Coca amb tallades with apricot, a Mallorcan dessert for special occasions

Coca amb tallades or coca de tajadas is the name given to one of the most traditional sponge cakes of the Balearic Islands. Present at carnival festivals, this is a very popular and versatile recipe. It can be sweet or savoury, as it is usually eaten with apricots or with sobrassada, depending on each person.

This recipe is the sweet one, with a delicious mix between the tender and tasty sponge cake and the apricots that become a delight after baking. A perfect recipe to serve with tea or coffee as an afternoon snack and good company.

Coca amb tallades with apricots

Coca amb tallades with apricots. | Shutterstock

Ingredients for the coca amb tallades with apricot

  • 400 g of flour
  • 100 g of lard
  • 3 eggs
  • 150 g of boiled and mashed potato
  • 15 g of baker’s yeast
  • 150 g of sugar
  • 250 ml of warm water
  • 6 apricots

How to make the coca amb tallades with apricot

  1. Slightly heat the water in a large bowl until it is lukewarm, it should never exceed 35ºC. Dilute the yeast first and add the rest of the ingredients: the flour, the lard at room temperature, the previously beaten eggs, the cold mashed cooked potato and the sugar.
  2. Stir well with a spoon until all the ingredients come together. When the dough becomes firm, put it on the worktop and knead it with your hands until it is smooth and soft. Roll the dough into a ball and leave it to rest for 1 hour or until it doubles in volume.
  3. Once the dough has risen, take it out of the bowl and roll it out on a large square tray of about 30×20 cm. It is important to cover the entire tray with parchment paper to make it easier to remove the sponge cake. When the dough is well spread out, cover with cling film and leave to rest for another 1 hour so that it acquires volume.
  4. When it has rested sufficiently, carefully place the peeled and halved apricots, as shown in the picture. Finally, sprinkle a good amount of sugar on top of the cake. Bake at 160ºC for 35-40 minutes or until golden brown on top. Just wait for it to cool!

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