Tortas Locas

In the days when fine pastries could only be afforded by wealthy people, Málaga saw the birth of a pastry called torta loca [crazy cake], which today is an emblem of Málaga pastries.

TROTAS LOCAS, SWEET SURVIVORS

In the days when fine pastries could only be afforded by wealthy people, Málaga saw the birth of a pastry called torta loca [crazy cake], which today is an emblem of Málaga pastries. Thanks to the torta loca, in the 1950s the humble classes, a majority at the time, could enjoy a cake that was original, fresh, creamy and with a touch of colour, which continues to be its distinguishing mark.

As a sweet “hunger-killer” in the post-war period, the torta loca was created by a master confectioner who decided to take two rounds of puff pastry and fill them with custard, topping them with orange frosting and a cherry. The famous pastry would be named after a 1954 hit by Luisa Linares and Los Galindos, who sang “Life is better acting crazy”. The recipe has remained virtually intact until today.

Recipe

Ingredients

  • Puff pastry
  • Custard (milk, egg, fine flour, sugar, lemon, cinnamon, vanilla)
  • Egg yolk glaze (egg yolk, sugar, fine flour, syrup, orange food colour)
  • Frosting (water, sugar)
  • Red cherries in syrup