Pastel Cordobes Recipe: Andalusian Pumpkin Pastry Classic 2026

Pastel cordobés is a sweet pastry born in the city of Córdoba, a dessert with Arab roots that shows up on tables across the city during the celebrations of its patron saints. It is round and generous in size, though you will also find smaller versions in pastry shops around town.

The magic is in the contrast: a crisp, flaky crust wrapped around a creamy filling of cabello de ángel, the golden pumpkin jam that sweetens so much of Andalusian baking. Curiously, some bakeries also make a version with thin slices of ham inside, known as «manoletes» after the Córdoba bullfighter who loved these sweets.

This dessert could not be more delicious, crunchy from the pastry and creamy from its cabello de ángel filling. It takes about an hour of active work plus a chilling rest, and it serves twelve, so it is ideal for sharing at a family gathering.

Ingredients for Pastel Cordobés

Makes 12 servings

• 250 g wheat flour
• 100 g water
• 50 g pork lard at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 100 g cold unsalted butter
• 300 g cabello de ángel (pumpkin jam)
• 30 g white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 egg

How to Make Pastel Cordobés Step by Step

1. Mix the dough base

Mix 250 grams of wheat flour, 100 grams of water, 50 grams of pork lard at room temperature, 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar and 1 teaspoon of salt until the dough is homogeneous. Do not worry if at this point it looks a little dry and lumpy.

2. Add the cold butter

Add 100 grams of cold unsalted butter cut into cubes and work it into the mixture with your hands. Mix only until the dough is manageable; it does not matter if the butter is not completely integrated, since that is exactly how it should look to achieve the flaky texture of the pastry.

3. Chill the dough

Divide the dough into two equal balls, cover them with plastic wrap and place them in the fridge for 30 minutes so the dough firms up.

4. Roll out the first round

Roll out one of the dough balls with a rolling pin, giving it a round shape about 30 cm in diameter.

5. Spread the cabello de ángel

Place the rolled dough on a baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread 300 grams of cabello de ángel on top. Spread it evenly, leaving about 2-3 cm of the edges uncovered.

6. Cover and seal the edges

Roll out the other dough ball and use it to cover the cabello de ángel. Fold the edges of the pastry over and pinch them lightly to seal.

7. Bake the pastry

Preheat the oven to 180 ºC with top and bottom heat, and bake the pastry for 30-40 minutes.

8. Brush with egg and add sugar and cinnamon

Remove it from the oven and brush it with 1 beaten egg. Sprinkle it with 30 grams of white sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon. Return it to the oven and bake for another 10 minutes at the same temperature.

9. Cool completely

Take it out of the oven and let it cool completely on the baking tray.

10. Serve

Once cooled, the pastel cordobés is ready to serve. Slice it into portions and enjoy.

Tips for the Best Pastel Cordobés

Keep the butter cold

The cold cubed butter is what gives this pastry its flaky, layered bite. Work it in quickly with your hands and stop as soon as the dough holds together, even if streaks of butter remain visible.

Respect the chilling time

Thirty minutes in the fridge makes the dough firmer and much easier to roll into a neat 30 cm round. If your kitchen is warm, give it a little longer before stretching it out.

Leave the border uncovered

Keep 2-3 cm of the edge free of cabello de ángel so the two layers of dough can be folded and pinched shut. A clean seal keeps the filling inside during baking.

30 Top Recipes I Keep Coming Back to at Home

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a go-to rotation that covers cozy comfort plates, well-known dishes from around the world, and sweets that please a crowd.

When a rich, indulgent treat is what I'm after, my picks are usually this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a luscious Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I want something fruity and cozy, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is the one I reach for.

Mornings and lighter plates call for these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And for a gluten-free staple I can keep on hand, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

Tapas and Mediterranean cooking are a mood I return to often, and I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, these crackly Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, a velvety Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This chilled Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also makes the table when I feel like something a bit more elevated.

Come lunch or a slow dinner at home, I'm quick to suggest this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, a time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, a deep-flavored Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and silky Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When hunger runs bigger, I'll bake this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, a homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually mean this saucy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, golden Salchipapas recipe, a punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These simple Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe also work nicely as a light starter or snack.

And when guests are coming and drinks are part of the plan, dinner often gets paired with a cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a jug of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To fill out the spread, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or ending with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After years of trying, tweaking, and remaking dishes in my own kitchen, I've come to see that the ones that stick around are built on straightforward steps, methods you can trust, and serious flavor.

What follows is the set of recipes I keep circling back to—whether it's a fast plate just for me or a bigger spread for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is one I turn to when I want something that feels fancy without much fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better texture in desserts comes in handy, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

For something light and uncomplicated, I'll usually reach for the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. And for heavier comfort plates, my usual picks are the filling Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the velvety Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm just as happy sharing dishes with roots in other countries, like the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crunchy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and Spain's own Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another area I use all the time, since it cuts down on effort while still giving you excellent results. The ones I make most are Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a baked pasta classic can still be creamy, cheesy, and completely satisfying without any gluten.

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