Fofos de Belas are miniature Portuguese cream-filled sponge cakes from Belas, a small village in the municipality of Sintra. These delicious little cakes are a treasured local specialty crafted by the same family for almost two centuries! Keep reading to find out more about Portugal’s fluffiest sponge cake!
‘Fluffy’ Cakes from Belas
There are two possible translations for the word fofo in Portuguese, ‘fluffy’ or ‘cute’. Fofos de Belas fit in both definitions, they are cute miniature sponge cakes that are fluffy and bouncy like a souffle. The dough, made with egg yolks, sugar, flour, and whipped egg whites, is placed into small tins and baked in a eucalyptus wood fired oven, which gives them their characteristic flavour. They are then filled with a light cream made with milk, egg yolks, sugar, and cornstarch, and sprinkled with granulated sugar.
The specific recipe and ingredients, though, are a family secret and remain unchanged since their creation in 1840. Although not as famous as other local Portuguese pastries, they stand out with their light texture and subtle flavour and are very popular with the people of Sintra and surroundings.
From a Family Cake to Local Specialty
Fofos de Belas have been made by the same family since 1840. Originally called ‘Fartos de Belas’ the family would sell them at fairs and festivities in Lisbon alongside other pastries and cakes. Ten years later they were so successful that the family decided to focus almost exclusively on the sponge cakes, opening their shop called Casa dos Fofos de Belas to the public in 1850. This is the same shop in Sintra where they are still artisanally produced and sold. With time, making a stop at Belas to grab the fluffy sponge cakes became a Sunday tradition with those visiting Sintra.
Where to Sample Fofos de Belas
There’s currently only one place to sample fofos, that is Casa dos Fofos de Belas.The small shop, which is also where they are produced, is strategically placed on a busy junction about 20 minutes from Sintra. While I photographed the building’s façade I saw many people park their cars and run inside, leaving with a white box branded with the establishment’s classic blue logo.
The sponge cake is available in two sizes, the standard individual portion, and a bigger size you can buy for birthday celebrations. You will also find a handful of different pastries, and the classic quince jelly, and marmalade, which they are also famous for. They also sell espresso, ginjinha, and other refreshments if you feel like stopping there for coffee. However, the wall of stacked paper boxes behind the counter are a hint that taking them to go is a more popular choice!
Should You Try Fofos de Belas?
Fofos de Belas are quite different from your typical Portuguese pastries and cakes. They are very light and not overly sweet despite the extra sugar sprinkled on top. Although both the cake and the filling contains eggs, it’s also not too eggy. So, if you are not a big fan of Portuguese convent pastries, which are heavy on the egg yolks and sugar, Fofos de Belas has you covered! To me it’s absolutely worth taking a detour from Sintra just to sample these Portuguese fluffy delights!
Do you have a favourite local pastry or cake in Portugal? Let me know in the comments!