Bustrengo

Name: Bustrengo
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 55 min
Total time: 85 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: San Marinese
Ingredients: 200g stale bread, crumbled; 150g cornmeal; 100g all-purpose flour; 3 eggs; 100ml milk; 80g honey; 60g sugar; 100g raisins; 80g dried figs, chopped; 60g walnuts, chopped; 50g pine nuts; Zest of 1 lemon; Zest of 1 orange; 50g butter, melted; 1 apple, peeled and grated; 1 pear, peeled and grated

Bustrengo (boo-STREN-goh)

San Marinese Fruit Cake

⏱ Prep Time 30 min

📈 Difficulty Medium

👥 Servings

🔥 Calories 349 kcal

A dense, rustic cake studded with dried fruits, nuts, and breadcrumbs, sweetened with honey — the ancient dessert of the republic.

Nutrition & Info

Protein 6.0g

Carbs 52.0g

Fat 13.0g

Protein Carbs Fat

Dietary

vegetarian

Allergen Warnings

⚠ gluten ⚠ dairy ⚠ eggs ⚠ tree nuts

Equipment Needed

mixing bowl round cake tin oven

Presentation Guide

Vessel: rustic ceramic plate

Garnishes: powdered sugar, orange zest

Accompaniments: espresso

Ingredients

200g stale bread, crumbled
150g cornmeal
100g all-purpose flour
3 eggs
100ml milk
80g honey
60g sugar
100g raisins
80g dried figs, chopped
60g walnuts, chopped
50g pine nuts
Zest of 1 lemon
Zest of 1 orange
50g butter, melted
1 apple, peeled and grated
1 pear, peeled and grated

Instructions

1
Soak the crumbled bread in milk for 15 minutes until soft. Squeeze out excess liquid.
2
In a large bowl, combine soaked bread, cornmeal, flour, eggs, honey, sugar, and melted butter.
3
Fold in raisins, figs, walnuts, pine nuts, grated apple, grated pear, and citrus zests.
4
Mix thoroughly until the batter is thick and all fruit is evenly distributed.
5
Pour into a buttered and floured cake tin. Bake at 170°C for 50-60 minutes until a skewer comes out clean.
6
Cool in the tin for 15 minutes before turning out. Dust with powdered sugar and serve at room temperature.

💡

Did You Know?

Every village in San Marino has its own bustrengo recipe, and heated debates about the correct ingredients have lasted for centuries.

Chef's Notes

Equipment Tips

mixing bowl
round cake tin
oven

Garnishing

powdered sugar, orange zest

Accompaniments

espresso

The Story Behind Bustrengo

Bustrengo is the oldest and most traditional dessert of San Marino, dating back to the medieval period when peasants combined whatever dried fruits and stale bread they had into a hearty cake. Originally a way to avoid waste, it became the festive cake of the Christmas season. The recipe varies dramatically from household to household, but always features the combination of dried fruit, nuts, and breadcrumbs that defines this uniquely Sammarinese treat.

🕐 Traditionally enjoyed christmas and winter holidays 📜 Origins: Medieval

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