Today we bring you the classic recipe for pine nut panellets, those delicious morsels that become the kings of the Castañada every autumn. So, get to work and get ready to surprise everyone with your culinary skills!
Ingredients
To make about 30 panellets, you will need:
- 500 g ground Marcona almonds
- 400 g of sugar
- 150 g of pine nuts
- 2 eggs
- 100 g of cooked potato or sweet potato (this is optional; we substituted it with 2 egg whites )
- Zest of a lemon (also optional, but it makes a difference 😉)
- A pinch of salt
How to make panellets step by step
And here the magic begins!
1. Prepare the dough:
- Cook the potato or sweet potato until soft and tender. Allow to cool and mash.
- In a large bowl, mix the ground almonds with the sugar.
- Add the mashed potato or sweet potato and mix well until you have a homogeneous dough.
- Add the lemon zest and a pinch of salt to give it that extra touch of flavor.
- Let the dough rest in the fridge for a few hours or, if you can, overnight. It's worth the wait!
*Tip for experts
- We will refine the dough with rolling pins to break up the sugar grains, extract the almond oil and create a finer, more homogeneous paste.
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC.
- Lightly beat one of the eggs.
- Form small balls with the dough (about the size of a walnut, but not too hard).
- Dip each ball in the beaten egg and then roll in the pine nuts. Make sure they are well coated!
3. Bake :
- Place the panellets on a baking tray covered with baking paper.
- Beat the other egg and brush the panellets with it to give them a nice golden finish.
- Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the pine nuts are golden brown.
- Let the panellets cool before you start devouring them.
- Making pine nut panellets at home is a wonderful way to take part in a Catalan tradition and enjoy a delicious homemade dessert. Bon profit!
What to serve with panellets
How about pairing these sweets with something special? Panellets go wonderfully with a good muscatel wine, that sweet wine that complements them perfectly. But if wine isn't your thing, try coffee, tea or even a glass of cava! Any option is good to enjoy these delicious little bites.
Where to buy panellets in Barcelona
If after reading all this you prefer to leave the kitchen for another occasion, don't worry. In Barcelona you can get some exquisite panellets at Bombonería Pons . Here you will find panellets that will make your mouth water and will allow you to enjoy this tradition without lifting a finger in the kitchen.
Now you know everything! Whether you decide to make them yourself or buy them, this autumn enjoy panellets and Castañada!