Bizcocho is the name given in the Spanish-speaking world to a wide range of pastries, cakes or cookies. The exact product to which the wordbizcocho is applied varies widely depending on the region and country. For instance, in Spainbizcocho is exclusively used to refer tosponge cake. In Uruguay, most buttery flaky pastry including croissants are termed bizcocho, whilst sponge cake is called bizcochuelo. In Chile, the Dominican Republic and Boliviabizcocho refers to a sweet dough baked with local ingredients, similar to the bizcocho from Spain. In Ecuador the dough of a bizcocho can either be sweet or salty. The US state New Mexico is unusual in using the diminutive form of the name, bizcochito, as the name for a locally developed and very popular cookie.
Galletas dulces or, a descendant of the pastry known as galleta, galleta de campaña or galleta con grasa. Galletas dulces have a layer of caramel and sugar on top and are known as bizcochos in Uruguay
Margaritas: They are a variation of croissants found both in Uruguay and Argentina. The ends are joined together, leaving some space in the middle for a sweet filling. They have sugar on top of the pastry and the filling. Margaritas get their name from the flower they resemble.
Ojitos : A kind of round cookie with a space in the middle filled with dulce de membrillo, also from Uruguay.
Pan con grasa, another kind of bizcocho found in Uruguay, is a type of bread, also known as the cañón.
Polvorones : Another kind of cookie that can be plain, flavoured with cocoa, or made with half plain dough and half cocoa flavoured. Polvorones originated in Spain, but are called bizcochos in Uruguay.
Sponge Cake: sponge cake is called bizcocho in Spain. It may be made with chocolate, lemon, yoghurt, etc.
Vigilantes : Another sweet variation of croissants. They are long and thin, with sugar on top.
In Costa Rica, bizcochos are made with masa, spices, and/or cheese. They are eaten as a snack, especially during coffee breaks.
Mexico
In Mexico, bizcocho is commonly used as a synonym for pan dulce. It can also be used as a flirtatious compliment to a good looking woman or, less commonly, a handsome man. In some parts, however, it is a very vulgar term, referring to a person's genitals and not used in polite company.
In the Philippines, biscocho refers to class of breads that is baked again into a crunchy pastry.
Uruguay
Bizcochos are one of the most intrinsic traditions of the Uruguayan culture. They are the inseparable "companions" of mate, coffee, café con leche, or tea for breakfast or the merienda. They are also common in meetings with friends, especially those taking place in parks, squares, beaches or along the coastline in ramblas such as the ones in Montevideo. Bizcochos are sold not only at panaderías, but also at specialized shops called bizcocherías.
