Mantecadas facts for kids
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| Type | Sweet bread |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Spain |
| Main ingredients | Flour, eggs, butter, sugar |
Mantecadas are soft and spongy pastries that come from Spain. They are a bit like a sponge cake or a pound cake. These tasty treats are especially well-known in the city of Astorga, which is in the province of León in northwestern Spain.
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What Makes Mantecadas Special?
Mantecadas are baked in unique square or rectangular paper cups. These cups are called "cajillas" in Spanish. This is different from the round paper cups used for muffins. When you take a mantecada out of its paper cup, it often leaves a cool cross-shaped mark on the paper. In some parts of Spain, like the Alt Maestrat region, these square paper cups are known as "caixetes".
Where Can You Find Mantecadas?
While Astorga is famous for them, mantecadas are made in other parts of Spain too. For example, there are factories that make mantecadas in Sardón de Duero in the Valladolid Province. Another factory is located in Maliaño, which is in Cantabria.
Mantecadas are also popular in other countries. You can find a type of cake called mantecada in Colombia and Venezuela. In these places, a larger cake is baked and then cut into pieces. In Mexico and other parts of Latin America, you can even buy small, pre-packaged mantecadas.
Mantecadas vs. Mantecados: Don't Get Confused!
It's easy to mix up mantecadas with another Spanish pastry called mantecados. However, they are quite different! Mantecadas are light and spongy. Mantecados, on the other hand, are much denser and crumbly. They are a completely different kind of sweet treat.
Mantecadas de Astorga: A Protected Sweet Treat
The most famous mantecadas are the ones made in Astorga. They are known as Mantecadas de Astorga. The main ingredients for these special pastries are eggs, flour, butter, and sugar. The use of real butter is very important. It helps make Mantecadas de Astorga different from regular bizcocho (sponge cake) or magdalenas (muffins).
These specific mantecadas are so special that they are a "protected product" in the European Union. This means they have a special status, similar to how certain types of cheese or wine are protected. It ensures that only mantecadas made in Astorga, following a traditional recipe, can be called "Mantecadas de Astorga."
See also
In Spanish: Mantecadas de Astorga para niños
