Prinjolata is a traditional dessert from

Malta Malta ( , , ), officially the Republic of Malta ( mt, Repubblika ta' Malta ), is an island country in the Mediterranean Sea. It consists of an archipelago, between Italy and Libya, and is often considered a part of Southern Europe. It lies ...

. The dessert gets its name from the Maltese word ''prinjol'' meaning

pine nut Pine nuts, also called piñón (), pinoli (), pignoli or chilgoza (), are the edible seeds of pines (family Pinaceae, genus ''Pinus''). According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, only 29 species provide edible nuts, while 20 are trade ...

s which are used in both the filling and the topping.

Cultural Significance

Prinjolata is generally prepared as a treat to be eaten at the

Maltese Carnival Carnival (Maltese: ''il-Karnival ta' Malta'') has had an important place on the Maltese cultural calendar for just under five centuries, having been celebrated since at least the mid-15th century. Carnival has been a prominent celebration in the I ...

; a festival introduced to Malta in the 1400s, and popularised by the Knights of St John a century later. In Malta, Carnival is held five days before Ash Wednesday.

References

Maltese cuisine Desserts {{dessert-stub