Toucinho do céu

Toucinho do céu is one of many Portuguese sweets that were initially prepared at convents. In its simplest form, this traditional cake combines sugary syrup, lard, ground almonds, and a hefty amount of egg yolks, while the common additions include various spices and chila squash. Although not much is known about its history and the place of origin, the varieties of this Portuguese-style almond cake are found throughout the country, but the most popular local versions hail from Guimarães, Murça, and Trás-os-Montes. Interestingly, the name of the dish translates as pork from heaven, presumably because some of the first recipes included pork lard.