Toucinho do Céu (Portuguese Almond and Egg Yolk Cake)
In short: A dense, golden almond cake made from sugar syrup, ground almonds and egg yolks, rich and moist with a lemon scent. It takes about 1 h 5 min in total and makes 12 servings.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 40 min
- Total
- 1 h 5 min
- Servings
- 12
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Calories
- 260 kcal
Toucinho do céu is a convent-style sweet whose name means bacon from heaven, a nod to the pork fat that older recipes used, though today's cakes contain none. Modern versions rely on ground almonds, a sugar syrup and a generous number of egg yolks, with lemon zest for fragrance. The cake is dense, moist and very sweet, so it is cut into small squares or wedges and served with coffee.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a 22 cm (9 in) round cake pan with the oil and line the base with parchment.
- Boil the sugar and water in a saucepan for 5 to 6 minutes without stirring, until the syrup is slightly sticky between two spoons and reads about 105°C (220°F). Take it off the heat.
- Stir in the ground almonds and lemon zest until you have a thick paste. Let it cool for 10 minutes.
- Whisk the yolks, whole eggs and cornstarch together. Add them to the almond mixture a little at a time, stirring well, then return the pan to very low heat and stir for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Pour the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until golden, the edges are firm and a skewer comes out with moist crumbs.
- Cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then turn out onto a rack. Dust with powdered sugar if you like and cut into small pieces.
Tips
- Use fresh, finely ground almonds. If you grind blanched almonds yourself, pulse them with a spoonful of the sugar so they do not turn oily.
- Traditional versions often add a few spoonfuls of pumpkin or squash jam. Stir in 3 tbsp with the almonds if you have some.
Questions and answers
Why is it called toucinho do céu?
The name means bacon from heaven. Older recipes used pork fat, and the name stuck even though today's cakes are made with almonds, sugar and egg yolks.
Is toucinho do céu gluten-free?
Yes, as written, because it uses ground almonds and cornstarch rather than wheat flour. Check that your cornstarch is labeled gluten-free if you are coeliac.
How long does toucinho do céu keep?
Wrapped well, it keeps for 5 days at room temperature, and the flavor improves after a day. It also freezes for up to 2 months.
How long does it take to make Toucinho do Céu (Portuguese Almond and Egg Yolk Cake)?
About 1 h 5 min in total: 25 min of preparation and 40 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Toucinho do Céu (Portuguese Almond and Egg Yolk Cake)?
About 260 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 26 g of carbohydrates and 14 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 260 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 26 g |
| Fat | 14 g |
| Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 22 g |
| Sodium | 20 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
