Latin Flair – Torta de Santiago (St. James Cake)
Funny things happen when you are a first generation Latino growing up in the United States, especially when your parents don’t speak English. Yes, my parents first came to this country over 30 years ago and don’t speak the language. I’ll get into how they managed in another post. Today, I want to get into the complexities of growing up being fluent and using two different languages.
Many years ago my mom sent my sister Sue and I to the store and said, “Comprame dos limones.” (Buy me two lemons). When my sister and I arrived at the store we found ourselves in front of a pile of lemons and limes not knowing which one to pick from. We had never seen lemons before in the house. But since her request was for lemons we purchased two of them. Low and behold, when we got home, we had the wrong thing. See when my mom says lemon she really means lime. And she thought we were crazy for even bringing the lemons home, pointing out how lemons were never in the house…EVER!
So lesson learned for Sue and I. Whenever we have anything lemon or lime flavored we already remember the look on our mom’s face when she saw we brought her lemons instead of limes.
No confusion with this cake though. Flavored with lemons and almond extract it’s a simple one that is sure to please anyone. It incorporates a good amount of almond flour as well, which while giving it a dense texture makes the cake surprising light when you bite into it. This confection is said to originate in Santiago, a city in northwest Spain that is famous for the road where millions walked in pilgrimage to the burial site of Saint James the Apostle (Santiago). The cake is traditionally decorated with powdered sugar on top stenciled in the shape of the St. James cross. I skipped that and baked mine in a bundt pan an enjoyed it plain. Note that if you bake this in a traditional sized bundt pan like it did, you’re going to get a slightly flatter cake. But don’t fret – it’s super delish.
Torta de Santiago
Ingredients:
8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1 cup almond flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour, sifted
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Confectioners' sugar (for dusting)Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a traditional size bundt pan.
Stir the almond flour, all purpose flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Beat the sugar and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer using the paddle attachment until light and fluffy, 4-6 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time making sure to scrap down the bowl between additions. Add the zest and vanilla and almond extracts.
Fold the dry ingredients into the wet with a rubber spatula one-third at a time until just mixed. Pour the batter into the prepared bundt pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30 to 25 minutes. Cool completely and lightly dust the top with confectioners' sugar.
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Cecilia — October 6, 2010 @ 12:43 pm
This looks delicious! I like a similar cake from Spain called biscocho de Badajoz and it has a crispy crackly top. Will have to try your recipe!
Monique — October 6, 2010 @ 1:10 pm
So i just discovered good reader and devoured this post! but then i got sad i couldnt leave a comment LOL
I love lemon cake and although i have never had one with almond… i trust its an aawesome combo!
And dont feel bad about the lemon sitch. My parents speak english and sent me to the store to buy beans. I brought home green beans and mom wanted to kill me cuz she wanted kidney beans. i was all “dude do you know how many BEANS come in CANS?!?!” lol
William — October 6, 2010 @ 1:27 pm
Seems like a great coffee companion
Joanne — October 6, 2010 @ 1:36 pm
Tragically, my parents speak English and so whenever I got mixed up about something I never really had anything but myself to blame. Although to this day I blame my baby sister. For everything. It was her fault. I swear.
This cake looks seriously awesome! I love anything lemon-flavored.
And I WISH I could have invited you to the dinner party…it was totally spur of hte moment and not planned out at ALL! these PFB deadlines are KILLING me.
Bonnie — October 6, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
Lemons or limes, this cake looks delicious–the “crumb” looks just like I like it to be. Only lemon zest?
Best,
Bonnie
Jeannette — October 6, 2010 @ 2:16 pm
What a hilarious story about yourself and your sister! It’s always nice to get a glimpse of the real person on the other side of that screen
This cake looks GOOD! So moist!!
Rosa — October 6, 2010 @ 2:46 pm
That cake looks absolutely delicious! I love those citrusy notes.
Cheers,
Rosa
spike — October 6, 2010 @ 3:23 pm
Although it was probably a struggle adapting to the two languages, it must serve you well to know them both so well! The cake looks and sounds like perfection
Indecisive Baker — October 6, 2010 @ 3:48 pm
Oh Wow! This looks amazing!!
Katrina — October 6, 2010 @ 4:11 pm
Thanks for posting this awesome latin cake! I’m super excited to try it, it looks fabulous
Megan — October 6, 2010 @ 4:14 pm
This looks like a cake I will def. have to try. It looks and sounds delicious. Lemons or Limes, I am always up for some tasty citrus. I loved the story about you and your sister.
Jessica of My Baking Heart — October 6, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
Mmmm, it looks wonderful!
Love the story about you and your sister, too!
Abby — October 6, 2010 @ 5:38 pm
Cute post! And a lovely cake. I don’t care for traditional, fluffy cakes, but bundts and pounds are my dear, dear friends.
Velva — October 6, 2010 @ 5:59 pm
I learned a new flavor combination! Lemon and almond! This looks like a cake that I can make without too much fuss on my part (I am not a good baker). Yes!
I smiled at your mom’s request for lemons but, really meant limes. I smiled more that it has created a lifetime memory that will always bring a smile to your face.
Jessica — October 6, 2010 @ 10:48 pm
Oh my gosh — that cake looks rich, moist, and delicious! I like limes so much more than lemons, and your story about your mom made me wonder if you could substitute lime in this cake? But the lemon and almond combination sounds so delicious, too!
Marisa — October 7, 2010 @ 3:06 am
Great story! I always find it interesting that most Americans can only speak one language. Over here, in South Africa, it’s common to speak two languages, sometimes even three. And the lost in translation thing can be quite amusing!
Have never heard of this cake, but it looks super tasty – you know I’m a sucker for citrus anything.
megan @ whatmegansmaking — October 7, 2010 @ 9:05 am
looks delicious! You can really tell how moist it is from your pictures. I enjoyed the story as well
Lina — October 7, 2010 @ 10:45 am
What a cute story! i had to learn english when i moved to Singapore from Indonesia as well!
Mary — October 7, 2010 @ 10:45 am
I loved your story. The cake is wonderful too. I can just picture the perplexed look on the faces of two little girls staring at a pile of lemons. I hope all is well and that you are having a great day. Blessings…Mary
ingrid — October 7, 2010 @ 11:21 am
My grandma lived to 93, almost 70 years in Manhattan and still didn’t speak English. I’ll be honest, she had no desire to and though she could understand it she would play dumb. lol
Gorgeous looking cake, Eliana! Almond and lemon are winning combination and who doesn’t love a moist cake?!
~ingrid
Jamie — October 7, 2010 @ 12:02 pm
Great story! My parents were first generation Americans and my dad was raised partially by his grandma who spoke no English so these stories intrigue me. This cake look so fabulous – I can see how moist and lemony! Love lemon cake. Great recipe!
Nic — October 7, 2010 @ 12:07 pm
What a great texture that looks so moist and yummy.
Jennifurla — October 7, 2010 @ 12:31 pm
LOL on that story, this cake the texture looks perfect!
Biz — October 7, 2010 @ 1:22 pm
That’s such a funny story Eliana! When I was little, my grandma used to send me to the drug store with a note “Please give my granddaughter a package of Marlboro’s.” I was probably 9 at the time, and they gave them to me!
That cake looks so moist – you know I am not much of baker but I may just have to push up my sleeves and make this one!
Vélez Delights — October 7, 2010 @ 1:24 pm
Que ricoooo!!!! And trust me, you’re not the only one that has had the limon confusion. To do this day, if my mom happens to be buying the groceries, I have to specify to her: limon verde o limon amarillo jajajajaja and to top it off, my dad thinks that un limon normal is a key lime =P
Krista — October 7, 2010 @ 10:14 pm
Thank you so much for your kind comment on my photo at Tomatoes on the Vine.
I love your story! 
My grandparents and Dad are from Denmark so we get some funny mixed up messages from them too. I love it. 
Your cake looks so moist and delicious. 
Lori — October 8, 2010 @ 8:50 am
Loved this story. We had this same confusion living in Brazil. All the Brazilians we know call limes, lemons when they are speaking English. Even the ones who have lived in the States for a while. We rarely corrected anyone’s English, but when we caught English teachers translating it wrong we just had to say something.
Lemons and limes are both too delicious to confuse. I have to have both in my life!
Shandy — October 8, 2010 @ 12:23 pm
Eliana, this cake looks moist and delicious! I love all things LEMON. Your family sounds so cute, warm, and close.
naomi — October 8, 2010 @ 1:12 pm
This looks beautiful. I love that you made it in a bundt pan I love that it has almond flour in it.
Pam — October 8, 2010 @ 1:39 pm
The cake sounds and looks delicious!!! Wish I had a slice of it now. Interesting and funny story with your mom. It’s amazing how some foods bring back memories and I’m sure you will never forget the “lemon episode!”
Jeannette — October 8, 2010 @ 4:02 pm
Pssst… I left you a little award on my blog
Go check it out for details!
Cool Lassi(e) — October 8, 2010 @ 5:07 pm
Gorgeous space you have here. And the cake looks divine.
Gloria — October 9, 2010 @ 12:26 am
I love the story about your mom! Your cake looks so moist and delicious! Mmmmm.
Xiaolu @ 6 Bittersweets — October 10, 2010 @ 9:07 am
These look simply delicious! Wish I could steal a taste 8).
Kate — October 10, 2010 @ 2:05 pm
Looks perfect and tender! YUM!!!
5 Star Foodie — October 11, 2010 @ 5:39 pm
Such a delicious looking cake! Looks perfectly moist and wonderful!
Lindsay @ Pinch of Yum — October 12, 2010 @ 11:23 pm
Ok…. YUM. Seriously, yum. Seriously, making it soon. What a great recipe! And beautiful pictures.
Barbara Bakes — October 13, 2010 @ 8:37 pm
Your cake looks so moist and delicious! I am always so impressed with people who speak more than one language. I am currently trying to learn Spanish but – yo no estudio mucho.
Val — October 14, 2010 @ 8:21 am
Beautiful cake, makes me realise how long its been since I last made a lemon cake!
My Mum is South American and we grew up in London so I completely relate to your lemon story although I always found that the real issue was that I would pronounce things like ‘mayonnaise’ completely wrong!
Barbara — October 15, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
This cakes looks so good, Eliana. I’m a citrus lover, limes or lemons; your parents sound sweet.
Steel City Flan — November 6, 2010 @ 3:21 pm
It makes me SO happy that you wrote this post! I love Tarta de Santiago, it’s a classic with everyone in my family. We’ve been to Santiago de Compostela a few times and my dad actually did the pilgrimage one year.
Being bilingual is a funny thing, but it’s definitely a gift. I can’t tell you the amount of times my mother has cracked up at me for calling the trunk of a car “el tronco” or something like that
Sandra G. — November 18, 2010 @ 5:48 pm
How funny! when I first saw lemons here, I though how odd I’ve never seen such a weird thing, a “ripe ” lemon!