Mantecadas de Astorga
Encyclopedia
Mantecadas are a type of spongy
pastry
from Spain
similar to a muffin
, but flatter. The best known mantecadas are from Northwestern Spain, being a traditional product of the city of Astorga, province of León, as well as the nearby Maragateria
comarca. They taste very much like pound cake
.
Other Spanish regions also prepare mantecadas. There is a factory producing mantecadas in Sardón de Duero
, Valladolid Province and another in Maliaño
, Cantabria
. The Casa Salinas bakery in Tudela, Navarre
, reputed for its excellent mantecadas, closed down in January 2011.
Mantecadas are baked in square or rectangular box-shaped paper "cajillas" instead of in the typical muffin round paper cups. The mantecada leaves a characteristic cross-shaped silhouette on the paper when it is removed. In Morella, Castellon the mantecada square paper cups are known as "caixetes".
There is a type of cake known as mantecada in Colombia
and Venezuela
where the whole is cut into pieces after baking. Certain brands commercialize packed mini-mantecadas in Mexico
and Latin America.
Mantecadas should not be confused with mantecados, a much denser, non spongy very different type of pastry.
, flour
, cow fat and sugar
. Cow fat is essential in the preparation and differentiates the mantecadas de Astorga from average bizcocho
or magdalenas (muffins).
They are a protected product as per Geographical indication
in the European Union
.
Sponge cake
Sponge cake is a cake based on flour , sugar, and eggs, sometimes leavened with baking powder which has a firm, yet well aerated structure, similar to a sea sponge. A sponge cake may be produced by either the batter method, or the foam method. Typicially the batter method in the U.S. is known as a...
pastry
Pastry
Pastry is the name given to various kinds of baked products made from ingredients such as flour, sugar, milk, butter, shortening, baking powder and/or eggs. Small cakes, tarts and other sweet baked products are called "pastries."...
from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
similar to a muffin
Muffin
A muffin is an American English name for a type of quick bread that is baked in small portions. Many forms are somewhat like small cakes or cupcakes in shape, although they usually are not as sweet as cupcakes and generally lack frosting. Savory varieties, such as cornbread muffins, also exist...
, but flatter. The best known mantecadas are from Northwestern Spain, being a traditional product of the city of Astorga, province of León, as well as the nearby Maragateria
Maragatería
La Maragatería or País de los Maragatos, Tierra de Maragatos in Leonese language, is an ancient historical region or traditional comarca in the landlocked Province of León, Spain...
comarca. They taste very much like pound cake
Pound cake
Pound cake refers to a type of cake traditionally made with a pound of each of four ingredients: flour, butter, eggs, and sugar. The traditional recipe makes a cake much larger than most families can consume, and so the quantity is often changed to suit the size of the cake that is desired...
.
Other Spanish regions also prepare mantecadas. There is a factory producing mantecadas in Sardón de Duero
Sardón de Duero
Sardón de Duero is a municipality located in the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 668 inhabitants.There is a factory producing mantecadas in Sardón de Duero....
, Valladolid Province and another in Maliaño
Maliaño
Maliaño is a village in the municipality of Camargo . The town is located near the Bay of Santander, 5 km from the regional capital. It is the location of the regionally significant Santander Airport...
, Cantabria
Cantabria
Cantabria is a Spanish historical region and autonomous community with Santander as its capital city. It is bordered on the east by the Basque Autonomous Community , on the south by Castile and León , on the west by the Principality of Asturias, and on the north by the Cantabrian Sea.Cantabria...
. The Casa Salinas bakery in Tudela, Navarre
Tudela, Navarre
Tudela is a municipality in Spain, the second city of the autonomous community of Navarre. Its population is around 35,000. Tudela is sited in the Ebro valley. Fast trains running on two-track electrified railways serve the city and two freeways join close to it...
, reputed for its excellent mantecadas, closed down in January 2011.
Mantecadas are baked in square or rectangular box-shaped paper "cajillas" instead of in the typical muffin round paper cups. The mantecada leaves a characteristic cross-shaped silhouette on the paper when it is removed. In Morella, Castellon the mantecada square paper cups are known as "caixetes".
There is a type of cake known as mantecada in Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
where the whole is cut into pieces after baking. Certain brands commercialize packed mini-mantecadas in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
and Latin America.
Mantecadas should not be confused with mantecados, a much denser, non spongy very different type of pastry.
Mantecadas de Astorga
The most famous Mantecadas are the ones prepared in Astorga town under the name Mantecadas de Astorga. Their ingredients are eggsEgg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
, flour
Flour
Flour is a powder which is made by grinding cereal grains, other seeds or roots . It is the main ingredient of bread, which is a staple food for many cultures, making the availability of adequate supplies of flour a major economic and political issue at various times throughout history...
, cow fat and sugar
Sugar
Sugar is a class of edible crystalline carbohydrates, mainly sucrose, lactose, and fructose, characterized by a sweet flavor.Sucrose in its refined form primarily comes from sugar cane and sugar beet...
. Cow fat is essential in the preparation and differentiates the mantecadas de Astorga from average bizcocho
Bizcocho
Bizcocho is the name given in Spain and several Latin American countries to many variants of buttery flaky pastry and some cookies. Bizcochos have European origin, but have been developed and diversified in the Río de la Plata region –they are known as facturas in Argentina.-Assorted...
or magdalenas (muffins).
They are a protected product as per Geographical indication
Geographical indication
A geographical indication is a name or sign used on certain products which corresponds to a specific geographical location or origin...
in the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
.