugar, and almonds. It’s an easy recipe that you can try anytime. This delicious dessert is presented under different shapes and names, and can be found at a full range of restaurants, from cafes and pubs to fine dining venues.
Empanadilhas
Also known as sweet potato fritters, empanadilhas is a mouth watering dessert encased in dough and deep fried to perfection. Its flavor is similar to sweet potato pie. The recipe contains flour, mashed potatoes, whole milk fresh ricotta, salt, cinnamon, and sugar.
Arroz Doce
Arroz Doce is a must for Christmas time parties. This popular rice pudding is a wonderful treat to end any meal. It contains white rice, whole milk, sugar, eggs, and fresh lemon peel. The dessert is usually decorated with cinnamon.
Morgadinhos de Amêndoa
Morgadinhos de Amêndoa or almond cake is a typical dessert from the Algarve. These sweets are made with marzipan, almond dough, and eggs. Give them the shape you want and paint them with food coloring.
Filhós
Filhós or Portuguese fried doughnuts are a traditional Christmas dessert in the Algarve. Varieties of this recipe can be found across the country. They are usually made with flour, eggs, fresh yeast, cinnamon, and sugar. You may also add milk and lemon zest. Many families prepare this dessert all year round.
Queijo de Figo
This flavorful treat is made with the fresh figs that grow abundantly in the Algarve. Even though its name means “fig cheese,” this recipe doesn’t even contain cheese. In order to prepare Queijo de Figo, you need dry figs, almonds, sugar, water, anise seed, powdered chocolate, cinnamon, and lemon peel. These tiny cakes resemble little wheels of cheese. They are very easy to make and a perfect addition to your daily menu.