Fruttone Salentino: the Almond and Sour Cherry Pastry from Lecce
The Fruttone is one of the great icons of Salento confectionery. A short pastry (pasta frolla) shell encloses a heart of almond paste, amarena sour cherry and sponge cake, all coated in dark chocolate. Catamo's Dolci Fantasie line delivers it frozen in a 48-piece catering carton (5760 g net, average 120 g per piece), ready to thaw and serve. Produced in San Cassiano (Lecce), it is the artisanal answer for pastry shops, cafes and restaurants that want an authentic Apulian dessert all year round.
What the Fruttone Is
Defined by the people of Lecce as the brother of the pasticciotto, the Fruttone shares the same buttery short pastry but swaps the custard for a richer filling: ground almond paste and amarena sour cherry, with a layer of soft sponge cake. The whole pastry is then enrobed in dark chocolate, the signature that distinguishes it from every other Salento sweet. The recipe is rooted in the eighteenth-century convent and noble-family kitchens of the Salento, where rich yet balanced desserts were prepared for religious feasts and special occasions.
Real Geographical Origin
The Fruttone is a typical dessert of Lecce and its province, in the heart of the Salento peninsula (Apulia). It belongs to the same tradition as the pasticciotto leccese and the pasta di mandorle, expressions of a confectionery culture built on local almonds, candied fruit and quality chocolate.
The Producer
Catamo - Dolci Fantasie is an artisanal pastry workshop founded in 1991 in San Cassiano, in the province of Lecce. The family business is a Salento landmark for typical specialities such as pasticciotti, fruttoni, almond-paste sweets and rustici. In 2001 it opened a new facility with separate laboratories for pastry, gelato and delicatessen, and in 2007 the family took over the historic Caffe Alvino in Piazza Sant'Oronzo in Lecce. The frozen line lets professionals serve genuine Salento pastry far from Apulia, with the quality of fresh artisanal production.
Sensory Profile
The Fruttone offers a friable, golden short pastry that gives way to a moist, fragrant almond filling. The amarena sour cherry adds a slightly tart counterpoint that balances the sweetness of the almond, while the sponge cake keeps the centre soft. The dark chocolate coating brings a clean, slightly bitter finish and a crisp contrast against the tender heart. Aroma of toasted almond and candied fruit; intense but never cloying flavour.
Technical Specifications
Frozen artisanal pastry preserved at minus 18 degrees Celsius. Each carton holds 48 pieces, average 120 g per piece, for a net weight of 5760 g. Shell of soft wheat short pastry; filling of almond paste, amarena sour cherry and sponge cake; dark chocolate coating. Allergens: gluten, eggs and soy (sunflower and soy lecithins). The product is delivered frozen and must not be refrozen once thawed.
Professional Uses
- Cafe and breakfast service: thaw at room temperature for at least 3 hours and serve whole as a Salento breakfast or mid-morning pastry, alongside an espresso or a cappuccino.
- Dessert plating: warm the centre gently (never above 40 degrees Celsius to protect the chocolate) and serve with a quenelle of fior di latte gelato or unsweetened whipped cream.
- Dessert buffet and banqueting: present alongside pasticciotti and almond-paste sweets to build a complete Apulian dessert station for catering and events.
- Pastry counter and gastronomia: display thawed in a refrigerated case to offer a high-margin signature item that few competitors carry.
- Tasting boards: cut into halves and pair with a glass of passito or a Salento dessert wine to highlight the almond and amarena.
Pairings
The almond and amarena heart pairs naturally with espresso, with Apulian dessert wines and with a scoop of vanilla or fior di latte gelato. For an all-Salento board, serve it beside pasticciotti and small almond-paste sweets.
Delivery and Logistics
B2B and B2C delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Frozen cold chain at minus 18 degrees Celsius guaranteed by the LAPA fleet across Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Aargau, St. Gallen, Lucerne, Zug and Basel. For Ticino (Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey), Valais (Sion, Martigny) and mountain regions (Davos, St. Moritz, Chur) delivery within 24 to 48 hours via certified food-grade couriers (Swiss Post Frigo-Express, Planzer, Galliker, Camion Transport) with isothermal packaging and dry ice. Service tailored for restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, hotels, pastry labs, gelato shops, delicatessens, Italian grocery stores and private customers passionate about Apulian cuisine.
Who It Is For
Designed for cafes, pastry shops, restaurants, hotels, gastronomie and Italian grocery stores that want to offer an authentic Salento dessert with the convenience of a frozen catering format. Ideal for breakfast service, dessert menus, banqueting and signature counters.
