Traditional Valencian sweets serve as valuable ambassadors of Valencian gastronomy. These desserts are heirs to a long tradition with Arab roots. Mediterranean ingredients as healthy as almonds and tiger nuts are the main stars of recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation for centuries. Many of them can be found on our dessert menus. Would you like to get to know them a little better?

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Coca de llanda

Coca de llanda is one of the most typical Valencian desserts. It is made with very basic ingredients, since it originated during the medieval wars. With a dense and moist texture, it is prepared by measuring the ingredients with glasses. Particularly famous is the one they make at Pelayo Gastro Trinquet with 70% chocolate cream.

Arnadí

Arnadí is the oldest of Valencia’s traditional sweets. This dessert of Arab origin is made by cooking roasted pumpkin with sugar, ground almonds, egg yolks, cinnamon, and lemon zest. It is especially popular during Holy Week in Xátiva and La Ribera.

Horchata with Fartons

Considered the quintessential typical Valencian dessert, fartons are as representative of Valencia as paella or oranges. The Polo family, who created them in Alboraya in the 1960s, now produces 25,000 units per hour. Among the most successful reinventions of this traditional sweet is the torrija with horchata ice cream served at Vaqueta Gastro Mercat.

Pumpkin fritters

There is nothing more typical in Valencia than eating pumpkin fritters when Las Fallas arrives. This mixture of cooked pumpkin with flour, egg, yeast, and orange zest is coated in sugar once fried. You can find them at Fallas stalls and pastry shops during the autumn months.

Horchata panna cotta

Horchata panna cotta is the result of combining this typical Valencian dessert with one of the most representative sweets of Italian pastry-making. Hydrated gelatin is the secret to setting the famous tiger nut drink. At Pelayo Gastro Trinquet, they take it to the next level by adding caramelized farton crumble.

Panquemao de agua de València

Panquemao, or toña, is a traditional Valencian sweet eaten during Holy Week and Easter. This brioche of Arab origin has its birthplace in the town of Alberique, which has nine traditional bakeries. To prepare these traditional Valencian sweets, bake the mixture of flour, eggs, oil, sugar, yeast, and lemon zest until it turns golden.

Agua de València sorbet

Agua de Valencia is a Valencian dessert that seduces anyone who tries it. The irresistible flavor of this cocktail is the result of combining natural orange juice, cava, vodka, and gin. Best of all, it has its own summer version in the form of sorbets as refreshing as those served at Pelayo Gastro Trinquet.

Sweet potato pastries

There are traditional Valencian sweets that cannot be missing at Christmas. That is the case with sweet potato pastries. Similar to small turnovers, their filling consists of sweet potato cooked with sugar, cinnamon, and lemon. They can be found in any bakery in the city when December arrives.

Nougat ice cream slice

We could not understand the importance of Valencian sweets without Jijona’s nougat industry. Indeed, the nougat ice cream slice uses this Christmas sweet as its main ingredient. After all, it is made by placing ice cream of this flavor between two wafers or wafer biscuits like a sandwich. The one they make at Casa Baldo 1915 is finger-licking good.

Have we managed to bring out your sweet tooth with this list of traditional Valencian sweets? Visit one of our restaurants to try our delicious traditional Valencian desserts.

Carta de Pelayo
Carta de Vaqueta
Carta de Casa Baldo

The restaurants of Grupo Gastro Trinquet, always faithful to Valencian gastronomic tradition, stand out for how well they make the most of these desserts.