“Esperanças” are a regional sweet, specific to the island of São Miguel, and were born by the hands of the nuns of the Esperança Convent in Ponta Delgada. They are small cakes with almond and cidron and have an intense flavour that will delight anyone who tries them.
Esperanças
Picture by A Confeitaria Colmeia
The Esperança Monastery is where the image and sanctuary of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres are stored, a convent classified as ‘Property of Public Interest’. It is one of the most important places for Azoreans, as the largest religious festival in the region and the second largest in the country is the feast of Senhor Santo Cristo dos Milagres. Every year, with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic that ravaged the world, on the fifth Sunday after Easter, the people and thousands of emigrants who return to their roots, come together to worship and celebrate their saint. This is the oldest religious celebration on the island.
Esperança Monastery
Picture by CM Ponta Delgada
The recipe for this sweet has two essential parts. The first is the making of the dough, which requires: 1 cup of wheat flour, 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 pinch of salt and water (to taste).
All these ingredients must be mixed in the same bowl until they reach a good consistency, a consistency that will allow the dough to be rolled out. To roll out the dough, preferably thin, roll it out on a flat surface covered with a little olive oil so that it does not stick to the surface.
The second part of the recipe is music to the ears of the greediest, the filling. To make this you will need 1 tablespoon of butter, breadcrumbs, 125 grams of cidron, 100 grams of almonds, 4 egg yolks, and 250 grams of sugar. To obtain the necessary consistency, use water (to taste).
To prepare it, start by making sugar syrup. Put the sugar and water in a pan and leave it on low heat until it boils. Once this stage is finished, prepare the egg yolks by beating them and adding them to the sugar syrup. Add the breadcrumbs, almonds, citron and butter. To mix everything together more effectively, we recommend using a whisk.
Once the dough and filling are ready, it is time to combine the two elements. Make small rolls from the filling and place them on top of the dough. Roll up the dough with the filling inside. On the top of the pastry, the one that will be left upwards in the oven, strike it with a knife twice. Take it to the oven at 180º and bake for 20 minutes. Apply the topping and it is ready to delight anyone. The topping of the sweet is made with icing sugar and cinnamon.
This sweet was the winning sweet from the Azores to represent the region in the final of the 7 Sweet Wonders of Portugal. It is produced at A Colmeia, stop by and enjoy this delicacy.
Esperanças in the 7 Sweet Wonders of Portugal
Picture by A Confeitaria Colmeia