Buñuelos: The Traditional Snack of Fallas

Throughout Fallas, the smell of smoke and gunpowder is unavoidable on the streets of Valencia, but another odor is almost as prominent: that of greasy, deep-fried goodness. On seemingly every other corner, there’s a stand selling buñuelos. A sweet, delicious, artery-clogging nightmare, buñuelos are Valencia’s favorite festival snack, and are even more sinful when dipped into cups of thick, rich, hot chocolate.

Bunuelos with chocolate

Buñuelos look like disfigured golden donuts, more-or-less round in shape, with a hole in the center. They’re made quickly, with the cook grabbing a bit of the runny dough and dropping into a vat of oil. The buñuelos need a little time to fry, a little time to dry, and then are sprinkled with sugar and served piping hot in a paper cone.

Pumpkin is traditionally used in making buñuelos and, depending on the quality of the dough, their color will vary — more pumpkin results in more golden buñuelos. You can also find popular varieties filled with fig, pear or apple. We’ve tended to notice that the best buñuelos come from shops which have a permanent presence in Valencia — they’re great at a stand on the southeast corner of Plaza Dr. Collado, for instance, and at a popular cafe on the north of the Plaza de la Virgen.

Bunuelos with sugar

Outside of Fallas time, buñuelos are more difficult to come by, but you can find them at Buñoleria El Contraste in Ruzafa or Horchatería Mari Toñi. Really, though, they’re a snack which enjoyed strictly during the festival. Get’em while they’re hot, and eat’em with chocolate. You won’t regret it… until the next morning.

Bag of bunuelos
Making Bunuelos
Fallas Bunuelos
How to fry Bunuelos
Doughfor Bunuelos
Valencia Bunuelo stand
Churros Valencia
Oily Fried stuff Valencia
Sifting Bunuelos
Dough fried in Spain
Steam Bunuelos
Selling Bunuelos
Chocolate bottles spain
Sweets from Valencia

This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. MarkP

    Buñuelos and hot chocolate from street stands during Fallas is such a hit-and-miss affair (mostly miss) that we don’t bother anymore. The best buñuelos and hot chocolate in the center of Valencia can be found (almost year-round) at Horchateria El Collado in the plaza of the same name. Far better than that found at Horchateria Santa Catalina (or the now defunct Horchateria El Siglo), which has been skating by on its bygone reputation and tourist friendly location. Admittedly, Horchateria Santa Catalina is a more picturesque location with its wonderful tile-work and old-timey ambience (which is why we take visitors there), but from a strictly product-quality perspective Horchateria El Collado beats it hands down. This is all my own opinion, of course; the beauty is that everyone in Valencia has their own strongly held and well defended beliefs as to the best place for horchata, paella, buñuelos, or whatever other local fare you care to mention.

  2. Francesc

    IMHO, the best so far are in El Contraste. One day a week they make “orange bunyols”. My second choice, Fabián in number… 3? of carrer Císcar. Huge.One fun fact, treu traditional bunyols were made with no pumpkin (after the war, any ingredient was expensive, even the pumpkin) and the beverage… anisette or similar liquor… crazy.

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