Skip to content
Imotska Torta from Croatia

Imotska Torta

Imotska Torta is a traditional tart from Croatia. · Croatia

📍 Imotski ★ 4.5
Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Reviewed by the WhatWhereVacay editorial team

Imotska Torta is a traditional tart from Croatia.

About Imotska Torta

Imotska Torta is a traditional tart from Croatia. It is typically made with almond, wine and cherry.

🏛️ History & Culture

Imotska torta is a traditional layered cake from the town of Imotski in the Dalmatian hinterland of Croatia. Its exact origins are not clearly documented, but it is widely regarded as a local specialty that has been passed down through generations, likely influenced by Austro-Hungarian pastry traditions. The cake is defined by its almond-rich filling, tangy cherries, and a touch of sweet dessert wine, often Prošek, which gives it a distinct regional character.

In Imotski and the surrounding region, the torta is a cherished dessert for festive gatherings such as weddings, baptisms, and family holidays. While the classic combination of almonds, cherries, and wine remains standard, some home cooks vary the proportions or add a hint of citrus or spices, though these are minor personal adaptations. For locals, Imotska torta serves as a symbol of hospitality and pride, linking contemporary celebrations to the area’s agricultural heritage of cherry orchards and almond groves.

🍳 How to make Imotska Torta

AI-assisted, not kitchen-tested

Imotska Torta (Imotski Almond and Cherry Tart)

A traditional tart from the Imotski region of Dalmatia, with a crisp almond-and-wine short crust, a layer of sweet fresh cherries, and a tender almond filling set with eggs. Serve at room temperature with a glass of the same dessert wine used in the dough.

Prep
30 min
Cook
45 min
Total
75 min
Serves
8
Difficulty
Medium

Recipe ingredients

  • 250 g (8½ oz (≈2 cups)) plain (all-purpose) flour
  • 100 g (3½ oz (≈¾ cup)) ground almonds, blanched if a pale crust is desired
  • 150 g (5¼ oz (≈⅔ cup)) unsalted butter, cold, cubed
  • 80 g (⅓ cup) caster sugar
  • 60 ml (¼ cup) sweet dessert wine, traditionally prošek (Croatian dessert wine); a sweet Marsala or Pedro Ximénez sherry is the closest substitute in a home kitchen
  • 1 whole egg yolk, for the dough
  • 1 pinch fine sea salt
  • 350 g (12 oz (≈2 cups pitted)) fresh sour cherries, pitted; ripe sweet cherries are an acceptable home-kitchen substitute
  • 150 g (5¼ oz (≈1¼ cups)) ground almonds, for the filling
  • 120 g (½ cup + 1 tbsp) caster sugar, for the filling
  • 3 whole large eggs, room temperature
  • 40 ml (3 tbsp) sweet dessert wine, same wine as the dough
  • 1 tsp lemon zest, finely grated
  • 0.5 tsp (½ tsp) baking powder
  • 1 tbsp icing sugar, optional, for dusting

Steps

  1. 1 Make the dough: pulse the flour, ground almonds, sugar and salt in a food processor, then add the cold butter and work until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs. Add the egg yolk and the 60 ml wine and pulse just until a soft dough comes together. Flatten into a disc, wrap, and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. 2 Roll out the chilled dough on parchment to a 30 cm (12 in) round and line a 24 cm (9½ in) tart tin with a removable base, trimming the edges. Prick the base all over with a fork and chill for 15 minutes.
  3. 3 Blind bake: line the shell with baking paper, fill with baking beans, and bake at 180 °C / 350 °F (fan 160 °C) for 12 minutes. Remove the paper and beans and bake a further 5 minutes, until the base is pale and set.
  4. 4 Lower the oven to 170 °C / 340 °F (fan 150 °C). Scatter the pitted cherries evenly over the warm pre-baked shell.
  5. 5 Make the filling: whisk the 3 eggs with the 120 g sugar until pale, then whisk in the 150 g ground almonds, baking powder, lemon zest and the 40 ml wine. The mixture should be soft and spoonable but not runny; if it loosens too much, add another tablespoon of ground almonds.
  6. 6 Spoon the almond filling gently over the cherries and spread to the edges. Bake for 28–35 minutes, until the top is golden brown, feels set to a light touch in the centre, and a skewer inserted into the almond layer (avoiding a cherry) comes out clean.
  7. 7 Cool the tart fully in the tin on a rack — the filling firms up as it cools. Dust with icing sugar just before slicing.
  8. 8 Serve at room temperature. In Croatia it is traditionally paired with a small glass of prošek; if you used a sweet sherry or Marsala, offer that alongside. The torta keeps, covered, for 2 days at room temperature.
Report an issue with this recipe

Protected by reCAPTCHA. No account needed.

Recipes from travellers

No one has shared their own Imotska Torta recipe yet. Yours would be the first.

Share how you make Imotska Torta

You'll need to be signed in with Google or Facebook so your name can appear on it. Recipes go through an automatic food-safety check before they publish.

Sign in to share your recipe

Ingredients
Steps

Imotska Torta — frequently asked questions

What is Imotska Torta?

Imotska Torta is a traditional tart from Croatia. It is typically made with almond, wine and cherry.

What is Imotska Torta made of?

Imotska Torta is made with almond, wine and cherry.

Where does Imotska Torta come from?

Imotska Torta comes from Croatia, and is especially associated with Imotski. Imotska torta is a traditional layered cake from the town of Imotski in the Dalmatian hinterland of Croatia.

Where can I eat Imotska Torta?

Locals buy Imotska torta by the slice from village bakeries in the Imotski region to enjoy with strong black coffee after Sunday lunch.

How do you make Imotska Torta?

Making Imotska Torta at home takes about 30 minutes of prep and 45 minutes of cooking. The recipe on this page serves 8 and is rated medium. Full ingredient list and step-by-step method are in the recipe section above.

→ More traditional dishes from Croatia

Taste Imotska Torta in Split

Independent picks. We earn a small commission if you book through these — at no extra cost to you. How this works.

✅ Before you go to Croatia

Round out your trip — most travellers book these alongside their trip.

More dishes like Imotska Torta

Iločki Ćevap -- traditional dish from Croatia
Meat & Grills ★ 4.3

Iločki Ćevap

Rooted in Croatia, Iločki Ćevap is a pork dish enjoyed for generations.

🇭🇷 Croatia · 📍 Ilok
Seafood ★ 4.3

Riba sa Slaninom

Hailing from Croatia, Riba sa Slaninom is a much-loved fish dish.

🇭🇷 Croatia
Kučanski Koščičjak -- traditional dish from Croatia
Breads & Pastries ★ 4.4

Kučanski Koščičjak

From Croatia, Kučanski Koščičjak is a well-known savoury pie.

🇭🇷 Croatia
Pašticada -- traditional dish from Croatia
Meat & Grills ★ 4.5

Pašticada

Dalmatian marinated beef braised in sweet wine sauce.

🇭🇷 Croatia · 📍 Dalmatia
Noodles & Pasta ★ 4.6

Zagorski Mlinci

Zagorski Mlinci is a traditional pasta from Croatia.

🇭🇷 Croatia
Kulenova Seka -- traditional dish from Croatia
Meat & Grills ★ 4.4

Kulenova Seka

Croatian thin-casing cousin of Slavonski kulen, a paprika and garlic pork sausage stuffed into pork intestine and smoked briefly over beech wood.

🇭🇷 Croatia · 📍 Croatia (Slavonia — Vukovar, Osijek, Požega, Vinkovci; Baranja)
Chajá -- traditional dish from Uruguay
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.5

Chajá

Layered Uruguayan sponge and meringue cake filled with whipped cream and peaches, invented in 1927 in Paysandú and named after the chajá bird of the southern wetlands.

🇺🇾 Uruguay · 📍 Uruguay (Paysandú, Montevideo, Punta del Este)
Ficelle Picarde -- traditional dish from France
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.1

Ficelle Picarde

Ficelle Picarde is one of the classic dishes in the pancake tradition of France.

🇫🇷 France · 📍 Picardy
Speculoos -- traditional dish from Belgium
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.4

Speculoos

Crisp spiced caramel biscuits stamped with figures.

🇧🇪 Belgium · 📍 Nationwide
Medovik -- traditional dish from Russia
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.5

Medovik

Many-layered honey cake with sour-cream filling.

🇷🇺 Russia · 📍 Nationwide
Fruit Scone -- traditional dish from United Kingdom
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.5

Fruit Scone

A fruit scone is a tender British and Irish baking-powder bread studded with dried currants or sultanas, split and served with jam and cream.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom · 📍 Nationwide (Britain and Ireland)
Profiteroles -- traditional dish from France
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.5

Profiteroles

Choux buns filled with ice cream under warm chocolate.

🇫🇷 France · 📍 Nationwide
Panini -- traditional dish from Italy
Street Food ★ 4.3

Panini

Italian pressed sandwich of ciabatta or filone filled with cured meats, mozzarella and pesto, warmed on a ridged grill until the crust crisps.

🇮🇹 Italy · 📍 Italy (Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna, Lazio, Tuscany)
Vánoční Cukroví -- traditional dish from Czech Republic
Desserts & Sweets ★ 4.0

Vánoční Cukroví

Vánoční Cukroví counts among the traditional food of the Czech Republic, a cookie locals hold dear.

🇨🇿 Czech Republic
Haring -- traditional dish from Netherlands
Seafood ★ 4.2

Haring

Mild raw herring eaten with onion, held by the tail.

🇳🇱 Netherlands · 📍 Nationwide
Tavče Gravče -- traditional dish from North Macedonia
Soups & Stews ★ 4.4

Tavče Gravče

Baked white beans with paprika, the national dish.

🇲🇰 North Macedonia · 📍 Nationwide

Reviews

Rate this dish:
No review needed - one click, publishes instantly.

No reviews yet. Be the first to share your experience with Imotska Torta.

Write a review

Sign in to verify you're a real person, then share your thoughts on Imotska Torta.

Comments

Sign in with Facebook or Google below to comment. Comments are auto-checked and post instantly.

No comments yet. Be the first to say something about Imotska Torta.