Secret nun cookies! If you watch or research any travel blogs then you know this is just more for the adventure than the end game of obtaining cookies.
An inconspicuous entrance in a random alleyway of Central Madrid leads you into a quiet monastery. After ringing the doorbell and requesting to buy cookies, you follow inside until the dead end of a small non-illuminated room (except for some ambient sunlight in the adjacent hallway). You interact through a a revolving wall/ lazy susan with a cloistered nun who sells cookies as a side hustle for apparently their religious missions.
Prices are listed at 1/2 (more than enough to share) to 1 kilo and they'll state right away what cookies they have available. It does only seem they make only about 1-2 cookies daily based on research. Showed up once for their PM hours and they only had the Nevaditos. Showed up another day at their early AM hours and they only had 2 types, so we got the Pastas de Té. I asked with my basic Spanish and they said no other types would be available later that day.
The Nevaditos are basic. The sugary icing isn't overwhelmingly sweet, while the body of the cookie is a bit dry. The Pastas (biscuits) de Té have a strong star anise flavor, which by itself can be overwhelming, but can be pretty good with a coffee. Wish they had the almond biscuits on my 2 visits, but I guess I wasn't lucky. The flavors aren't mind blowing, but the adventure helps serve a good local cause. read more