Santa Maria’s Ear Biscuits

Ear Biscuits are a traditional sweet from Santa Maria Island, and their production holds great historical value for the region, being considered a gastronomic reference in Santa Maria.

This is evident as the biscuits have always been present in the homes of Santa Maria, especially during festive occasions, such as pig slaughter festivals, weddings, Holy Spirit celebrations, and the Christmas season. There is a strong Christmas tradition where godparents give their godchildren an ear biscuit, which has the same unique shape but is larger than usual.

Santa Maria’s Ear Biscuits are made by hand, requiring skill from the maker when rolling the dough over the fingers of the left hand and cutting the ears to give the biscuits their original, characteristic triangular shape, typical and exclusive to the confectioners of Santa Maria Island.

Classified as an artisanal product, Ear Biscuits have certified origins, ensuring the quality of the raw materials and food additives used. The main ingredients are: wheat flour, salt, eggs, sugar, and butter. The Santa Maria Handicraft Cooperative plays a significant role in producing these biscuits.

The best way to buy these delicious Ear Biscuits is through food shops and craft stores on Santa Maria Island and beyond. Additionally, the biscuits can be found in this online store for €3.75. Try them out!

So, be sure to taste the traditional Ear Biscuits during your stay on Santa Maria Island, an excellent sweet of Azorean origin.

See also: Places to visit on Santa Maria Island

How to make Ear Biscuits

To make the delicious Santa Maria Ear Biscuits, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients

• 3 kg of wheat flour;
• 10 eggs;
• 500g of pork lard;
• 1 kg of sugar;
• 250g of butter;
• wheat bread yeast.

Ready! With the ingredients prepared, let’s start making the biscuits.

Preparation and Cooking

First, take 2 or 3 spoons of the yeast used for making wheat bread. Then, add a little flour and warm water, mix well, and let it rise. It is recommended to do this the day before.

Once the mixture has risen, combine everything: the flour, eggs, lard, sugar, and butter, creating a smooth dough, shaping it into balls, and then covering them with a cloth dusted with flour to prevent sticking.

Once the balls have risen, knead the dough until it’s ready to be worked. After kneading, roll it into a large strip and cut it into small pieces.

With the small pieces cut, it’s time to start shaping the Ear Biscuits. Use your fingers to flatten the strips made from the pieces. Now, pay close attention: make four turns with this strip around two fingers of your hand, and after the fourth turn, remove the biscuit without unrolling it, leaving it closed with three points. It is on these three points that the ears are cut.

Finally, grease the trays and place them in a very hot oven. After baking, the process is complete when the biscuits are dry. The Ear Biscuits are now ready to be served. Enjoy!

References & Credits:

Photos CRAA
http://artesanato.azores.gov.pt