Doce Delicia da Casa - House Dessert

I grew up loving the kitchen and loving to cook. From a very young age I wanted play pots and pans and nothing more than to sit at my Great grandmother's feet while she cooked a meal.

But she wasn't the only woman that influenced my huge love for cooking, my grandmothers, my mother, my stepmother and even my dad all played vital parts in it too.

This recipe is one that I learnt how to make when I was in my teens and it's one of the easiest and yummiest quick fixers that I always turn to when looking for a great dessert.....it's also one of the ones always present at our Christmas Eve Meal.

If you're Portuguese, you will no doubt have already tried it, either at home, a friend's or a Portuguese restaurant.  It is usually the House Dessert, the one you will always pick and then devour the minute it hits the table.

Doce Delicia da Casa - House Dessert

1 can of condensed milk
Measurement of the same can, in whole milk
Maria cookies (if you don't have Maria cookies, you can use shortbread or butter)
2 cups of heavy cream
4 eggs, separated
4 tablespoons sugar
Fresh brewed coffee, sweetened to your taste


In a saucepan, add the condensed milk, the 4 egg yolks and the whole milk.  Mix well, place over slow heat and stir constantly until it starts to boil.  Immediately remove off the heat, and pour into a 13x9 baking dish.

Set aside.

Pour the fresh brewed coffee into a bowl.  Dip each of the cookies, one at a time, and lay over the custard in the baking dish.  Continue until you've got a layer of cookies covering the top of the custard.

Beat the egg whites with 2 tablespoons of sugar, until stiff.

In another bowl, beat the heavy cream with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar.  Fold the egg whites into the whipped cream until well incorporated, then spread this mixture over the cookies.

Take a cookie or two and crumble over the whipped cream layer.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.