Skip to content

The dessert, Mediterranean

Tarta de Santiago (Spanish almond cake)

Tarta de Santiago is a flourless Galician almond cake flavored with lemon and cinnamon, serving 6 people. It takes 20 minutes of active work and can be fully baked the day before, with only the powdered sugar cross added right before serving. It's very easy to make, costs about €1.80 per person, and success comes down to whipping the eggs well and using a clean stencil for the cross.

Tarta de Santiago, the Galician almond and lemon cake, flourless, with its signature powdered sugar cross on top.

Tarta de Santiago (Spanish almond cake)
For
6 people
Work
20 min
Total time
1 h 20
Prep
Prepared the day before
Difficulty
Very easy
Cost per person
€1.80
Calories per person
420 kcalcalculated by Kiloach, your weight coach

Tarta de Santiago gets its texture from having no flour at all. Almond flour alone makes for a dense, moist cake, almost fudgy inside, with just enough crust on the golden top. Lemon zest and cinnamon add a bright note that keeps the cake from feeling heavy, which almond desserts sometimes can.

This dessert works just as well for a dinner party as for a family meal, since you bake it a day ahead with zero stress and it travels well if you're bringing it somewhere. The powdered sugar cross on top always gets noticed when you bring it to the table, and it takes no special pastry skills to pull off.

The schedule

What happens when, so you can be with your guests instead of in the kitchen.

  1. The day before 2 steps, 40 min
  2. The same day 1 step
  3. Before the guests arrive 1 step
  4. When it's time to serve 1 step

The day before, mix the batter and bake the cake, then let it cool completely in the pan. The same day, unmold the tarta and keep it under a cake dome, not in the fridge. Right before guests arrive, cut out your cross stencil, and at serving time, place the stencil on top and dust with powdered sugar.

The ingredients

6 people

Pantry

  • Almond flour 250 g
  • Sugaroften in the pantry 250 g
  • Ground cinnamonoften in the pantry 1 tsp
  • Powdered sugaroften in the pantry 3 tbsp

Dairy

  • Eggs 5
  • Butter for the pan 20 g

Fruits and vegetables

  • Organic lemon 1

Allergens Eggs, Tree nuts

The recipe, moment by moment

The day beforeWhat's better after resting overnight in the fridge.

  1. Zest the lemon, whisk the eggs with the sugar until light and foamy, then fold in the almond flour, cinnamon, and zest.

    Whisk for a good long while, the airier the batter, the softer the finished cake.

  2. Pour the batter into a buttered and lined 24 cm pan, and bake at 180°C until the top turns golden. 40 min

    Poke the center with a knife, it should come out dry while the cake stays moist inside.

The same dayDuring the day, whenever you get a moment.

  1. Let it cool in the pan, then unmold and keep it under a cake dome.

    Don't refrigerate it, the almonds dry out.

Before the guests arriveThe last hour, right before the doorbell rings.

  1. Take out the tarta and cut a cross shaped stencil out of a sheet of paper.

    A Cross of Saint James looks like a sword, look up an image online to help you draw it.

When it's time to serveThe final touches, right in front of your guests.

  1. Lay the stencil on the cake, dust with powdered sugar using a small sieve, and lift it off carefully.

    Lift the stencil straight up, without sliding it, so the cross stays crisp.

Our tips to get it right

  • Use eggs at room temperature, they whip up fuller and give the batter more lift.
  • Butter and line the pan well with parchment paper, this flourless cake tends to stick at the edges.
  • Pick an organic lemon since you're using the zest, the flavor comes through cleaner with no residue from treatment.

The variations

  • Swap the cinnamon for ground star anise for a more unusual, fragrant version.
  • Stir in a tablespoon of almond extract if you want a more pronounced almond flavor.
  • For kids, just dust with powdered sugar without the stencil, the cake tastes just as good without the cross.

What to serve it with

  • A strong coffee or black tea
  • A scoop of vanilla ice cream
  • A sweet wine like muscat

Storage

Tarta de Santiago keeps for 2 to 3 days at room temperature under a cake dome, the fridge dries out the almonds. It freezes well plain, without the powdered sugar, wrapped in plastic wrap, just dust it after it thaws.

Questions about this recipe

Can I use hazelnut flour instead of almond flour?

Yes, the flavor shifts a bit but it still works well, the cake keeps the same flourless texture. It's a good way to switch things up if you want a change from almonds.

Why did my cake come out dry instead of moist?

This usually means the oven ran too hot or the cake baked too long, start checking with a knife at 35 minutes. The center should stay slightly moist, not fully dry like a cookie.

How do I make the cross without a printer or ready made template?

Freehand the cross shape onto parchment paper using a picture of the Cross of Saint James as a guide, then cut it out with small scissors. It doesn't need to be perfect to be recognizable.

Can this cake be made for more than 6 people?

Yes, you can double the recipe and use a bigger pan or two 24 cm pans, keeping the same oven temperature. Just check the cake a bit earlier since baking time may increase slightly.

Can a tarta de Santiago be made ahead?

Yes, it's even recommended. The recipe needs 20 min of work in total, split up like this, the day before, 2 steps, the same day, 1 step, before the guests arrive, 1 step, when it's time to serve, 1 step.

How long does it take to make a tarta de Santiago?

Allow 1 h 20 in total, including resting and cooking time, of which 20 min is actual work. The recipe is rated "very easy".

How many calories are in a tarta de Santiago?

About 420 kcal per person, for a recipe meant for 6 people. The calories are calculated by Kiloach, your kilo coach, the app that partners with Mon Chou.

How much does a tarta de Santiago cost?

About €1.80 per person, that's €10.80 for 6 people, based on average supermarket prices.

What allergens does this recipe contain?

This recipe contains eggs, tree nuts. Remember to ask your guests about their allergies before putting your menu together.

To round out your menu

Build a menu

Desserts for entertaining

See all
Lemon ricotta cake The dessert

Mediterranean

Lemon ricotta cake

  • 20 min of work
  • Prepared the day before
  • Easy, €1.10 per person

320 kcalcalculated by Kiloach

Chocolate religieuse The dessert

French classic

Chocolate religieuse

  • 1 h 25 of work
  • Prepared the day before
  • Medium, €1.90 per person

520 kcalcalculated by Kiloach

Landes apple pastis The dessert

Regional

Landes apple pastis

  • 45 min of work
  • Prepared the same day
  • Medium, €1.30 per person

380 kcalcalculated by Kiloach

Pistachio kulfi The dessert

From around the world

Pistachio kulfi

  • 25 min of work
  • Prepared the day before
  • Very easy, €2.20 per person

480 kcalcalculated by Kiloach