Portuguese Gila Allumette
Also known as: Portuguese allumette pastry · Gila allumette · Portuguese matchstick pastry
A matchstick of puff pastry, gila and cream beneath diamond-scored white icing.
- Origin
- French-pastry adaptation in the Portuguese repertoire · original authorship attributed, not confirmed
- Region
- Portugal
- Season
- Year-round, rare
The Portuguese bakery Allumette is a low elongated rectangle of puff pastry. Between two thin crisp sheets sits pastry cream with translucent strands of gila preserve and cinnamon. White royal icing closes the top, usually crossed by toasted jelly lines forming diamonds. Simpler versions omit the pattern.
The French name means “matchstick” and describes the long shape. Gila and cinnamon distinguish this Portuguese adaptation from other French allumettes, whether savoury or filled only with cream, almond or cheese.
- Puff pastry
- Pastry cream
- Gila preserve
- Cinnamon
- Royal icing
- Jelly for the pattern
Crisp and buttery in the layers, creamy at the centre, with sweet gila fibres, warm cinnamon and a smooth dry sugar cap.
The diamond jelly pattern may be omitted, leaving plain white icing. Cream and gila proportions vary. Outside Portugal, allumette may name entirely different preparations.
It is now uncommon and no regular counter was confirmed. Ask older own-production confectioneries for the sweet gila version because the name also identifies savoury pastries.
Espresso or black tea.
Fabrico Próprio records it in Portugal’s semi-industrial repertoire and notes a French creation attributed to a Swiss pastry chef working in Dinard. Because the attribution is presented as alleged and lacks primary documentation, it should be read as a historical hypothesis rather than proven authorship.
Adding gila—a preserve deeply associated with Portuguese sweets—shows how an imported form was adapted for the local counter. No shop with a confirmed regular current listing was found.
Sources: fabricoproprio.net
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