Have A Sweet Tooth? Here Are The World's Best Middle Eastern Desserts

Middle Eastern cuisine is known for its rich and diverse array of desserts, many of which are beloved both within the region and internationally. Middle Eastern cuisine is not new to Americans and some of the desserts such as Baklava and Kunafa have made it to the dining tables of many Americans. Here is a list of some of the popular Middle Eastern desserts include:

Baklava: A classic and well-known dessert, baklava (International Day of Baklava) consists of layers of phyllo dough, filled with chopped nuts (often pistachios or walnuts) and sweetened with honey or syrup. 

Halva: Halva comes in various forms across the Middle East. It is a dense, sweet confection made from ingredients like sesame paste (tahini), sugar, and sometimes nuts. It can be flavored with ingredients like cocoa or vanilla.

Basbousa (Revani): This semolina cake is soaked in a simple syrup, often flavored with rose water or orange blossom water. It may also be topped with almonds or coconut.

Kunafa (Knafeh): Kunafa is a dessert made with thin noodle-like pastry soaked in sweet syrup. It can be layered with cheese, semolina, or nuts, and is often topped with crushed pistachios. (Ramadan Kunafa Recipe)

Qatayef: These are stuffed pancakes or dumplings that are typically filled with sweet cheese, nuts, or sweetened semolina. They are often enjoyed during the month of Ramadan.

Ma'amoul: These are shortbread-like cookies filled with dates, nuts, or figs. They are often shaped into intricate designs using special molds.

Roz Bel Laban (Rice Pudding): A creamy rice pudding flavored with vanilla, rose water, or orange blossom water, and often garnished with ground cinnamon or pistachios.

Awamat: These are deep-fried doughnut holes soaked in sugar syrup, similar to loukoumades in Greek cuisine.

Znoud El Sit: These are pastry tubes filled with sweetened cream or custard, deep-fried, and then soaked in sugar syrup.

These desserts showcase the Middle East's love for combining sweet and aromatic flavors, often incorporating ingredients like nuts, honey, rose water, and spices. Desserts are highly consumed during the month of Ramadan (Ramazan).