There’s something magical about discovering a new recipe while traveling, and this one instantly won me over. On a recent trip to Spain, I picked up a culinary magazine and flipping through its pages over a café con leche, I found a rustic, beautiful dessert that caught my eye: Coca de Cerezas, a traditional Catalan cherry cake that’s as simple as it is stunning.
This sweet treat is a cross between a cake and a light bread. It’s fluffy, subtly sweet, and topped with juicy cherries that caramelize ever so slightly in the oven. It’s the kind of dessert that feels homemade in the best way – comforting, easy to make, and perfect for any time of day, whether it’s breakfast, merienda (afternoon snack), or dessert.
🇪🇸 What is Coca?
Coca is a beloved pastry from Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain. It comes in many forms, both sweet and savoury, and is deeply woven into Catalan culinary tradition. You might think of it as a distant cousin of Italian focaccia or a rustic tart, but coca has its own unique identity.
Sweet cocas are often made for festivals and special occasions, especially in spring and summer, and are usually topped with seasonal fruits like cherries, apricots, or candied fruits. Coca de Cerezas, in particular, is popular during cherry season and celebrates the natural sweetness of ripe, fresh cherries.
🛒 Ingredients for Coca de Cerezas
To make this easy and delicious Catalan cherry cake, you’ll need:
- 150g all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 100g sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 to 1½ cups fresh cherries, pitted and halved
- Icing sugar for sprinkling on top
- mint leaves for decoration
👩🍳 How to Make Coca de Cerezas
- Preheat your oven to 180°C. Line a baking dish or cake pan with parchment paper.
- In one bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, and salt.
- In another bowl, whisk the eggs with sugar until light and fluffy.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients, mixing gently until just combined.
- Pour the batter into your prepared pan and scatter the cherry halves evenly over the top.
- Sprinkle with a bit of sugar to help the cherries caramelize.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until golden and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let cool slightly before slicing. Dust with the icing sugar and decorate with the mint leaves.
- Best served warm or at room temperature.
💭 Final Thoughts
Coca de Cerezas is the kind of recipe that connects you to tradition while giving you something incredibly delicious and simple to enjoy. With minimal effort, you get a dessert that’s beautiful, full of seasonal flavour, and deeply comforting.
Whether you’re dreaming of Spain or simply love cherry desserts, I hope this recipe brings a little Catalan sunshine into your kitchen. 🍒
Tried it? Let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram, I’d love to see your beautiful coca!
