When Rick and I were in Porto last week we had the opportunity to try serradura, a typical Portuguese dessert made from sweetened whipped cream layered with cookie crumbs. Serradura means sawdust which describes the fine crumbs. This is a fun and easy dessert.
If you can whip cream and crush some cookies, you can make serradura. The one we were served had a fruity glaze on top, but this recipe used chocolate shavings. I imagine you could flavor the whipped cream as well (see this post on Easy Chocolate Mousse for inspiration).
We were served our serradura layered in a glass. I’m sure you could use parfait glasses or even create layers in a trifle bowl or glass loaf pan and serve from there instead of individual portions. We have a set of short 8 ounce glasses that are perfectly sized for this type of dessert. After whipping a cup of cream we had enough to fill two glasses plus another small one that was eaten before the photos were taken.
If you can whip cream and crush cookies, you can make serradura a delicious Portuguese #dessert.Click To TweetUse any sort of buttery cookie or digestive biscuit you like to make the crumbs. We had Maria cookies on hand and needed about a dozen to make enough crumbs. The glaze was made with peach preserves, but if you have something else you like, feel free to use it. I’m sure it will be great!
Ingredients
- 1 cup whipping heavy cream
- 1/4 cup sweetened condensed milk substitute 2 tablespoons sugar if you prefer
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 dozen Maria cookies crushed fine
- 1/2 cup peach preserves + 1 teaspoon of water
Instructions
- Crush the cookies until very fine. I used a food processor, but the old fashioned method of putting them in a plastic bag and crushing them with a rolling pin works, too.
- Whip the cream with the vanilla and condensed milk until peaks form.
- Form the layers by alternating cookie crumbs and whipped cream. Leave some room at the top for the glaze.
- To make the glaze, stir the water into the preserves and heat in the microwave for less than a minute until it becomes easy to spread. Spoon onto the serradura and gently spread.
- Chill in the fridge for several hours to set.
Enjoy your little glass of yummy!
Love it! Super easy to make and its delicious
I’m glad it worked out for you, Jane! Thanks for taking the time to comment. It makes my day 🙂
Dear Lydia,
Will this recipe provide enough for 8 small Ramikin dishes?
(I have to provide the dessert for 8 people at a Portuguese Dinner party)
I do like the simplicity of the preparation As well as the visual appeal.
Thank you,
Ian McClure
Hi Ian,
As written the recipe yielded just over 2 cups of serradura. I would double it for your 8 small ramekins. I hope the others at your dinner party enjoy it as much as we do! Kind regards 🙂
I just made this for a dinner party for 8. Topped it with the preserves and shaved chocolate. I tried it a earlier this year and added a little baileys. So delish.
Thank you
Thanks for taking the time to let me know, Joanne! I’m glad to hear it was well received 🙂
Made this for Easter this year and this was a wonderful dessert! Everyone really enjoyed it and I will definately be making this again! Thank you for posting!!
Thank you for taking the time to let me know you were happy with the recipe, Olga! It makes my day 🙂
Just made this dessert, even easier.
Used lady fingers. And cherry pie filling. It turned out great. 😀
Great idea! I’ll give the lady fingers a try next time. Thanks!
Your Serradura recipe looks so great and easy to make! Never had it before and cannot wait to give it a go!
It’s a great dessert to make with children. Who doesn’t like to smash cookies, whip cream and lick the beaters?
I’ve never heard of this before but it looks so good! And quite easy to make!
I’m glad I only made a small batch because I could have easily eaten more 🙂
It is always good to see new regional recipes. I will make it though on my diet interval he he he Thanks for sharing…
I always find it fascinating to encounter new ingredients or to use familiar ones in a new way 🙂
Portuguese cuisine is delicious! I need to try this Serradura recipe soon. They look fantastic.
Very easy to make. Enjoy! 🙂
This looks great, nice and light for a summer dessert. Maybe a good follow-up to a Portuguese Chicken dish.
There are so many great Portuguese recipes to pair with this dessert. I couldn’t get over the amazing pastries and cakes we were served in Portugal.
This looks delicious! I am loving all of those yummy layers!
So good! The crumbs blend in with the cream as you eat it. Yummy!
I love eating dessert I mean any kind if dessert. Yours looks so tempting and I’d love to taste it.
Lydia – this is the prettiest dessert EVER! And looks really good! I love trifles and pretty dessert layers. It’s always so easy yet so impressive!
It is pretty, isn’t it?
This is so cool! I could definitely try and impress my friends with this recipe.
I’m sure they’ll love it 🙂
Oooooo, I love the simplicity of the recipe and that it’s a make-ahead recipe, perfect for a summer entertaining!!
It’s great for entertaining.
What a lovely looking and delicious sounding dessert! I is also pretty easy to make–I love whipped cream!!
This is one of many whipped cream desserts I’ve shared. I have a little obsession, hahaha.
I haven’t heard of this dessert before but I am sure it is going to be a hit after your rendition. definitely a great find
I agree it was a great find and I’ll probably experiment with variations 🙂
This looks yummy and yet is so easy to make! Thanks for sharing.
Hope you get a chance to try it, Razena 🙂
This looks amazing! I had never heard of it, but now I want to try it!
I hadn’t either, although I’ve seen similar desserts. Hope you give it a try 🙂
Lydia,
What a great dessert and so pretty! I like the peach preserves glaze on it! Make sit so vibrant!
Don’t you love the color? It added a nice flavor, too.
I love this dessert!! I lived in Lisbon and I used to eat it all the time!!! Thanks for sharing the recipe!!! Great memories!
Thanks! Glad you have pleasant memories 🙂
This is a dangerous dessert!! It’s so easy and yet it looks SO addictive! I’m definitely going to try it out this weekend… I know that sometimes we really want something sweet to eat, but have nothing to whip up quickly, but we always have cookies, cream and somekind of fruit or preserves! 🙂
I think that’s what makes it dangerous! hahaha Hope you like it 🙂
That would make a lovely dessert for a dinner party. I’m sure it would be a big hit, both with the fruit or chocolate.
Great idea to serve it for a dinner party. It’s easy to make ahead and you don’t have to serve large portions.
Sounds delicious! I might have to make this for my husband with the chocolate. He lived in Brazil for awhile, I wonder if they eat something similar there.
I’d be interested to know as well 🙂
Looks yummy (and easy, lol!)
Crazy easy! 🙂
This looks like a wonderful, refreshing dessert – Yum! And so simple! Thanks, Lydia, for the recipe.
Now I’m imagining you making this a drizzling it with honey from your hives 🙂
Oh my – you are right! That would be soooo good! You are awesome!