Carolina (pastry) facts for kids
The Carolina is a super yummy pastry from Bilbao, a city in Spain. Imagine a tiny pie crust filled with creamy custard. On top, it has a tall, fluffy cone made of meringue! This sweet treat often has a shiny, golden glaze made from egg yolk and a drizzle of dark chocolate. It's a famous dessert from Bilbao!
What's Inside a Carolina?
So, what makes a Carolina so delicious?
- The main part is the fluffy meringue cone. Meringue is made from whipped egg whites and sugar.
- The base is a small tartlet, usually made from puff pastry (light and flaky) or shortcrust pastry (more crumbly).
- Inside the tartlet, you'll find a smooth, sweet custard.
- And don't forget the special toppings: a sweet egg yolk glaze and a bit of dark chocolate.
The Sweet Story Behind the Carolina
The Carolina pastry has a fun story! A famous Spanish cook named Marchioness of Parabere wrote about it in her cookbook, Confitería y Repostería, way back in 1930.
She said that a pastry chef from Bilbao invented this dessert. He had a daughter named Carolina who absolutely loved meringue. But when she ate it, it could get a bit messy! So, her clever dad put the meringue on top of a small pastry tartlet. This made it much easier for her to eat without getting dirty. Carolina loved it so much that her dad decided to name the new pastry after her!
Because the Carolina is so special to Bilbao, a character called "Señor Karolino" was even the mascot for the Bilbao Carnival in 2009!
See also
- In Spanish: Carolina (dulce) para niños
