Four European sweet treats to track down near campus

It’s that time of year: winter markets are wafting the sweet scent of churros, and cosy cafes are calling you in from the cold to savour a pastry or gateau. I personally would love to be wandering a German market with some lebkuchen or people-watching in a Parisian café while devouring a  pain au chocolat. Unfortunately, university deadlines and the state of my bank account mean this isn’t looking likely. But if, like me, you can’t resist a sweet treat, go ahead and peruse my list of European sweet treats and find out where to track them down near Warwick campus.

Pastel de Nata

Starting off strong we have the Portuguese pastel de nata. If you haven’t tried one of these before, this sweet treat is a type of custard tart from Lisbon. The pastel de nata is believed to have its origins in the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, created in part due to egg yolks being so widely available. The popularity of pastéis de nata grew throughout Portugal and, lucky for us, came to countries across the world.

After tasting a pastel de nata at one of the many bakeries in Lisbon, I decided it was necessary to discover a source back in the UK as well. Fortunately, pastel de natas are available in Portuguese restaurants local to Warwick University. A couple I have noted are Gorety Portuguese Café in Coventry and Portuguese Flavours in Leamington Spa, which just so happens to be down the road from where I live – good news.

Cinnamon Rolls

Despite some debate over which Scandinavian country initially originated cinnamon rolls, they are often thought to be descended from the Swedish kanelbulle, a cinnamon and cardamom flavoured pastry knot. This delicious bun is a key feature of the Swedish coffee break known as fika. Sweden even has a day dedicated to cinnamon rolls, called ‘Kanelbullens dag’, where the population of 10.6 million people eat over 7 million of this treat. If that doesn’t give Sweden a right to claim cinnamon rolls, I don’t know what does.

If you’re now hungry for a cinnamon roll fika of your own, my personal recommendation has to be Cinnabox. You might’ve seen their stall pop up on campus at the Christmas markets, or in the Leamington Spa Sunday markets. I can say first hand that their cinnamon rolls are incredible. If you don’t believe me, believe the speed at which their products sell out. They also add a twist with flavours including toffee, cookies and cream, and even s’mores. Name it, they probably have it.

Baklava

A syrupy filo pastry dessert often filled with pistachios or walnuts, Baklava finds its roots in the Ottoman Empire, with a variety of countries including Greece, Turkey and Lebanon all claiming it as their own. Baklava is often enjoyed at celebrations and family events, and can be found with numerous different flavours and fillings.

Baklava can be found as a staple dessert in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurants, including Greek Zante Street in Leamington Spa and Antalya Restaurant in Coventry. So what are you waiting for? Go try that baklava!

Cannoli

As a huge fan of Italian food, I had to include the Sicilian classic cannoli. This crispy pastry tube with a ricotta filling holds an essential place in Sicilian heritage and cooking. It is often enjoyed at celebrations and festivals, and over time the cannoli has begun to embrace a variety of flavours, including chocolate, nuts and citrus fruits.

Let me guess, now you’re craving cannoli. Well, don’t panic because you can taste test countless different flavours at South Warwickshire based Café Cannoli, whose aim is to bring Sicilian Street Food to the UK. They actually import many traditional ingredients from Sicily itself, so their customers really have that authentic cannoli experience. Their creations include lemon and raspberry, pistachio, and salted caramel. You’re likely to find their stall when the Leamington Spa market is around, so make sure to grab your opportunity to claim this Italian sweet treat!