Hopes of the Azores: what they are and how they are made

July 15, 2019: The Esperanças were the winning sweet from the Autonomous Region of the Azores to participate in the Final of the 7 Wonders of Sweets of Portugal. It is confirmed as a pre-finalist in the 7 Wonders of Sweets of Portugal.

The result was announced in a special program broadcast live on RTP from the Matriz de Ponta Delgada on São Miguel Island.

Learn below what the Esperanças are, how they are made, and the complete recipe.

History and What are the Esperanças?

Honoring the tradition of the Confectionery of the Sisters of the Convent of Esperança, the sweet that represented Ponta Delgada in the 7 Wonders of Sweets of Portugal was the Esperanças.

This sweet has a rich history that dates back about 80 years.

Initially called Bolinhos de Esperança, they were slightly different (ball-shaped), and the coating was also different. The entire preparation of the Esperanças (and the slight changes made) is attributed to the Confeitaria Colmeia in Ponta Delgada, which managed to recover the original recipe about 2 years ago.

These sweet rolls were offered by the nuns at a dinner after the procession of the Feast of Senhor Santo Cristo. However, over the years, this tradition fell into oblivion until the recipe was rediscovered two years ago in a very old book belonging to families who kept it until today.

This sweet has the support of the Azorean fado singer, Kátia Guerreiro.

(C) Confeitaria Colmeia

The recipe for the Esperanças is based on a sweet from the Convent of Nossa Senhora da Esperança, which houses the Sanctuary of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres, classified as “Property of Public Interest” in 1953. This is a place of particular importance for the Azoreans, who gather every year on the fifth Sunday after Easter to pay homage to Senhor Santo Cristo. They come not only from various points on the island but from all over the world, marking this time with the return of immigrants to their homeland for what is the largest and oldest religious celebration in the archipelago and one of the largest in the country.

The combination of its ingredients results in a rich and consistent dough, which is the heart of our Esperanças. To modernize the sweet without sacrificing its more traditional aspect and the typically associated conventual flavors, we wrap it in thin layers of crispy dough, dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar.

The result is a sweet that plays with textures and offers a rich and balanced flavor experience.

By combining the traditional and the modern, being inspired by a recipe from one of the most beloved and symbolic places in the Azores, and being one of the sweets most praised by our visitors, we present it in this edition of the 7 Wonders of Sweets of Portugal!

How to Make Esperanças (Complete Recipe)

Dough

To prepare the dough, the necessary ingredients are:

• 1 cup of all-purpose flour;
• 1 tablespoon of lard (or butter);
• Pinch of salt;
• Water as needed.

Preparation of the Dough

1. Mix all the ingredients listed above;
2. Then knead everything very well until you achieve a consistency suitable for rolling out the dough;
3. Roll out the dough very thinly on a surface previously greased with a little olive oil.

Filling of the Esperanças

This is the main part of this sweet, and it requires:

• 1 tablespoon of butter;
• Stale bread, grated;
• 125g of candied pumpkin;
• 100g of almonds;
• 250g of sugar;
• 4 egg yolks;
• Water as needed.

Preparation of the Filling

1. Prepare a sugar syrup: Place the sugar and water in a saucepan and simmer until it reaches the thread stage;
2. Then beat the egg yolks and add them to the sugar syrup in a steady stream;
3. Add the grated stale bread (soaked in water);
4. Mix well with the help of a whisk;
5. Add the almonds and mix well;
6. Add the candied pumpkin and mix well;
7. Add the butter and mix well;

After preparing the filling, let it cool for an hour before combining it with the dough.

Coating

• Sugar as needed;
• Cinnamon as needed;

Final Preparation

1. With the filling prepared, make small rolls and place them on the dough;
2. Carefully roll the dough with the filling inside;
3. On top of the sweet, the part that will face up in the oven, make two small cuts with a knife;
4. Place on a baking tray to go to the oven;
5. Then, in a preheated oven at 180ºC, bake for about 20 minutes.
6. While baking, prepare a mixture of sugar and cinnamon for the coating.
7. After baking, apply the coating on top of the Esperanças;

Now that you have your Esperanças ready, enjoy their fantastic flavor.

(C) Confeitaria Colmeia

Where to Buy

You can buy the Esperanças physically at Confeitaria Colmeia or online through their Facebook page.

Location and Contacts

Address:
Av. Infante Dom Henrique s/n Loja 20
9500-764 Ponta Delgada

Phone: 296 098 694
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ConfeitariaAColmeia/