Here are some of the most popular Turkish desserts you should try at least once. They’re made with simple, everyday ingredients but still feel like something special. Turkish sweets often bring together nuts, milk, sugar, and time. Some are rich with honey and butter, others are soft, milky, and light. From baklava with its crisp layers to rice pudding or stretchy ice cream, these desserts are a sweet part of everyday life in Turkey.
Pistachio Baklava
Baklava is a very popular Turkish sweet dating back to the Ottoman Empire, featuring flaky filo pastry layers, nuts, and syrup. This version is made with ready-made filo pastries and is perfect for you if you don't have time to make your own filo pastry sheets. However, if you want to learn how to make authentic walnut baklava from scratch using a rolling pin, check out my Homemade Turkish Baklava Recipe.
To learn more: Easy Turkish Pistachio Baklava
Lokma - Sweet Fried Dough Balls
Lokma Dessert, or Fried Sweet Dough Balls, is made with a simple yeast dough that’s deep-fried until golden and crisp, then coated in syrup or honey. These little bites are light, airy, and just a little sticky-sweet in the best way. With only a handful of pantry ingredients and some resting time for the dough, you can make this classic treat at home and enjoy it warm and fresh.
To learn more: Lokma Dessert - Fried Sweet Dough Balls
Turkish Delight
Turkish Delight is a sweet, slightly chewy confection made from sugar, starch, and water. It comes in different colors, shapes, textures, and flavors, with popular ones including rosewater, nuts, and lemon. Usually, it's cut into small cubes and dusted with powdered sugar or coconut to keep them from sticking together. You can enjoy Lokum on its own or with a glass of Turkish Tea - Cay.
To learn more: Homemade Elderflower Turkish Delight (Lokum)
Turkish Ice Cream
Maraş Dondurma is a traditional Turkish ice cream known for its thick, stretchy, and chewy texture, unlike regular gelato or ice cream. You can even eat it with a fork and knife instead of licking it from a cone. It has unique ingredients like salep (ground orchid tuber) and mastic (plant resin).
To learn more: Homemade Turkish Ice Cream - Maras Dondurma
Kadaif
Kadaif Dessert, (or Turkish Tel Kadayif), is a popular and unique Turkish dessert typically served during the holy month of Ramadan. It is made with layers of crispy, shredded filo pastry base filled with a rich and nutty walnut mixture, and then baked until crispy. The dessert is then soaked in a sweet syrup, adding an extra layer of flavor and moisture.
To learn more: Kadaif Dessert - Turkish Tel Kadayif
Kazandibi
Kazandibi is a traditional milk pudding made with butter, milk, cream, sugar, starch, and flavorings such as vanilla or ground mastic gum. The name "Kazandibi" refers to the "burnt bottom of the cauldron" that it is cooked in.
To learn more: Kazandibi
Sekerpare
Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies) is a sweet, moist, and tender dessert that's traditionally served for religious celebrations, such as Seker Bayrami which marks the end of Ramadan.
It is a great alternative to Ashure Dessert - Noah's Pudding or Baklava Cheesecake for your sweet cravings when you want something much simpler & quicker.
To learn more: Sekerpare (Turkish Semolina Cookies)
Revani Cake
Revani Cake - Turkish Semolina Cake is a popular Mediterranean dessert made with semolina flour, sugar, and eggs, soaked with orange-flavored syrup, and then cut into diamonds or squares.
To learn more: Revani - Turkish Semolina Cake
Ashure Dessert
Ashure (Aşure), also known as Noah's Pudding, is a rich, unique, and traditional dessert that's rich in history and flavor. Made with a delightful mix of grains, legumes, nuts, and fruits, this super nutritious treat is a true gem in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine.
To learn more: Ashure Dessert - Noah's Pudding
Pumpkin Dessert
Easy Turkish Kabak Tatlısı, known as the candied pumpkin dessert, is a traditional sweet that has been made for generations. It is prepared with just two main ingredients, pumpkin and sugar, and usually topped with crushed walnuts and a drizzle of tahini before serving. The name literally means “pumpkin dessert,” and it’s something many Turkish families make in autumn when pumpkins are in season.
To learn more: Kabak Tatlisi - Easy Turkish Pumpkin Dessert
Muhallebi
Muhallebi Dessert is a light, creamy, and delicious milk pudding that's popular throughout Turkey and the Middle East. This popular milk dessert recipe only requires 5 ingredients and comes together in just 20 minutes.
To learn more: Muhallebi - Mahalabia Dessert
Sutlac - Turkish Rice Pudding
Sutlac (the Turkish version of classic Rice Pudding) is a thick and creamy milk-based dessert that has a very special place in Turkish cuisine. The same as Keskul - Turkish Almond Pudding, this traditional rice dessert is delicious yet extremely easy to make with a few ingredients.
To learn more: Sutlac - Turkish Rice Pudding
Leave a Reply