Spanish sweets are something else! While French pastries are all about their fine textures and Italian sweets rely on their rich flavors, the desserts from Spain arguably taste the sweetest of them all. They make for great comfort food in the afternoon, a delicious snack to whet your appetite, and of course, as suitable gifts for your
madre on Mother's Day. Whether you make them yourself or you go for store-bought ones, there's nothing quite like giving Spanish treats to let your mom know just how special she is on her special day. Especially if they're flan, Arroz con Leche, Churros con Chocolate, or any of the other desserts listed below!
Spanish Flan
The flan is probably the most famous dessert out there. Many other countries, specifically those that were conquered by Spain, even have their own variation of it. As a soft and creamy treat, it's perfect for mothers who have reached a certain age. If your own mom is already wearing dentures, she can easily enjoy a cup or two of flan even without them. And while it's sweet, a flan isn't so saccharine that it risks overwhelming the palate. Mothers who don't have much of a sweet tooth would still enjoy this dessert with its ample and gentle sweetness.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Crema Catalana
Another creamy Spanish dessert worth giving to your mom this Mother's Day is
Crema Catalana, the Catalan version of the creme brûlée from France. If you head on over to the top tourist destination that is
Barcelona, you'll find that there are many bakeries and sweets shops that sell them. And just like its French counterpart, the Crema Catalana is a sweet spoonful worth savoring. The main difference between the two is that, while both have smoked hardened tops, creme brûlée is oftentimes much darker and harder. Also, Crema Catalan is commonly topped with fruits, specifically raspberries.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Arroz Con Leche
Does your mom crave some rice pudding for Mother's Day? Well, you can always prepare some Arroz Con Leche for her on her special day! It's a Spanish rice pudding commonly served warm, sprinkled with cinnamon, and topped with a caramelized sugar crust. However, since Mother's Day in Spain is during springtime, you can opt for a cold variation of the dish so your mom can enjoy it more. You'll also find that different parts of Spain offer their own twists on this popular dessert. Some don't have cinnamon or caramelized sugar crusts while others serve theirs topped with fruits, drizzled with honey, and more.
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Torrijas
What makes Torrijas such a great Mother's Day gift is that it's actually rare by the time the holiday comes. So if you were able to get your mom a box of them for this special day, others will think that you went above and beyond just to give them to her. They'll understand just how much she means to you! But why are Torrijas rare around this time of year in the first place? That's because these delectable slices of fried bread, spiced with cinnamon, are a common Easter treat. It's only around Easter Sunday, which is usually around late March or early April, that you'll find many Torrijas throughout Spain.
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Tamorlan
Tarta De Aceite
For most moms out there, a moist cake and a hot
cup of coffee or tea in the afternoon are enough to make the day feel that much better. As much as you want to give them the sweetest desserts for Mother's Day, many of them prefer something simpler and just as delectable. Hence, you can give them some Tarta De Aceite. It's a Spanish olive oil cake that tastes more sumptuous at every bite. It's an unfussy dessert that, as already stated, goes well with a cup of coffee or tea. She'd likely even prefer that you spend the day relaxing in your
luxury home with a plate of Tarta De Aceite on Mother's Day instead of eating out!
Source: Wikimedia Commons/ Alfonsofvazquez
Tarta De Queso
If you've watched the iconic 1980s sitcom, '
Golden Girls,' you'll know that women of a certain age love cheesecake. Who knows? Perhaps your mom, grandmother, and other mother figures fit in that category! So if that's the case, why not gift her some cheesecake on Mother's Day this year? And if you want one that has a richer taste to better fit their more mature palates, go for the Tarta De Queso, or the Spanish cheesecake! The cake itself is light and creamy but its burnt crust makes for a more distinct sweetness. You can even top it with fruits too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Tarta De Santiago
Hailing from the town of Santiago de Compostela in the northwestern region of Galicia, the Tarta De Santiago is another Spanish dessert that's not as common as the rest. In fact, you have a better chance of making it yourself instead of trying to find a bakery that sells them. Whether you for one or the other, either way, your mom will still enjoy biting into this super moist almond cake. It's even soft enough for those who have dentures too. And though it's sprinkled with powdered sugar, the sweetness is just right. It's not so saccharine that your mom risks getting a cavity!
Source: Flickr.com/ Katrin Gilger
Churros con Chocolate
And finally, there's the classic Churros con Chocolate! As far as comfort food goes, this is one of the most delectable of them all! And since it's such a famous treat, you easily find it anywhere, be it
in Barcelona, Madrid, Seville, and more. Your mom will certainly appreciate this widely nostalgic treat on Mother's Day. It's likely that she grew up enjoying churros and dipping them into hot chocolate herself. The dessert has been around for such a long time, after all. No other treat will feel like a warm hug quite like this one!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Spanish desserts are some of the sweetest and most delectable in the world. And this is why they make for great Mother's Day gifts! Your mom will undoubtedly appreciate it and enjoy indulging them on her special day.
