What gató d’ametla is
The gató d’ametla is the classic Mallorcan almond cake — a dense, moist flourless cake made from ground almonds, eggs, sugar, cinnamon and lemon zest. “Gató” is the Mallorcan pronunciation of “gâteau” (French for cake) — the name reflects the 19th-century French influence on island pastry shops.
The cake is gluten-free and always has been — it’s not a modern diet adaptation, it’s a traditional form that happens to be gluten-free.
What makes it distinctive
- The almonds: have to be good. Classically uses the Mallorcan almond from the Pla de Mallorca or Sóller valley — smaller, more intense than the Californian almond.
- The seasoning: cinnamon, lemon zest, sometimes a hint of anise. An old Mediterranean spice combination.
- The texture: dense and moist — from the high almond content. Not dry.
How it’s served
Gató is served with almond ice cream — “gató amb gelat d’ametla”. The ice cream is also made from Mallorcan almonds, without eggs, with milk and sugar. The combination — warm cake, cold ice cream, both from the same almond — is the classic Mallorcan dessert standard.
Some pastry shops dress the gató with a lemon sauce or chocolate shavings. The classic, though, is plain with ice cream.
History
Gató is old. It appears in Mallorcan sources from the 18th century. Almonds have been important on the island since the Moorish period, and several classic island sweets depend on them — alongside gató, there’s greixonera dolça, coca de albercoc and others.
Today gató is the default dessert in many Mallorcan restaurants and a common gift.
Gató at Es Muntant
We serve gató d’ametla year-round — it’s one of our fixtures on the dessert menu. With almond ice cream from a regional producer. Gluten-free.
More island desserts
Greixonera · Menu · About us