Do you love dessert? if yes then you defenately love Arabic sweets as Arabic desserts are known for it unique taste and delectable confections for centuries.
We have curated best Middle Eastern desserts list that surely tantalize you taste bud.
Read the article to learn these desserts and find best that suit your taste bud.
Whether you have a like sweets, cookies, or pastries, these sweets have something for everyone to enjoy.
Baklava
Baklava is a famous Middle Eastern dessert that is made with Phyllo pastry dough filled with nuts and drenched in syrup.
If you are a sweet tooth person you will definitely love this recipe for sure. Baklava is crispy on the outside due to phyllo pastry, and nutty and soft on the inside.
The combination of crunch, nuttiness, and aromatic notes makes you feel satisfied and pleased. I recommend you try this recipe at home or in any restaurant. You will definitely gonna love this.
Basbousa
This recipe is loved throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Basbousais very easy to make as it is a mix-and-dump type of recipe.
It is made with semolina, yogurt, butter, honey, sugar, and aromatic syrup. It offers a sweet and crumbly taste with a hint of nuttiness and aroma.
If you are a lazy person or not in the mood to make a complex or time-consuming recipe, you should try this. Give it a try and you won’t be disappointed!
Kunafa
Kunafa is a popular Middle Eastern dessert made with thin shredded phyllo dough layered with a sweet cheese or semolina filling.
It’s often soaked in aromatic syrup and baked to golden perfection. It offers a delightful combination of textures and flavors.
It is crunchy and soft at the same time. Kunafa is absolutely a must-try dessert. It is also a crowd-pleasing dessert. If you serve it to your guests they will definitely love this recipe.
Ma’amoul
Ma’amoul are shortbread-like cookies filled with dates, nuts, or figs. They are often shaped into intricate molds and make for a delightful treat with a cup of tea or coffee.
It is made with semolina flour and filled with date, nut, or figs with low added sugar. Ma’amoul is always sweetened with date. You can make it at home and store it for use as a snack with tea or coffee.
Atayef
Atayef are small folded pancakes or dumplings often filled with sweet cheese or nuts. They are served either fried or baked and are commonly enjoyed during the holy month of Ramadan and other special occasions.
Halawet el-Jibn
Halawet el-Jibn is a Syrian dessert made with cheese dough (containing various types of cheese), semolina, and cream, rolled into thin sheets filled with clotted cream or sweet cheese.
It’s then drizzled with rose or orange blossom water syrup and garnished with pistachios. It’s a delightful and creamy dessert.
Qatayef
Qatayef are small, folded pancakes similar to atayef but often served during the month of Ramadan. They can be filled with various sweet fillings, such as cream, nuts, or sweet cheese, and are either fried or baked.
Lokma
Lokma is a satisfying Turkish and Greek dessert that will truly satisfy your sweet tooth. These small deep-fried doughnut holes are golden and crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The combination of the hot, fluffy dough and the sweet syrup creates delightful textures and flavors.
Lokma is often enjoyed with a dusting of powdered sugar or a sprinkle of cinnamon. If you’re a fan of doughnuts and want to try something similar but with a unique twist then Lokma is a must-try treat.
Rice Pudding (Roz Bel Laban)
This rice pudding is a velvety combination of rice, milk, and sugar, subtly flavored with rosewater or orange blossom water. The dessert is both soothing and indulgent.
The creamy texture and delicate sweetness of Roz Bel Laban make it a beloved classic dish. It is often garnished with cinnamon or crushed pistachios.
If you appreciate the coziness of a warm creamy dessert then this dish will become a favorite.
Namoura
Namoura also known as Basbousa. This dessert features a moist semolina cake soaked in sweet, sugar syrup.
Due to the addition of yogurt, this dessert is slightly tangy. It has a unique balance of sweetness and graininess that makes it a dessert a combination of sweet and tangy.
Tamriyah
If you love dates then you have to try it. These small date-filled pastries are a Middle Eastern delight with a combination of the natural sweetness of dates with the crunch of pastry.
Tamriyah offers a blend of sweetness and flakiness. If you love the sweetness of dates and crispy pastry then this dish is for you. Tamriyah is a unique and delicious choice.
Warbat
Warbat is very popular in countries like Jordan and Syria. It’s a layered pastry made of phyllo dough filled with cream or custard and then baked to golden and drenched in sugar syrup.
The combination of crispy, flaky layers and creamy, sweet filling makes Warbat a truly indulgent treat.
If you’re a fan of layered pastries Warbat is a dessert that’s sure to delight your taste buds.
Ghraiba
Ghraiba is a shortbread cookie that simply melts in your mouth. It has a crumbly texture and a hint of nutty flavor. It is the perfect treat to accompany your afternoon tea or coffee.
These cookies are often delicately flavored with ingredients like rosewater or orange blossom water.
Ghraiba is a delightful way to experience the rich culinary heritage of North Africa, and it’s an excellent choice for those who appreciate sweet treats with a subtle twist.
Mafroukeh
Mafroukeh is a Lebanese dessert made with ground pistachios, semolina, and sugar, and then drizzled with sweet syrup.
The result is a blend of a nutty crunch and a sweet syrupy finish. Mafroukeh is a no-baked dessert that makes it super easy to make. You can make it on the go.
If you enjoy desserts that balance the richness of nuts with the sweetness of syrup. Mafroukeh is a must-try.
Knafeh Nabulsi
Knafeh Nabulsi is a Palestinian dessert. It is made with shredded phyllo dough filled with a rich gooey mixture of cheese and aromatic syrup.
This dessert is a blend of a crispy golden on the outside and a gooey cheesy on the inside. It is a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
If you’re a fan of desserts that are a little different and love the combination of cheese and sweetness then don’t miss out on Knafeh Nabulsi.
Asabe Zainab
Asabe Zainab also known as Zainab’s Fingers is a popular Syrian dessert made with phyllo dough that’s fried to a golden crisp and then dipped in sugar syrup.
It is filled with cheese or no filling. Asabe Zainab is often served during Ramadan. It gives a crunchy vibe with the gooey texture of cheese and it is a bite-size dessert that is best to serve as a starter.
If you’re a fan of fried pastries with a sweet twist Asabe, Zainab will surely satisfy dessert cravings.
Barazek
Barazek is a Syrian cookie that’s melts in your mouth and left you to have more.
These cookies are made with flour and ghee (calorified butter) and then coated one side of cookins with sesame seed and honery while other side coated with pistachio.
If you take a bite of these cookie then firstly you feel crunch of seseme seed and then cookies and pistachio. It is absolute a different type of cookies that you must try.
Awamat
Awamat is a small sweet balls made with flour dough and soaked in syrup. Its is fried to golend and then soaked in sugar syrup.
Awamat is the perfect choice for anyone with a sweet tooth and a love for deep-fried treats.
If you’re a fan of doughnuts and fried desserts then you’ll find Awamat very tempting.
Hareeseh
Hareeseh is a classic Middle Eastern semolina cake soaked in sweet rose or orange blossom water syrup and often garnished with chopped pistachios or Almond.
This dessert is similair to Basbousa so you can try it as an alternative of basbousa.
Hareeseh is a best choice for those who love subtle floral taste in sweets.
Basma
Basma is a Lebanese pastry that’s made with layer of kunafa dough filled with a rich, creamy ashta then drizzled with sweet sugar syrup and topped with crushed pistachios.
It has a the crispy, flaky texture of phyllo with the luxurious creaminess of ashta. It is a must-try for those who love the rich flavor and very sweet dessert as it is bit more sweet.
Ballourieh
These small pastries are made with layer of kataifi dough filled wiith pistachio filing and slightly baked.
The result is a sweet and syrupy treat with a satisfying crunch on the outside and a softfrom inside.
Ballourieh is an excellent choice for those who enjoy desserts with a crispy exterior and a sweet, aromatic syrup.
Znoud el-Sit
Znoud el-Sit is a Lebanese dessert that is a must-try for those seeking a perfect blend of sweet and savory.
It is a roll filled with sweet cheese and deep-fried to a golden crisp and drizzled with orange blossom syrup.
This dessert offers a contrast of textures and flavors that will captivate your taste buds. It is often eat during Ramdan
Sheer Khurma
Sheer Khurma is a traditional South Asian dessert. This creamy vermicelli pudding made with milk, dates, nuts, and spicesand cooked to thicken, sweet and aromatic delight.
The richness of the milk, the sweetness of the dates, and the crunch of the nuts come together in a very irrisitable dessert. It is often enjoyed in festival like Eid-ul-Fitar and Ramdan.
Aish El-Saraya
Aish El-Saraya made with a bread cake soaked in syrup and topped with cream and pistachio.
This dessert is a perfect balance between floral and creamy flavor that maks it a delectable treat for your palate.
This deesert melt in your mouth and feel so comfortable, creamy, and rich. So you should must try this dessert.
Umm Alia
Umm Alia is made with layers of torn bread soaked in a sweet syrup and topped with creamy ashta.
The flavor between the soft, syrup-soaked bread and the velvety ashta creates a comforting dessert.
Lebanese Semolina Pudding (Layali Lubnan)
Layali Lubnan is a Middle Eastern dessert that made with semolina pudding drizzled with syrup and then topped with cream and final garnished with pistachio.
It has a creamy and comforty texture and also easy to make. This dessert is a textural delight and an ideal way to end a Lebanese meal.
Balah El Sham
Balah El Sham is a choux pastry made with a creamy filling filled in a churos. It is often topped with cream or chocalte and garnished with pistachio.
Whether enjoyed with a cup of tea or coffee Balah El Sham is a wonderful choice for those who appreciate the sweet comfort of home-baked treats.
Fakhfakhina
Fakhfakhina is a yummy Egyptian drink made with lots of fresh fruits and sweet juice. It’s full of colors and freshness and it’s a great choice for summer day.
It is made with fresh juice topped with seasonal chopped fruit. It is very healthy option so if you want to try fruity goodness of this dessert then you have to try this.
Related Post:
All About Basbousa Arabic Dessert
Summary
These Arabic sweets offers a unique and delicious experience.
From the rich and nutty Baklava to the crumbly Basbousa, there’s something for every sweet tooth.