Desserts & pastries
Gató d'ametlla: Mallorca's moist almond cake
No flour, but ground almonds, eggs and citrus – Gató d'ametlla is naturally gluten-free and has been the dessert of choice in Valldemossa for generations.
The short answer
Gató d'ametlla: Mallorca's moist almond cake
Gató d'ametlla is a traditional Mallorcan almond cake made without flour, baked from ground almonds, eggs, sugar and citrus zest and classically served with a scoop of almond ice cream.
Ingredients: ground almonds, eggs, sugar, lemon, cinnamon
At its core, the batter consists of finely ground almonds, eggs, sugar, lemon or orange zest and a pinch of cinnamon. These few ingredients produce a dense, moist cake with an intense almond flavour. Wheat flour does not feature in the traditional recipe.
Why the cake is gluten-free
Doing without flour is not a modern adaptation to dietary trends but has grown historically: almonds were plentiful on the island and were traditionally used as the basis for baked goods. This makes the gató naturally gluten-free. If you have coeliac disease, it is still worth checking for possible cross-contamination in the kitchen in question.
Served with almond ice cream: the classic combination
Gató is traditionally served with a scoop of creamy almond ice cream (gelat d'ametlla), which complements the moist cake with a cool, mild note. This combination is particularly common in cafés around Valldemossa. If you prefer the cake on its own, you can also get it without ice cream as a slice with your coffee.
Where to try it
Valldemossa is considered the place with the longest gató tradition, but cafés and pastry shops in Palma and other towns also have the cake on offer. The preparation differs mainly in how moist it is and how intense the citrus flavour is. If you visit the Charterhouse in Valldemossa, you will find several cafés serving gató right nearby.
Practical tips
- If you are gluten-intolerant, ask about cross-contamination in the kitchen despite the flour-free recipe.
- Best tried fresh with a scoop of almond ice cream.
- In Valldemossa, enjoy it in one of the surrounding cafés straight after visiting the Charterhouse.
- As a dry baked good, it can be carried in hand luggage without any problem.
Good to know
Price ranges, opening times and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the provider or your airline before buying or flying.
Product knowledge
The specialities on this topic
Sweets & almonds Traditional Island-wide
Gató d'ametlla
Mallorcan almond cake
Moist almond cake without flour – classically served with almond ice cream.
- Ingredients
- Ground almonds, eggs, sugar, lemon zest, cinnamon
- Diet
- vegetarian · gluten-free
- Price range
- slice of cake in the low single-digit range
- Where to buy
- Pastry shops, market halls in Palma
- Flying
- Dry baked goods are no problem – they stay undamaged in hand luggage.
Last checked: August 2026
Sweets & almonds Centre of the island / Inca
Ametles de Mallorca
Mallorcan almonds
Small, aromatic island almonds – roasted, as almond milk, turrón or ice cream.
- Ingredients
- Almonds from island plantations
- Diet
- vegan · gluten-free
- Price range
- Island almonds cost noticeably more than imported ones
- Where to buy
- Sineu weekly market, Mercat de l'Olivar (Palma)
- Flying
- Dry goods: light, unbreakable and allowed in hand luggage.
Last checked: August 2026
Price ranges, opening times and airline rules change. We only give verifiable features and orders of magnitude – check details directly with the provider or your airline before buying or flying.
| Product | Hand luggage | Suitcase | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gató d'ametlla | yes | yes | Dry baked goods are no problem – they stay undamaged in hand luggage. |
| Ametles de Mallorca | yes | yes | Dry goods: light, unbreakable and allowed in hand luggage. |
Frequently asked questions
Is Gató d'ametlla really gluten-free?
Yes, it is traditionally made without flour – but if you have coeliac disease, watch out for cross-contamination in the kitchen.
Where do the almonds for the cake come from?
From the almond groves in the centre of the island, as is also typical of Ametlla de Mallorca.
What is gató traditionally served with?
With a scoop of creamy almond ice cream, which complements the moist cake.
More topics
-
Almond blossom & almond products
For two to three weeks in February, the centre of the island is in full bloom – and supplies the almonds from which Mallorca has been making almond milk, turrón and pastries for generations.
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Edible souvenirs
Instead of magnets and key rings: flor de sal, cold-pressed olive oil or a small bottle of Hierbas tell you more about the island than any mass-produced souvenir.
-
Fine food in Palma
If you want to buy sobrassada, cheese and olive oil to take home rather than eat them on the spot, you will find the widest choice in Palma's delicatessens and market halls – vacuum-packed and ready to travel.
Related
- Culture in Mallorca Background on Valldemossa and the Charterhouse.
- Places in Mallorca Valldemossa and other sights.
Next steps