La Tarta de la Madre de Cris
La Tarta de la Madre de Cris has become a pilgrimage site for dessert lovers in Malaga, serving Spain’s most celebrated cheesecakes from their beloved Calle Granada location.
This family-run bakery, which translates to ‘Cris’s Mother’s Cake’, opened in Malaga in January 2020 after conquering Granada with their legendary tarta de queso (cheesecake).
The bakery represents the finest tradition of Andalusian postres (desserts), bringing authentic Spanish home baking to the heart of Malaga’s bustling city centre.
The story behind Spain’s favourite cheesecake
Founded by Cristina Orta and her mother, Pilar Molina, the business began when Pilar’s legendary cheesecakes became the star of every fiesta and cumpleaños (birthday party) in their Granada circle.
What started as a retired Spanish literature teacher’s hobby transformed into a celebrated chain now spanning locations across Spain and distributing throughout Europe.
Pilar even received recognition at Granada’s Female Entrepreneurship Awards, celebrating her transformation from educator to Spain’s cheesecake queen.
The original tarta de queso recipe remains their signature offering, though the menu now features nine distinct varieties, including innovative combinations like blue cheese and chocolate or cheesecake with brownie base.
Incredibly popular
The Calle Granada establishment draws lines of locals and tourists eager to taste these artisanal Spanish cheesecakes, which have earned national recognition.
The bakery’s phenomenal success in Malaga reflects the broader Andalusian appreciation for quality desserts, with their recipes capturing the essence of traditional Spanish family baking.
Customers can now place orders through their website, making it easier than ever to experience the cheesecakes that transformed a grandmother’s kitchen creation into Spain’s most famous dessert success story.
Daryl is the co-founder of Malaga Guru. He is a copywriter, editor and translator who moved to Malaga a decade ago having first fallen in love with the city on his Erasmus year. After working for many years at local expat newspaper SUR in English, Daryl gained expert knowledge in life from the perspective of foreign residents and decided to co-found this site in 2016.