Carbó bakery and patisserie: the legacy of the Tortada (Classic Banyoles sponge cake)

Can Carbó is an iconic store in Banyoles with a pastry-making tradition that spans three generations.
Today it is run by the sisters Elisenda and Marta, who preside over an extensive counter that makes it difficult to know where to start: on display are house-made sweets, Rocs de l’Estany (chocolate-coated almond bonbons), all kinds of chocolates and cakes, as well as fruit strips, Saras (almond cream cakes), bunyols (fried
dough balls) and xuixos (traditional custard donuts), alongside a wide variety of artisan pastries.

The star of the show is a traditional cake with a very special history and flavour, the Tortada banyolina – registered under this name. A very fine sponge cake, the Tortada was created in the 19th century by Vicenç Carreras according to his own secret recipe, and for many years was primarily made by two establishments: Confiteria Boix (until 1999), and Pastisseria Boadella (formerly Casa Carreras) (until 2012).

When the latter closed, Banyoles found itself without its very own exquisite dessert, leaving a sweet void that seemed impossible to fill. However, Salvador Boix lovingly showed Carlos of Pastisseria Carbó the secret of its creation and thanks to him, and the recovery of the original moulds, this gastronomic treasure has returned to grace the town with its unmistakeable splendour.

Today, a visit to Banyoles is incomplete until you try the emblematic Tortada banyolina. This delightful sponge cake, made from a base of Marcona almonds, eggs and sugar, is prepared using the original crown-shaped moulds, acquired from a Paris patisserie. Once baked, the Tortada is topped with a dusting of icing sugar, and its elegant and tempting appearance, along with its fine texture, has captivated generations, from King Alfonso XIII, who praised it highly, to the writer Josep Pla, who immortalised it in his work El quadern gris.

Contact:

Fleca i pastisseria Carbó
Plaça Major, 19
Banyoles
Tel. (0034) 972 570 428

This project is part of:

TOURISM SUSTAINABILITY PLAN IN DESTINATION
Banyoles, Ciutat de l’Aigua
Extraordinary Call 2022
Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan - Funded by the European Union -NextGenerationEU

More information on the Tourism Sustainability Plan in Destination, Banyoles, Ciutat de l'Aigua at https://nextdestination.banyoles.cat