What are Guatemalan magdalenas?

In Guatemala, magdalenas are the cake you find on the kitchen table on a Sunday morning, next to a cup of café. They are lighter than a pound cake, with a tender crumb and a golden top.

Unlike the shell-shaped French madeleine, the Guatemalan magdalena is usually baked as a simple cupcake or in a bundt pan, and it is made to be shared.

Why we love them

They pair perfectly with coffee or hot chocolate

They stay soft for days

Every family has its own little secret

At La Abuelita we bake ours from home, in small batches, the way our grandmother taught us.