Santa Maria Cavacas – How They Are Made and How to Make Them

The Cavacas are very traditional sweets in Portugal, but the method of preparation varies according to each region. The sweet is also famous for its history, as it originates from the people, given that the recipe is quite simple and uses few ingredients.

In the Azores Archipelago, it is on Santa Maria Island that Cavacas stand out.

See how Cavaca is made on Santa Maria Island.

How to Make Santa Maria Cavacas

Ingredients

For the Dough

• 10 eggs
• 125 g of flour
• ½ cup (of coffee) of water
• 2 cups (of coffee) of olive oil

For the Syrup

• 400 g of sugar
• 1 cup (of tea) of water

Preparation Method

Heat the olive oil in a pot until it boils. Add the flour and the eggs, one at a time, stirring with a wooden spoon after each egg is added. After mixing well until the dough is soft and bubbly, add the water.

Place 1 tablespoon of this dough into cupcake molds that have been greased with butter and dusted with flour, and put them in a preheated oven at 220ºC. Bake for approximately 30 minutes at 200ºC. Once golden, remove them from the oven and let them cool before adding the syrup.

While the dough cools, begin making the syrup. For the syrup, combine the sugar and water in a saucepan over heat until it boils. Now just cover the cavacas with the syrup and let them dry.

The photos in this article are by Paulina Braga Snack Bar e Pastelaria. When visiting Santa Maria Island, be sure to stop by to taste their fantastic Cavacas.

Santa Maria Cavacas are delicious and deserve to be savored.

* Photos are for illustrative purposes only. There are also some variations of this recipe.