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Serradura dessert or Sawdust pudding is one of the easiest traditional Portuguese desserts to make. A crowd-pleaser, this simple no-bake Portuguese dessert is made with Maria biscuits, condensed milk, whipped cream, and vanilla extract.
What is Serradura or Sawdust Pudding – A Portuguese Dessert Recipe
Serradura dessert also known as sawdust pudding is one of the easiest desserts to make using only 4 ingredients.
The name serradura is Portuguese for “sawdust”, and it comes from crushed Maria cookies or biscuits which resemble sawdust.
Part of what makes this dessert so popular is how easy it is to make. This is a no-bake dessert that can be easily assembled in twenty minutes or less.
READ RELATED: 12 of the Most Authentic Portuguese Desserts and Where to Enjoy Them
Discovering Serradura Dessert in Portugal
Connecting with locals is the best way to learn about local food specialties. In Lisbon, over dinner with Portuguese native, Christina, and her daughters, we learned about typical Portuguese homemade desserts.
Serradura dessert is one of the much loved Portuguese desserts we talked about. The base of the dessert is made from Maria Cookies, which are a favorite in Portuguese homes.
Almost all Portuguese grew up eating Maria Cookies. They are used in dessert recipes, cake layers, savory treats, or enjoyed on their own.
READ RELATED: The Joy of Food – What’s It’s Like Eating With a Portuguese Family
What Are Maria Cookies
Maria cookies or biscuits are thin, crispy and round with the name Maria embossed on them. Not too sweet, these cookies have a slight vanilla flavor.
Maria biscuits can be found all over the world. In Mexico, Marie cookies are known as Maria galletas. In the UK, Australia and other English-speaking countries, they go by Marie biscuits.
Marie cookies are reportedly the most popular biscuits in the world. They were invented in 1874, by a London bakery.
Peek Freans bakery in London, created Marie biscuit to commemorate a royal wedding. The marriage of the Grand Duchess, Maria Alexandrovna of Russia to the Duke of Edinburgh. In her honor, the biscuit was originally called Maria.
In Spain, Marie biscuits are of significant importance. They are a symbol of economic recovery at the end of the Spanish Civil War.
At the time, the biscuits were produced in mass quantities due to an abundance of wheat. They served as a symbol of newfound prosperity as well as financial and social recovery.
Today, Marie biscuits are available in more than 40 countries around the world.
The History of Portuguese Serradura Dessert or Sawdust Pudding
Although Serradura dessert is Portuguese in origin, it is very famous in Macau where it is known as Macau pudding.
This Portuguese dessert was introduced to Macau during the time when Macau was under Portuguese rule.
Renowned throughout Macau and Hong Kong, sawdust or Macau pudding is one of the hallmarks of Macanese cuisine.
Serradura dessert enjoys a long history in former Portuguese colonies and several Spanish speaking countries.
How to Make Portuguese Serradura Dessert at Home
This serradura recipe is one the easiest and tastiest desserts you will ever make. This wonderful treat requires only four easily available ingredients.
It is a layer of cream upon a delicious layer of crushed up Maria biscuits. Simply stack everything together, refrigerate for a couple of hours and you’ll have a refined dessert perfect for the family or guests.
Ingredients for Portuguese Serradura Recipe
- Heavy Whipped Cream
- Sweetened Condensed Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Maria Biscuits
- Optional garnishes include chocolate shavings, strawberries, fresh mint
Instructions For Making Serradura Dessert or Sawdust Pudding
To make Serradura dessert, only 3 simple steps are required.
1. Grind the Maria Biscuits into Thin Powder
2. Prepare the Sweetened Creamy Layer
Whip the condensed milk, cream, and vanilla extract together until the texture becomes fluffy. We found it is much easier to whip the cream using a hand mixer.
However, be careful not to over whip otherwise you’ll end up with sweetened butter.
3. Assemble The Layers Together
In individual size glasses, a layer of the whipped cream mixture. For a neater finish, place the cream in a piping bag and squeeze.
In the absence of a piping bag, spoon the cream into a plastic bag, cut one tip off and, spread the cream.
Place the second layer crushed Maria biscuit powder and be sure not to make the layer too thick.
Continue alternating between cream and crushed biscuit powder, aiming for 5-7 layers depending on the size of your dessert bowls.
End on a cream layer and then sprinkle one last layer of crushed Marie biscuit powder. Cover with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2-3 hours, though overnight is better.
Take out from the refrigerator 15 minutes before serving and garnish. We used strawberry slices and mint and it was incredibly amazing and refreshing.
Serradura Recipe Tips
This serradura recipe is the traditional Portuguese dessert recipe. You can alter the recipe by using different types of biscuits.
Oreo cookies garnished with strawberries is a popular alternative. Instead of Maria biscuits, use Oreo cookies for an Oreo Serradura recipe.
Other versions of sawdust pudding add nuts to the crushed biscuits. Cashews are a popular addition and they are added into the blender with the Maria biscuits.
With the condensed milk and heavy whipping cream, the dessert can be on the rich side. Feel free to spread it out over several smaller dessert glasses.
Serradura Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- ¼ cup sweetened condensed milk
- 16-18 Marie Biscuits
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Optional chocolate shavings optional
- strawberries or fresh mint for garnish
Instructions
- Put the biscuits into a blender and pulse until they’re fine crumbs. If you don’t have a blender, you can put the biscuits into a medium-sized plastic bag, and pound them with a rolling pin
- Pour the heavy cream into a bowl, then the vanilla extract and whip until it starts looking fluffy
- Add sweetened condensed milk and continue whipping until you’ve got stiff peaks. Be careful not to overmix or you’ll end up with sweetened butter
- In individual size glasses, alternate layering the whipped cream and biscuit crumbs
- Begin and end with the cream and depending on the size of your serving dish, aim for between 5-7 layers
- To make it easier, spoon the cream it into a plastic bag and cut off one of the bottom corners for easy spreading
- End on the whipped cream and sprinkle a light layer of the crushed biscuits as garnish
- Cover the desserts with a plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours or preferably overnight to allow the cookies to soften
- Remove from fridge 15 minutes before serving and garnish, if desired top with chocolate shavings, strawberries or fresh mint
Nutrition
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Rosemary is the editor-in-chief and strategist at Authentic Food Quest.
Traveling slow since 2015 with her partner, Claire, she has explored the cuisine in 45 countries and more than 240+ culinary cities.
Her writing about local food specialties has been featured in Lonely Planet, Business Insider, Honest Cooking, Food Insider, and Huffington Post.
As a food and travel writer, Rosemary has co-authored three books, including one in collaboration with Costa Brava Tourism.
Rosemary is an avid runner when she’s not eating and exploring new destinations. She has run ten marathons and counting.
Before Authentic Food Quest, Rosemary held senior-level strategy positions in advertising.
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Oh my goodness.. this looks and sounds so delicious…can’t wait to make it!
Oh my goodness.. this looks and sounds so delicious…can’t wait to make it!
This is so simple and beautiful. Great presentation without a ton of work. I love it.
And, delicious too, Diana. Hope you try it soon. Cheers 🙂
This is so simple and beautiful. Great presentation without a ton of work. I love it.
And, delicious too, Diana. Hope you try it soon. Cheers 🙂
I wasn’t familiar with Serradura before reading this post, but what a simple and tasty looking dessert! The crushed cookies really do look like sawdust. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Great to hear, Nathan. Please do tag #authenticfoodquest when you make it. Excited to see how it turns out. Cheers.
I wasn’t familiar with Serradura before reading this post, but what a simple and tasty looking dessert! The crushed cookies really do look like sawdust. Can’t wait to give it a try!
Great to hear, Nathan. Please do tag #authenticfoodquest when you make it. Excited to see how it turns out. Cheers.
Everyone at my house was impressed with this dessert! So good and delicious!
Truly was such an easy dessert to whip up for my unexpected guests! Thanks for sharing!
You are most welcome, Michelle. Glad it was a hit! Cheers.
Never heard of this dish but looks like my kind of dessert! Will have to try it!
These look absolutely delicious! I’ll have to try it sometime!
Awesome. You will love it. Don’t forget to tag “authenticfoodquest” and share your pictures 🙂 Cheers.
Serradura sounds like easy and delicious dessert recipe. I am going to give it a try. I have marie biscuits in hand.
In only a few minutes you’ll be tasting Portugal. Glad you have the key ingredients handy, Swathi. Enjoy.
This Serradura dessert or Sawdust pudding looks sooo mouthwatering! I am starting to crave right now, really! I can’t wait to try this.
Awesome, Dennis, can’t wait for you to try it! Cheers.
I’ve never had this dessert before. It looks delicious!
That looks easy to prepare. I will make one and will tag you. 🙂
Perfect. Looking forward to your pictures, Agnes. Cheers.
Easy AND delicious – what could be better! Looks like even more fun with a group of friends!
So true. A wonderful refreshing treat, just in time for warmer weather. Cheers.
What a fun name to give the pudding. It does kind of resemble saw dust.
Lol…true. When you crush the Maria biscuits they get really fine. Odd name, but delicious dessert. Give it a try, Rosey.
Oooh this looks delicious and so easy to make! Yum, I’m going to try this one next week! Thank you!
You are most welcome, Kay. Can’t wait for you try this delightful dessert. Cheers.
Let’s say this is…more or less just like the Italian tiramisù? Looks delicious x
Not quite tiramisu, but a wonderful Portuguese sweet. Cheers.
It sounds really easy to make Serradura. Love to try new international dishes!
It is truly easy to make. Try it and let us know what you think Thanks, Catalina for stopping by.
Presentation looks amazing!I like the fact that there are so few ingredients. Often times we get turned off recipes which require us to bring the entire supermarket home.
So true, Daynia. That’s the beauty of this dessert, simple and delicious. Cheers.
Oooh this is so fun! I can’t wait to make this. Thanks for sharing the recipe!!
You are welcome, Heather. Can’t wait to see your pictures. Cheers.
Such a yummy dessert idea! I’ll have to try it
i’ve never heard of this but it looks amazing! You could probably use like Oreos or something too and it would be tasty.
Making it with Oreos is certainly an adaptation. Give it a try and let us know what you think. Cheers, Jen.