Pasticciotto Il Gran Leccese Custard & Black Cherry 120 g (Case of 50) — Il Gran Leccese

Pasticciotto Il Gran Leccese Custard & Black Cherry: the icon of Salento

Pasticciotto Il Gran Leccese Custard & Black Cherry is the par-baked frozen version of Apulia's most iconic pastry: a lard shortcrust shell (60%) enclosing a heart of pastry cream and black cherry purée (40%). Each piece weighs 120 g and comes in a case of 50 (6 kg net), ready to thaw, warm and serve. Made by Branca Gel in Collepasso (Lecce), it brings the genuine taste of Salento to professional kitchens across Switzerland.

What the pasticciotto leccese is

The pasticciotto is the king of Salento pastries: an oval shortcrust case, golden and crumbly, filled with custard and baked until the surface turns deep amber. Tradition has it created in 1745 in Galatina, in the province of Lecce, at the workshop of pastry chef Andrea Ascalone. The hallmark of the authentic recipe is the use of lard in the dough rather than butter, which gives the shell its unmistakable friable, melt-in-the-mouth texture.

Origin and the producer

This pasticciotto is produced by Branca Gel in Collepasso, in the province of Lecce, in the heart of Apulia's Salento. The Branca family pastry tradition began in 1974 with Michele Branca; the company was founded in 2000 as an artisan workshop and moved to a new plant in 2015. Branca Gel specialises in typical Salento products such as the pasticciotto leccese, the rustico leccese and the cornetto salentino, made to traditional family recipes. Production is certified to ISO 9001:2015.

The Custard & Black Cherry variant

The filling pairs a rich, velvety pastry cream with a black cherry purée, adding a fruity, slightly tart counterpoint to the sweetness of the custard. The contrast between the friable, buttery-tasting shortcrust and the soft, creamy centre makes every bite balanced and indulgent. The colour is golden, the aroma typical of fresh shortcrust pastry, the texture friable on the outside and creamy within.

Technical specifications

Par-baked frozen sweet pastry. Average values per 100 g: 1421 kJ / 339 kcal, 15 g fat (of which 5 g saturates), 47 g carbohydrate (of which 27 g sugars), 0.5 g fibre, 4 g protein, 0.09 g salt. Contains cereals with gluten, eggs and milk. Shelf life 18 months at -18 °C. Net weight per case 6000 g, 50 pieces.

Professional uses

Serve it as the star of the breakfast counter in bars and cafes alongside an espresso or a cappuccino, the classic Salento way to start the day. Offer it warm as a dessert at the end of a meal in restaurants and hotels, dusted with icing sugar. Use it in the pastry display of delicatessens and Italian grocery stores as a ready, authentic regional speciality. Plate it with a scoop of fior di latte gelato or a spoon of mascarpone cream for a contemporary dessert. For events and catering, it is portion-controlled and consistent, ideal for high-volume service.

Preparation

Thaw at refrigeration temperature for about 150 minutes, then warm for 7 to 10 minutes in an oven preheated to 180 °C. Serve fragrant and slightly warm to release the aroma of the shortcrust and the creamy filling. Once thawed the product must not be refrozen: keep it refrigerated at 0/+4 °C and consume within 4 days.

Pairings

It is the perfect match for a strong Italian espresso, a cappuccino or a glass of cold milk at breakfast. As a dessert it pairs with a sweet dessert wine, a coffee-based cream or a scoop of vanilla gelato. For an indulgent display, alternate the Custard & Black Cherry version with the plain custard and chocolate variants of the same Il Gran Leccese line.

Delivery and logistics LAPA

B2B and B2C delivery throughout Switzerland from the LAPA warehouse in Embrach (Zurich). Frozen cold chain at -18 °C guaranteed by the LAPA fleet across Zurich, Winterthur, Uster, Aargau, St. Gallen, Lucerne and Basel. For Ticino (Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno), French-speaking Switzerland (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Sion), Valais and mountain regions (Davos, St. Moritz, Chur) delivery within 24-48 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, bars, cafes, pastry labs, gelato shops, hotels, delicatessens, Italian grocery stores and private customers passionate about Italian cuisine.

Who it is for

Designed for foodservice professionals who want to offer an authentic Apulian pastry without the work of in-house production: bars, cafes, hotels, restaurants, pastry shops, delicatessens and Italian grocery stores, as well as caterers and event kitchens that need a consistent, ready-to-serve regional speciality.