Typical cakes fromthe Island of Elba

You won't have only happy memories of the scenery, the sea and your experiences surrounded by nature to take back home with you after your holidays in Elba but also other "sweet memories". 

What we are actually referring to are the typical, traditional Elba cakes: there are many, delicious ones that you can either choose to taste "directly in Elba" or, if you prefer, to buy and give as a souvenir to your friends once you return home. Once you have tasted them you will find aromas and flavours of the past once again.

More frequently served on special occasions or in honour of a religious festivity today they are made all year round in the craft bakers' laboratories and cake shops but always following recipes that have been passed from one generation to another and you can always be sure that onlynatural and genuine ingredients have been used.

All these delicacies are the cherry on the icing at any deasonal, gastronomical feast held on the Island, and the end product is always put along with other typical, traditional food.

Schiaccia Briaca 

Schiaccia Briaca is the most famous cake on the Island of Elba that tourists sort of look upon as the souvenir cake to take back with them at the end of their holiday, just like the happy memories of the sun and the beaches on the Island of Elba.  

If you wish there are two versions of the cake that you can buy, both equally delicious, and both claim the authenticity of the recipe: the Rio version with Aleatico wine and Alchermes liquor and the Capoliveri version with Muscat wine in it.

Imbollita di fichi

Along with the panificato this is the oldest traditional cake on the island of Elba. 

The Imbolita di fichi was considered the typical cake for celebrating and was served at the table along with the panificato al cioccolato, the more luxurious version of the "panificato" served over the Christmas periodby those who were better off.

La Sciacciunta

The Schiaccunta was the typical cake of the mountain areas in Elba: Poggio and Marciana. It is a very rich cake and the original recipe is made with lard.

It is thin and crisp and melts in your mouth, and is perfect if you down it with a good glass of Aleatico or Moscato.

Il Corollo

In the shops on the Island of Elba you can also easily find a home made soft sponge-like cake that has a nice smell of aniseed and that is absolutely delicious!

The Corollo was ttraditionally a cake made over the Easter period and is linked to a romantic tradition of the May feast in Campo.

Sportella

The sportella is another cake that is typical of the Easter period on the island. 

It is a sort of round cake shaped like a rubber ring with aniseed seeds. In the past it was more common to add extra ingredients  to the bread eaten on special occasions  like aniseed and fennel, sultanas, pine nuts and dried figs to make it more special than just the normal "bread they ate every day".

The sportella comes from a long dated tradition from the town of Rio nell'Elba along with another cake called Ceremito.

During the Easter period the bread with little birds on top - also called bread that is shaped using a metal cutter - always arouses great interest. It is a true rarity and is only made in a small bread shop in San Piero.

Sportella  photos Gabila Gerardi - Blog Panedolcealcioccolato
Schiaccia Briaca Blog I pasticci di Ale Titti