What Spanish cake from Galicia is decorated with the cross of Saint James?

Tarta de Santiago is a Spanish almond cake from Galicia decorated with the cross of Saint James.

The cake is made primarily from ground almonds, sugar, and eggs. Its top is dusted with powdered sugar through a stencil shaped like the Cross of Saint James, creating the dessert’s instantly recognizable decoration. It is traditionally associated with Santiago de Compostela, the pilgrimage city in Galicia.

The cake’s history is connected with the long-standing pilgrimage route to the shrine of Saint James. References to an almond-based cake in the region appear in historical records from the early modern period, although the modern form developed over time.

Tarta de Santiago is not the same as a generic Spanish almond cake. Its protected regional identity, Galician association, and Cross of Saint James decoration distinguish it from other almond-based desserts such as Mallorca’s ensaimada.