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Spain’s Basque Country is an ultimate foodie destination and that goes for its desserts and baked goods too. From a world famous cheesecake to city-specific specialties, I was absolutely blown away by the unique sweet treats the Basque Country had to offer.
If you’re planning a visit to this region of Spain soon, here’s a list of what I think are five must-try desserts in Basque Country.
Pantxineta
With layers of puff pastry stuffed with custard cream and topped with almonds and powered sugar, the pantxineta (pronounced pan-chee-neta) is a must-try Basque dessert!
I got my piece of pantxineta from the bakery at La Ribera Market in Bilbao and I thought it was such a delicious treat. The tasty custard oozed out as I bit into the flaky puff pastry and the almond topping provided a necessary bit of texture for each bite. I ate mine for breakfast cold, though it can be served warm as well.
Also on my list to visit for pantxineta is Otaegui in San Sebastian, where this dessert originated. Their pantxineta is in pie/tart form, cut into slices for serving.
Phil Rosenthal from Somebody Feed Phil visited this shop in his Basque Country episode, but it was long on my list before that aired. I just haven’t had the chance to make my way there yet! Soon, Otaegui…soon.
Basque Cheesecake
If there’s one dessert of the Basque Country you’ve probably heard of most, it’s Basque cheesecake – the tarta de queso. Basque cheesecake is a unique style of cheesecake that is baked without a crust. The sole focus is on the creamy cheese!
Each bakery or restaurant makes their cheesecake a bit different. Some are less set in the middle, creating an ultra-creamy texture that oozes out on your plate when served (like the one we had at HDH Bilbao). Others also have a burnt look to the top (like the one at La Viña), earning it the nickname “Burnt Basque Cheesecake.” Some are even made with different flavors like pistachio and chocolate!
Where it all started
This world famous cheesecake was created at La Viña in San Sebastian and my husband and I agreed that it was the best (as it should be from the place that dreamt it up, right?). It has just the right amount of creaminess and isn’t overly sweet.
The key at La Vina is to order a glass of sherry to pair with your slices (each order comes with two small slices). The sherry is a sweet and rich fortified wine, just like a port. Pour it over your slices or just takes sips in between your bites. This little glass of sherry will take eating this cheesecake to a whole new level. It’s a must!
One can only eat so much dessert in a trip to Basque Country, but we did also get to try the cheesecake at Lurrina in Bilbao while on our excellent food tour. It was actually our very first bite of this Basque treat! The texture was similar to La Viña’s – well set but still creamy in the middle, and served with a tasty dollop of custard. It was divine!
Carolinas
Carolinas are a dessert specific to the city of Bilbao and consist of a small custard tart topped with a tower of meringue decorated with dark chocolate and a sweet egg yolk glaze. It’s a stunner, visually, and is a symbol of Bilbao!
We tried a Carolina from the bakery at La Ribera Market. It’s a little hard to eat, so I’d suggest digging in with a plate and fork in order to avoid making a mess. I love custard anything, so the custard tart portion at the bottom was my favorite part. The meringue is light and fluffy and the bit of chocolate shell on the top helps to add some texture to the meringue.
Aside from La Ribera Market, you can find Carolinas at many pastelerias throughout Bilbao. Some on my list of places to visit for more Carolinas include Larralde and Pastelería Confiarte.
Basque Butter Bun
Another traditional pastry from the city of Bilbao is the Basque butter bun – bollo de mantequilla. This simple treat consists of a lightly sweet, very soft roll filled with a sweet buttercream. It’s the perfect handheld mid-day snack, or even good for a light breakfast (as it was in my case).
We got ours from Le Chocolat Obrador & Café, which is located just a few minutes’ walk from La Ribera Market. Stop here first for a snack before making your way to eat more at the market!
Torrija
And now we’ve come to my absolute favorite must-try dessert in Basque Country – the torrija!
Now, torrija is not a dessert specific to Basque Country. In fact, you can find this all over Spain. Why try this in the Basque Country, then? The food in this part of Spain is simply incredible, plain and simple. If there’s anywhere you should give this a try, it’s Basque Country.
The torrija is Spain’s version of the French pain perdu (aka French toast) and is a dish typically eaten at Easter. In the Basque region, you can find it in many restaurants outside of the holiday. And rather than a breakfast food (like in America), torrija is treated as a dessert!
Where to Eat Torrija?
Like most other desserts and dishes, each restaurant has their own way of preparing and serving it. We had three different torrijas in Basque Country and they were all so different!
- Casa Urola, San Sebastian: If there’s only one place you have torrija in Basque Country, let it be Casa Urola. This little torrija was perfectly caramelized on the outside and soaked with just enough milk on the inside. A decadent treat I am still dreaming about daily. It didn’t even need the side of coffee ice cream it was served with (although it was a nice addition!).
- Mendaur, San Sebastian: Mendaur’s torrija was lighter and fluffier, coated with the perfect amount of cinnamon and sugar and served with a sweet-flavored milk to sit and soak in. Yum.
- Cafe Bar Bilba, Bilbao: Thinner and firmer in texture on the outside, this torrija still came out with a creamy center. I don’t know how these chefs do it, but I could eat this daily! And yes it pairs well with a glass of txakoli too.
Wherever you choose to try the torrija in Basque Country, I’m sure you can’t go wrong (and if you do try it at any other spot I haven’t recommended, please let me know so I can add it to my list for future visits!).
Basque Country cuisine is my favorite I’ve had in all my travels thus far. I used to say I wasn’t a dessert person, but travel has proved me wrong on that point time and time again. Go to Basque Country and order the desserts!
If you’ve had any other desserts or sweet treats in Basque Country, what do you think I should add here?
Read Next:
- Searching for the Best Gilda Pintxos in Basque Country
- What to Eat in Spain’s Basque Country: Must-Try Basque Foods, Dishes & Drinks!
- Bilbao Food Tour Review – The Best Intro to Bilbao & the Basque Food Scene
- Savoring Bilbao: A Foodie’s Guide on Where to Eat in Bilbao, Spain
- Best Things to Do in Bilbao, Spain for Food, Art & Architecture Lovers!
- 3-Day Bilbao Itinerary: Discover the City’s Best Pintxos, Museums & Architecture
- Must-Try Restaurants in San Sebastian, Spain – The Best Foodie City in the World!
- Best Things to Do in San Sebastian (Especially for Food and Drink Lovers)
- 3-Day San Sebastian Itinerary for Food Lovers: Pintxos Bar Hopping & Everything in Between
Looks delicious! How long are you travel blogging already?
Going strong 11 years now!