Plate of French toast, eggs and cinnamon.

How to make torrijas

Learn how to make traditional homemade torrijas and discover how to adapt this recipe to create variations on this traditional Spanish Easter dessert.

Torrijas are a traditional Spanish sweet whose history dates back at least to the 15th century, when we find the first written record of this dish. It is mentioned in a book by Juan del Encina in 1430, as a recipe that was prepared for women who had recently given birth as an aid for recovery after childbirth. This link makes sense, as torrijas are a dish with a very high calorie count that provides plenty of energy and is made from basic ingredients, which were probably readily available.

Traditionally, torrijas were made with stale bread left over from previous days. Nowadays we would think of this as a waste-reduction recipe.

Recipe for traditional torrijas

How to elaborate torrijas

Preparation:

Cut the baguette into slices about 2 cm thick.
Infuse the milk to enhance the flavour. To do this, heat the milk in a saucepan along with the sugar, cinnamon stick, lemon peel and orange peel. Bring to a boil, strain and allow to cool.
Beat the egg and set aside.
Immerse the bread slices in the infused milk until they are fully soaked (without falling apart). Then carefully dip them in the beaten egg.
Fry the torrijas in plenty of virgin olive oil until golden brown on both sides.
Drain on absorbent paper to remove excess oil and… enjoy!

In many places, torrijas are served with a scoop of ice cream, honey or whipped cream, or sprinkled with icing sugar and ground cinnamon.

How to prepare other kinds of torrijas?

As with every recipe, there are many ways of making torrijas, and across the different parts of Spain this recipe varies slightly.

Here are some tips to prepare different versions of torrijas, according to your preferences and needs.

Using different types of bread, we will obtain different styles of torrija. A very sweet option for those with a real sweet tooth is to use brioche-type bread. For coeliac or gluten-intolerant individuals, any gluten-free bread (corn, rice or quinoa-based) can be used.
In case of lactose intolerance, replace the milk with lactose-free milk or any type of vegetable drink.
For a different and innovative torrija flavour, infuse the milk with other ingredients. For example, vanilla, cardamom, cloves, ginger, star anise, etc.
For those seeking a lighter and less calory-rich option, the trick is to avoid deep frying. Once coated in egg batter, place the torrijas in an air fryer or in the oven for approximately 15 minutes, at 200 ºC. When half the time has gone by, it is important to turn them over.

In conclusion, making homemade torrijas is easy, quick and very affordable. The preparation time is less than 20 minutes. In addition, this traditional dessert is very versatile and can be tweaked to suit our preferences.