Bolos Lêvedos: Origin and History of this Azorean Delicacy

Bolo Lêvedo is a true Azorean delicacy. Made up of mild aromas and a soft dough that melts in your mouth, this cake has a unique and irresistible flavor. Originating in the beautiful Furnas Valley, in São Miguel, this cake has not only won over the locals, it also delights those who try it.

What is Bolo Lêvedo?

Bolo Lêvedo is a kind of traditional sweet bread from the Azores, more specifically from the Furnas region on the island of São Miguel. It has a soft, slightly sweet dough that is leavened, giving it a unique texture and an unmistakable flavour.

Ideal to be savoured at any time of day, the dough for this cake consists of eggs, flour, sugar, butter, yeast, milk and salt.

As you would expect, this delicacy is present on every Azorean table and can accompany any meal. From a hearty breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack or dinner. There are even those who use it as part of a main course.

Discover some suggestions for tasting this cake, from the simplest and most traditional to the most elaborate and innovative.

• Simple;
• With butter/garlic butter or fresh cheese;
• With island cheese, ham, and butter — Bolo Lêvedo “Misto”;
• With jam or honey;
• Hamburger in Bolo Lêvedo;
• Pizza with Bolo Lêvedo dough.

Let your imagination run wild and enjoy the magnificent cake of Furnas.

How to Make Bolos Lêvedos?

Thinking of the sweet tooth or those who have already tasted Bolos Lêvedos and long to enjoy this unique product, we leave you with the complete recipe so you can make it at home.

Traditional Recipe

For those who want to venture into the kitchen and recreate the taste of Bolos Lêvedos at home, here is a traditional recipe.

Ingredients

• 500g of wheat flour;
• 250ml warm milk;
• 50g sugar;
• 1 teaspoon salt;
• 25g fresh baker’s yeast;
• 2 eggs;
• 50g melted butter.

Instructions

1. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk;
2. Mix the flour with the sugar and salt in a large bowl;
3. Add the eggs and the milk and yeast mixture to the flour bowl;
4. Knead into a soft, elastic dough;
5. Leave to rise until doubled in size;
6. Divide the dough into small disc-shaped portions;
7. Leave to rise again;
8. Bake the Bolos Lêvedos in a greased frying pan until golden brown on both sides.

Bimby Recipe

For fans of practicality, here’s a version adapted for the Bimby.

Ingredients

• 850g of wheat flour;
• 300ml milk;
• 160g sugar;
• 1 teaspoon salt;
• 15g fresh baker’s yeast;
• 3 eggs;
• 160g butter.

Instructions

1. Put the yeast in the bowl of the Bimby and program for 2 minutes at 37 °C on speed 2.
2. Add the flour, sugar, salt, eggs, and butter and knead for 3 minutes using the knead function.
3. Leave the dough to rise until it has doubled in volume.
4. Divide the dough into small disc-shaped portions and leave to rise again.
5. Bake the Bolos Lêvedos in a greased frying pan until golden brown on both sides.

Vegan Recipe: Gluten and Lactose Free

So that everyone can enjoy this wonderful Azorean delicacy, we propose an alternative to the traditional recipe. The recipe for gluten-free and lactose-free Bolos Lêvedos is an adaptation shared by Azorean actor Frederico Amaral on his Instagram.

Ingredients

• 750g Schär gluten-free flour;
• 1 sachet of “Fermipan” (baker’s yeast);
• 1/2 cup warm water for fermentation;
• 2 large eggs;
• 100g liquid vegetable butter;
• 1 teaspoon salt;
• 1 cup brown sugar;
• 1 to 2 cups unsweetened almond milk.

Instructions

1. Put the gluten-free flour in a bowl, add the brown sugar, eggs, melted vegetable butter and yeast. Mix until a dough forms;
2. Add the salt and mix well until the dough is smooth. Transfer the dough to a surface dusted with flour and knead until smooth;
3. Place the dough in a bowl and leave to rise until doubled in volume (about two hours);
4. Divide the dough into equal portions, and spread the dough slightly to form small disks. Leave to rise again for one to two hours until they increase in volume;
5. Place a frying pan over low heat and cook the cakes in it until they are golden and fluffy on both sides.

Where to Buy Bolos Lêvedos?

This Azorean delicacy is already considered an international reference that satisfies the sweet tooth. Some even say that visiting Furnas and not tasting the famous Bolos Lêvedos is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope.

To find out where you can taste these magnificent cakes, we’ll show you the main places where you can buy them.

Where to Buy Bolos Lêvedos in Furnas?

If you’re in Furnas and want to try this fresh and authentic delicacy, you have several options. This is where the two largest producers of this regional specialty are located, Maria da Glória Moniz and Rosa Quental, where you can smell the tempting aroma of these freshly baked cakes.

In addition, you can find this specialty in Ponta Delgada, in any café, bakery, pastry shop or commercial area in the region. The most popular are Pastelaria Artesanal Bolos do Vale and Príncipe dos Queijos.

Where to Buy Bolos Lêvedos Online?

For those on the Portuguese mainland or other islands of the Azorean archipelago, it can be a little difficult to find Bolos Lêvedos in physical stores.

However, some regional product stores or specialized bakeries offer these cakes packaged, and ready to be tasted. Hypermarkets such as Auchan, Pingo Doce or El Corte Inglés also usually offer this Azorean delicacy.

Several online stores sell and deliver them all over the country. Here are some suggestions:

• Mercearia dos Açores;
• Mercadinho dos Açores.

History of Bolo Lêvedo das Furnas

The history of Bolo Lêvedo dates back to the 19th century, when the bakers of Furnas began producing this yeast dough delicacy, taking advantage of the natural heat of the region’s volcanic boilers to make the dough rise.

Did you know

Bolos Lêvedos were a staple of the diet of the first settlers on the island of São Miguel.

Since then, it has become an integral part of the gastronomic culture of the Azores, being enjoyed by locals and tourists alike as a true regional speciality.

In short, Bolos Lêvedos das Furnas are much more than just a cake — they are a sensory experience that combines tradition, flavour and history, making them a culinary treasure of the Azores that is worth discovering and savouring.