Sweets and desserts

Bolo de bolacha

Cold dessert of biscuits soaked in coffee and buttery cream.

RegionNationwide
DifficultyEasy
Total time35 min
Yield10 slices
Photo of Bolo de bolacha - traditional Portuguese sweet
Photo of the traditional Portuguese recipe.

Editorial content from Empório Portugal. Traditional recipes may vary by region, family and cook.

About the recipe

Bolo de bolacha is a Portuguese dessert for home, coffee and a simple party.

Layers of biscuits and cream create a cold treat, with a coffee flavour and a soft texture after resting.

Ingredients

  • 300 g Maria biscuits
  • 250 g unsalted butter
  • 180 g icing sugar
  • 2 pasteurised egg yolks (optional)
  • Cold strong coffee
  • Chocolate shavings or crushed wafers

Method

  1. Beat the butter and sugar until light and creamy.
  2. Add the pasteurised egg yolks if using.
  3. Quickly dip the biscuits into the coffee.
  4. Assemble layers of biscuit and cream.
  5. Cover with cream and biscuit crumbs.
  6. Chill for a few hours before serving.

Tips from Empório Portugal

  • Soak the biscuits quickly so they don't fall apart.
  • Resting in the refrigerator firms the cake.
  • Unsweetened coffee balances the cream.

Possible substitutions in Brazil

  • Cornflour biscuits can replace Maria biscuits.
  • Mascarpone cream may be used as an alternative.

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Editorial note from Empório Portugal

This recipe is part of the editorial curation of Empório Portugal, developed from Portuguese culinary tradition. Like every traditional recipe, it may vary by region, family and cook.

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Send it to the Empório Portugal community. Submitted recipes are reviewed before any publication.

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Quick facts

Prep
35 min
Cooking
No cooking
Total time
35 min
Yield
10 slices
Difficulty
Easy
Occasion
Cold dessert, birthday

Pairing

Coffee or black tea. No alcoholic drink is required.

Empório tip

Soak the biscuits quickly so they don't fall apart.

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