05/06/2026
Today is National Donut Day (we stand divided on silly food holidays but not on our love for donuts), and one donut we love is the Berliner from Portugal.
The Berliner is a pillowy, jam-filled fried dough ball that made its way to Portugal and never left. If you’re visiting Portugal, especially in summer, you have to try them.
This simple pastry has its roots in World War II, when many German Jews fled to Portugal (which remained a neutral country throughout the conflict). According to historians, they brought the recipe for filled and sugar-coated doughnuts with them and recreated it on Portuguese soil.
Like many modern residents of Portugal, these wartime refugees apparently spent quite a bit of time by the sea, especially during the scorching summers, and the tradition of eating bolas de Berlim on the beach was born.
Over time the recipe evolved, and the original fruit filling was replaced by egg custard: a core element of many classic Portuguese desserts.
A German Berliner is essentially a hole-less yeast doughnut, usually with fruit jam in the middle, which bears a strong resemblance to the Portuguese bola de Berlim. The main difference is that, in Portugal, it’s traditionally filled with a thick yellow custard (creme de ovo) rather than jam. It’s also usually covered in a generous layer of granulated sugar.
Modern bolas de Berlim come in other varieties, too. The most common of which is stuffed with chocolate and hazelnut spread, instead of creme. They’re sometimes also available without filling (simples), or with Kinder Bueno cream.
If you ever come across a version with dark brown alfarroba (carob) mixed into the dough itself, we highly suggest giving it a try.
Today you can find bolas de Berlim in many cafés and supermarkets. However, the most common place to enjoy them is still on the sand – a unique tradition that makes summer days just a little bit sweeter. But, we’re not suggesting that you bring a case of bolas de Berlim in your bag. For the full experience, you have to buy them once you’ve already arrived at the beach.
Keep your ears open for the singsong voices of vendors shouting “Olha a bolinha!”.
PS: On our Ultimate Lisbon Food Tour we dig into these, and many more iconic Portuguese dishes and treats. Join us: https://devourtours.co/4w7NKk6
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