Areias (singular: areia, lit. 'sand') are small traditional Portuguese pastries similar to cakes and biscuits. They are commonly coated with coarse-grain sugar ("sanding sugar"), and sometimes cinnamon, which resemble sand for which areias are named after.
 Areias coated with sugar-cinnamon | |
| Alternative names | Bolacha; bolacinha |
|---|---|
| Type | Biscuit |
| Place of origin | Portugal |
| Main ingredients | Wheat flour, almond (or hazelnuts), eggs, lard |
| Ingredients generally used | Lemon zest, cinnamon |
| Similar dishes | Sandie (cookie), shortbread, Russian tea cake, snickerdoodle |
| |
Variants
Areias de Cascais (lit. 'areias from Cascais') or simply areias.[1] The traditional recipe calls for dough made of flour mixed with lard (or butter), rolled into balls the size of walnuts, that is baked without the use of a leavening agent.[2] The biscuits are then coated in coarse-grain sugar. Some modern recipes optionally use lemon zest or vanilla,[3] or incorporate ground almonds and glacé cherries.[4] Because of the simplicity of recipe, variations exists throughout Portugal.[5][6]
- Areias do Sorraia (lit. 'areias from Sorraia River') are similar to areias de Cascais but made extensively with lard and dusted with cinnamon.[7] Cinnamon brought back from Asia was a product of Portuguese Exploration in 16th century resulting its incorporation into Portuguese cuisine.[4]
- Areias de Sintra (lit. 'areias from Sintra') are described similar to Russian tea cakes, using hazelnuts common to the area. The biscuits are also coated in powdered sugar after baking.[4]
- Areias de gengibre (lit. 'ginger areias') a recipe by Nestlé, adds fresh ground ginger and lemon zest.[8] It may also be topped with dulce de leche for areias de Doce de leite.[9][4]
- Areias de chocolate (cacau) (lit. 'chocolate (cocoa) areias') incorporate cocoa powder into the dough.[4][10]
| Type | Cake |
|---|---|
| Place of origin | Portugal |
| Region or state | Lourinhã |
| Created by | Eugenia Perdigão, Maria Luísa Pereira |
| Main ingredients | Almond, egg yolks, sugar |
| Variations | Aguardente |
| Similar dishes | Madeleine (cake) |
| |
Areias Brancas (lit. 'white sands') are moist flourless cakes containing finely ground almonds, egg yolks, and sugar.[11] Unlike other areias which are formed like cookie dough, this cake is made with a batter that are baked into small individual molds. After baking, the cakes topped with sanding sugar.[12]
The original unnamed cake recipe is believed to be derived from a conventual sweet created in Lisbon. When the over two-century year old cake recipe was taken out from the convent to Lourinhã, it was named after the nearby beach Praia da Areia Branca.[13] This traditional product is now a trademarked product made solely by a single family bakery, Casa das Areias Brancas.[12][14][15] In recent years, the bakery has also incorporated aguardente as an ingredient.[16]
In 2016, it was featured at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in a video entitled "The Most Famous Unknown Cake".[17]
