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Cordiales
Almond and candied pumpkin cakes
Cordiales murcianos: soft almond and candied pumpkin Christmas cakes on wafer paper
Murcian Christmas tables always have a plate of cordiales, small domed cakes of ground almond and egg with a spoonful of cabello de ángel, the stringy candied squash jam, hidden in the middle. They are sold in every pastry shop in Murcia from December and baked at home in the weeks before Christmas, traditionally on a round of edible wafer so they lift cleanly off the tray. They should be crisp at the very tips and soft and moist inside. Chef's tip: make them a day ahead; the almond paste firms up and the flavour deepens.
- Total time
- 43 min
- Difficulty
- medium
- Serves
- 12
Ingredients
- 9 oz ground almonds
- 5 ½ oz caster sugar
- 1 tsp lemon zestfinely grated
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 eggsbeaten
- 12 edible wafer paper discs, 6 cmor baking paper
- 1 tbsp icing sugar (optional)for dusting
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 350°F (325°F fan) and line a tray with baking paper. Lay out the 12 edible wafer paper discs, 6 cm.
10 minStep 2: Mix the 9 oz ground almonds, 5 ½ oz caster sugar, 1 tsp lemon zest and ½ tsp ground cinnamon, then add the 2 eggs a little at a time until you have a soft, sticky paste that holds its shape. Keep back a spoonful of egg if it looks wet.
5 minStep 3: With damp hands take a walnut-sized piece of paste, flatten it in your palm, put a teaspoon of 5 ½ oz cabello de ángel (candied squash jam) in the middle and close the paste around it. Shape into a tall cone or dome and set it on a wafer.
15 minStep 4: Bake for 15–18 minutes until golden at the tips and lightly coloured all over, but still soft when pressed at the base. A common mistake is baking until firm all through: they go dry and hard as they cool.
18 minStep 5: Cool completely on the tray, then dust with 1 tbsp icing sugar if you like. Keep in a tin for up to a week.
20 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 230 kcal
- Protein
- 6 g
- Carbs
- 22 g
- Fat
- 14 g
- Fibre
- 2 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does cordiales take?
- About 43 minutes in total: 25 minutes to prepare and 18 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 12 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegetarian?
- Yes. It has no meat or fish.
- Can I make it ahead?
- Yes. It keeps well, so you can cook it earlier in the day or the day before and reheat it.
- What can I use instead of ground almonds?
- Ground cashews, same amount.
- What can I use instead of caster sugar?
- Caster sugar, same amount.
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