National Dish Spain: Roscos de Vino (Recipe)
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Discover Roscos de Vino, one of Spain’s most cherished Christmas treats! These crumbly little rings are gently enriched with sherry and perfumed with warm spices, making them an irresistible addition to the festive table. Quick to put together yet wonderfully moreish, they fill the kitchen with the scents of cinnamon and anise as they bake. Delight your loved ones with a taste of Andalusian Christmas tradition straight from your own oven.
About Roscos de Vino
Roscos de Vino are a classic Spanish Christmas biscuit that no household goes without during the festive season. These delicious little rings have their origins in Andalusia, where they have been baked for centuries. Their unmistakable flavour comes from the addition of sherry, which gives them a truly distinctive character. Best of all, they are as simple to make as they are tasty, making them perfect for festive home baking with the whole family.
Ingredients (serves 1–2)
- 250 g plain flour
- 100 g ground almonds
- 125 g sugar
- 125 ml dry sherry
- 125 ml olive oil
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp anise
- Icing sugar, for dusting
Shopping for the ingredients
When shopping for the ingredients for roscos de vino, it pays to keep an eye on quality. Choose good-quality flour and fresh almonds to draw out the very best aroma. The sherry should be dry and well made, as it is the element that gives these biscuits their signature taste. A good olive oil also adds depth and intensity to the finished flavour, so it is worth picking a bottle you trust.
Preparing the dish
Before you begin, weigh out all the ingredients and have them ready to hand. The almonds can be freshly ground or bought ready-ground to save time. It is important to sift the flour to avoid any lumps in the dough. The dough itself should then rest in the fridge for at least an hour, which both deepens the aroma and makes it much easier to roll out and shape.
Step-by-step instructions
- Combine the flour and ground almonds thoroughly in a large bowl.
- Add the sugar, cinnamon and anise and mix everything together well.
- Slowly pour in the sherry and the olive oil, then knead it all into a smooth dough.
- Wrap the dough in cling film and leave it to rest in the fridge for at least one hour.
- After resting, roll out the dough and cut out circles with a round cutter. Make a small hole in the centre of each one so they form rings.
- Place the rings on a baking tray lined with parchment and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C for around 15 minutes.
- Take the finished roscos de vino out of the oven and dust them with icing sugar while still warm.
- Leave to cool and enjoy.
Gluten-free / lactose-free version
For a gluten-free version of the roscos de vino, simply swap the wheat flour for a gluten-free blend. Make sure the gluten-free flour is suitable for baking so the texture stays light and crumbly. As the recipe already contains no dairy, the biscuits are naturally lactose-free — just take care that all your other ingredients are free from traces of gluten and lactose too. That way everyone at the table can enjoy them.
Tips for vegans and vegetarians
Since the roscos de vino contain no animal products, they are perfectly suited to a vegan diet. Even so, do make sure all your ingredients — especially the sherry — are vegan, as many wines are clarified using animal-derived products, so a vegan label is worth checking. Vegetarians can follow the recipe exactly as written, since it contains no meat at all. This makes the biscuits a wonderfully inclusive bake for festive gatherings.
More tips and tricks
To make your roscos de vino even more fragrant, let the dough rest in the fridge overnight, which intensifies the warmth of the spices. For more uniform rings, use two cutters of different sizes to shape them neatly. For a subtler twist, you can replace some of the almonds with ground hazelnuts. Store the finished biscuits in an airtight tin to keep them fresh and crumbly for longer. If you enjoy almond-rich sweets, you might also like the rustic Polvorones-style Mantecados of the region.
Adapting the recipe to your taste
The recipe for roscos de vino is easy to tailor to your own preferences. If you like things sweeter, increase the amount of sugar to taste. For a spicier note, add a little extra cinnamon or anise. The sherry can also be swapped for another spirit such as brandy to vary the flavour. Feel free to experiment with different nuts and spices to create your own perfect version of this festive classic.
Ingredient substitutions
If you do not have any sherry to hand, a dry white wine or brandy makes a good stand-in. The ground almonds can be replaced with other nuts such as hazelnuts or walnuts. For an alcohol-free version, you can use apple juice instead, though this will alter the flavour of the biscuits slightly. In place of olive oil, a neutral vegetable oil will also work well, much as it does in many a Spanish bake like Bizcocho de Naranja.
Drink pairing ideas
The roscos de vino pair beautifully with a cup of hot coffee or a glass of sweet dessert wine. A robust red wine also complements the warm, spiced notes of the biscuits wonderfully. For an alcohol-free option, a fragrant chai tea or a mug of hot chocolate makes an inviting match. Served alongside any of these drinks, the biscuits create a perfect harmony that rounds off the festive experience.
Serving and presentation ideas
To show off your roscos de vino, arrange them on a decorative plate and dust them with a little icing sugar. Alternatively, pack them into small cellophane bags tied with ribbon — an ideal homemade Christmas gift. A pretty glass jar with the rings stacked inside also looks lovely on the festive coffee table. A few sprigs of fir or some seasonal decoration will lift the whole arrangement even further.
A bit of history
The roscos de vino have a long tradition that reaches back to the 16th century. They originally came from the region of Andalusia, where they became an established part of the Christmas festivities. The sherry that gives them their distinctive flavour also hails from this very region. Over the years the recipes have changed a little, yet the core ingredients and the method have remained largely the same — a delicious thread of Spanish cuisine running through the centuries.
More recipe ideas
Summary: Roscos de Vino
The roscos de vino are a traditional Spanish Christmas biscuit that wins everyone over with its unique flavour. With just a handful of ingredients and a few simple steps, these delicious little rings are easy to bake at home. Whether gluten-free, lactose-free or vegan, the recipe adapts beautifully to all kinds of dietary needs. Enjoy your roscos de vino with a hot drink and savour a genuine piece of Spanish Christmas tradition.
