Spanish Almond Cake

🌄 Spanish Gluten-Free Almond Cake (Tarta de Santiago)
After a long day of hard work, there’s nothing quite like treating yourself to something sweet—and this traditional Spanish almond cake is just the thing. Known as Tarta de Santiago, this gluten-free delight is simple to make, rich in flavor, and steeped in history.

🥾 A Cake with a Story
Tarta de Santiago is traditionally enjoyed by pilgrims who complete the famous Camino de Santiago—a spiritual and scenic hiking route that ends in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. But you don’t need to hike hundreds of kilometers to enjoy this cake. With just a few ingredients and a little time, you can bring a taste of Spain into your own kitchen.

 
🍋 Ingredients
200g almond flour
50g coarsely ground almonds
250g sugar
5 eggs
½ tsp cinnamon
Zest of 1 lemon
Baking paper (for lining the pan)
 
🧁 Instructions
Preheat your oven to 180°C (356°F).
Line your pan: Instead of greasing, use baking paper to line a 24cm springform pan. This makes cleanup easier and keeps the cake from sticking.
Mix the dry ingredients: In a bowl, combine the almond flour, more coarsely ground almonds, and cinnamon.
Whisk the eggs and sugar: In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the sugar until the mixture becomes light, foamy, and pale yellow.
Add lemon zest: Grate the peel of one lemon into the egg mixture for a fresh citrusy aroma.
Combine: Gently fold the almond mixture into the whisked eggs until fully incorporated.
Pour into the pan: Transfer the batter into your prepared springform pan and smooth the top.
Bake for 40 minutes, or until the top is golden and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool and serve: Let the cake cool before removing it from the pan.

Dust with powdered sugar and stencil a cross of Saint James for a traditional touch or with a cat like in my Vlog;)
 
💡 Baking Tips
Use room temperature eggs for better volume when whisking.
Don’t overmix once you combine the dry and wet ingredients—this keeps the cake light.
Customize the texture: If you prefer a more rustic bite, increase the amount of coarsely ground almonds.
Storage: This cake keeps well for several days in an airtight container and tastes even better the next day.
 
Before we became parents, my husband and I used to go on the most wonderful hikes. This cake brings back memories of those adventures—and now, it’s a delicious way to celebrate everyday victories.