Ensaimada

Ensaimada from Mallorca is a spiral-shaped pastry so light it seems to float, literally 30% less dense than #6 Arroz con Leche. Its airy texture comes from a labor-intensive process of laminating dough with lard into up to 20 paper-thin layers, resulting in a flaky, buttery crumb. Dusted with icing sugar and sometimes filled with custard or sobrassada, each spiral measures about 12 inches across. It's 50% lighter than the typical sweet bread, yet delivers a rich flavor from its 15% pork fat content. This pastry shines as a breakfast treat or post-dinner snack, offering a delicate balance of crispness and softness that has made it a Balearic icon for centuries.