Chajá
Uruguayan dessert of sponge cake, meringue, cream and fruit
Chajá is a layered dessert from Uruguay, first made in Paysandú in 1927. It combines sponge cake, crisp meringue, rich cream, and fruit such as peaches or strawberries. Sometimes dulce de leche or chocolate is added. Chajá is served cold and is a well-known sweet across Uruguay and beyond.
- Created in Paysandú, Uruguay in 1927
- Named after the Southern screamer bird
- Layers sponge cake, meringue, cream, and fruit
- Often served with peaches or strawberries
- Exported to Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and the US
What is Chajá?
Chajá is a dessert made by layering soft sponge cake with crisp meringue, thick cream, and fruit, most often peaches or strawberries. The meringue adds a light crunch, while the cream brings richness. The fruit gives freshness and color. The cake is served cold, making it a refreshing sweet. Its appearance is often a dome or mound, with visible layers of cake, cream, and fruit.
Where does Chajá come from?
Chajá was first created in Paysandú, Uruguay, on April 27, 1927. Orlando Castellano, who owned the Confitería Las Familias, invented the dessert. Its name comes from the Southern screamer, a bird called 'chajá' in the region. The dessert began as a semi-industrial product and has since become popular in Uruguay and is exported to neighboring countries and the United States.
How is Chajá made?
To make chajá, sponge cake is cut and layered with whipped cream and pieces of fruit, usually peaches or strawberries. Meringue, which is made from whipped egg whites and sugar baked until crisp, is broken into pieces and added between the layers or on top. Some versions include a layer of dulce de leche or chocolate. The assembled dessert is chilled before serving.
How and when is Chajá eaten?
Chajá is eaten as a dessert, often after lunch or dinner. It is served cold, making it suitable for warm days. The cake is usually sliced at the table and shared. It can be found in bakeries and confectioneries, especially in Uruguay, and is a common treat for everyday occasions rather than specific festivals.
Kinds of Chajá
While the classic chajá uses peaches or strawberries, some versions add dulce de leche, a sweet milk caramel, or chocolate for extra flavor. The fruit can be changed depending on availability or preference. The basic structure of cake, meringue, and cream remains the same, but toppings and fillings may vary.
What Chajá means
Chajá is a point of pride in Uruguayan baking and is closely linked to the city of Paysandú, where it was created. Its name honors a local bird, connecting the dessert to regional identity. Chajá is widely recognized in Uruguay and has become a popular export, especially to neighboring South American countries.
Questions people ask about Chajá
What is chajá made of?
Chajá is made with layers of sponge cake, crisp meringue, thick cream, and fruit such as peaches or strawberries. Some versions include dulce de leche or chocolate.
Where does chajá come from?
Chajá was first made in Paysandú, Uruguay, in 1927 by Orlando Castellano, owner of Confitería Las Familias.
How is chajá served?
Chajá is served cold, usually as a dessert after a meal. It is sliced and shared at the table.
Are there different versions of chajá?
Yes, some versions use different fruits or add dulce de leche or chocolate, but all keep the basic layers of cake, meringue, and cream.
Why is it called chajá?
The dessert is named after the Southern screamer, a bird known locally as the chajá, native to South America.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Chajá", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Thali rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and it is not dietary or allergy advice: recipes differ from cook to cook. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
More from Uruguay
All the food of Uruguay
Dulce de lecheVegetarian
🇦🇷 Argentina and 2 moreA sweet, spreadable milk and sugar confection from Latin America
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
Zabaione
🇮🇹 Italy and 3 moreItalian whipped custard made with egg yolks, sugar, and sweet wine
Sweet or dessert
Alfajor
🇦🇷 Argentina and 4 moreSweet biscuits or pastry joined with a filling, often dulce de leche or honey and nuts
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
MateVegan
🇵🇾 Paraguay and 3 moreHot infusion of yerba mate leaves, drunk with a metal straw from a gourd
Drink
Its cousins elsewhere
All sweets and desserts
Eton messVegetarian
🇬🇧 United KingdomStrawberries, meringue and cream mixed into a soft English dessert
Sweet or dessert
LamingtonVegetarian
🇦🇺 Australia and 1 moreSponge cake squares dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut
Sweet or dessert, Snacks, Tea time
Frog cakeVegetarian
🇦🇺 AustraliaSmall sponge cake dessert decorated to look like a frog's head
Sweet or dessert, Snacks
Ice cream
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreA frozen dessert made from sweetened, flavoured milk or cream
Sweet or dessert, Snacks