Viúvas

These small Portuguese pastries hail from Braga. They consist of a pastry base and a sweet filling that combines egg yolks, sugar, and almonds. The cakes have a centuries-old tradition and were initially prepared by Franciscan nuns at the former convent dos Remédios that was once located in Braga. The tradition of preparing viúvas was kept alive until the mid-20th century, when they completely disappeared. With the help of old transcripts, the recipe was rediscovered and viúvas were reintroduced as a signature local dessert.