The Xuixo of Girona: the fried cream-filled pastry that was born here
Crisp on the outside, creamy inside and rolled in sugar: the xuixo is Girona's sweetest little treat, invented within its walls more than a century ago.
Updated: 2026-06-03
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The xuixo is a sweet typical of Girona: a cylinder of laminated, leavened dough, deep-fried, filled with cream and rolled in sugar. It was invented around 1918 in the bakery of Emili Puig i Bruch, on Carrer de la Cort Reial, and is recognised as a Producte de la Terra (Product of the Land) by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
What the xuixo is and why it only makes sense in Girona
What it actually is
A cylinder of laminated, leavened dough, deep-fried, filled with cream and rolled in sugar. The dough sits somewhere between a croissant and a mille-feuille, crisp on the outside and never greasy within.
Where it was born
In the city of Girona, around 1918, in the bakery the Puig family ran at Carrer de la Cort Reial, number 15. From there it spread across the rest of Catalonia, but Girona is its cradle.
How it is filled
The cream filling is placed inside the dough, sealed and then fried; it is not injected afterwards. That is why in a good xuixo the cream never peeks out of the ends and feels generous with every bite.
Why it is unique
It is recognised as a Producte de la Terra (Product of the Land) by the Generalitat de Catalunya. Although you can find it all over Catalonia today, Girona's bakeries keep up the original artisan method.
The history and the legend of the xuixo
The real origin: 1918 and a French pastry chef
According to the Puig family, the xuixo was born around 1918 in their bakery on Carrer de la Cort Reial. A French pastry chef passing through the workshop taught Emili Puig i Bruch how to make the "chou a la creme", which served as the inspiration for this fried sweet. The name is linked to the "xuixo" or chuzo, the short, pointed lance carried by night watchmen, because of its similar elongated shape.
The legend of the Tarla
The popular version, retold by Girona writer Carles Vivo, says that an acrobat known as the Tarla fell in love with a pastry maker's daughter. Caught in the act by her father, he hid in a sack of flour that made him sneeze "xui-xui" and gave him away. To make amends, he handed over the recipe for a sweet he named the xuixo, in memory of that sneeze. It is an apocryphal legend, but it is part of the city's folklore.
Can Castello, keeper of the recipe
Founded in 1898 by Julia Castello i More and Carme Pericot in the Mercadal neighbourhood, Can Castello lays claim to Emili Puig's original recipe and has carried it on through four generations of pastry chefs. In 2025 it was recognised by the FOEG at the Nit de l'Empresa Gironina. Today it makes xuixos daily, including versions with chocolate, ratafia (a local herb liqueur) or coffee cream.
Practical information for trying the xuixo
Price per piece A classic xuixo usually costs around EUR 2 each: at the Trias bakery in Santa Coloma de Farners, winner of the 2025 Xuixo World Championship, it goes for EUR 1.90. Premium or signature versions can rise to about EUR 3.
Where to buy them There are several historic bakeries in central Girona. Can Castello has a shop at Carrer de l'Argenteria, 7, right in the old quarter, where they make their xuixos by hand every day.
When to eat them The xuixo is best enjoyed freshly fried, ideally for breakfast or an afternoon snack alongside a coffee. It is best eaten the same day: the fried dough loses its freshness as the hours pass.
Frequently asked questions about the xuixo
What is inside a xuixo?
The traditional xuixo is filled with cream and rolled in sugar. Today many bakeries offer variations with chocolate, coffee cream, ratafia or flavoured creams.
Why is it called a xuixo?
One version links it to the "chuzo" or xuixo, the short lance carried by night watchmen, because of its elongated shape. The legend of the Tarla, on the other hand, attributes it to a "xui-xui" sneeze.
Where was the xuixo invented?
The xuixo was born in Girona, around 1918, in the bakery of Emili Puig i Bruch on Carrer de la Cort Reial. That is why it is seen as a sweet deeply tied to the city.
How much does a xuixo cost?
A classic xuixo costs around EUR 2 each; at some award-winning bakeries it runs about EUR 1.90. Signature versions can reach roughly EUR 3.
If you are coming to try the xuixo, round out your trip with our Girona guides: Hotels in Girona, What to do in Girona, How to get to Girona, Restaurants in Girona.
Experience Girona beyond the xuixo
Food tours and guided visits around Girona
The best way to discover the xuixo is to explore Girona's old quarter with someone who knows its bakeries and hidden corners. Free walking tours and food routes blend history, medieval streets and tastings so you can see why this sweet is so quintessentially local.
See tours and experiences in GironaGirona Travel Guides 2027
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