For those who haven’t had the pleasure of indulging in Lebanese sweets, it’s likely because they don’t have personal connections to the country. However, this culinary delight is not limited to just locals and expats. With its rich cultural heritage and mouthwatering flavors, Lebanese desserts are a treat for anyone with a sweet tooth.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Lebanon or simply looking to spice up your dessert game, let’s take a journey through some traditional recipes that will transport your taste buds to the Middle East. Phyllo lovers, rejoice! Shabiyat, Knafeh, and Baklava are must-try treats wrapped in tender pastry layers. For those seeking authenticity, Maamoul, Meghli, and Lebanese Night dessert are perfect representations of the country’s sweet traditions.
Let’s dive into this ultimate list of sweetness and discover the magic that awaits.
Maamoul
Maamoul, a beloved treat in Lebanon and beyond, has a rich history that spans centuries. Archaeological evidence from ancient Egypt’s pharaonic era reveals the cookie’s origins, with depictions on temple carvings and stone paintings providing a glimpse into its past. This iconic cookie is crafted using a classic combination of ingredients, including all-purpose flour, yeast, butter, vanilla extract, and sugar.
While some variations may employ semolina, this recipe adheres to the traditional method. The true essence of Maamoul lies in its filling, which can range from fruits like figs or dates to nuts such as pistachios or walnuts. In this particular rendition, the cookie is filled with sweet dates and crunchy ground almonds, evoking a sensory experience that’s quintessentially Middle Eastern.
Rice Pudding
Lebanese Rice Pudding, also known as Riz bi Haleeb in Arabic, is a staple dessert that transcends its traditional role as a sweet treat. In fact, it’s a common breakfast option for many Lebanese people, providing a satisfying start to the day. The pudding’s creamy texture and subtle flavors, infused with orange blossom water and rose water, give it a unique charm. When served warm, it takes only around 25 minutes to prepare this delightful combination of rice and milk.
Whether you’re hosting guests or simply craving a comforting dessert, Lebanese Rice Pudding is sure to impress. This classic Middle Eastern treat has many variations throughout the region, each with its own twist on the traditional recipe.
Knafeh
In the Middle East and Lebanon, Knafeh is a beloved dessert that has won hearts with its unique flavor combination. The foundation of this sweet treat is a delicate layering of phyllo dough and sweet cheese, topped with an extraordinary filling made from milk, flour, and sugar. To add an extra layer of complexity, a simple syrup infused with the sweetness of sugar, the tanginess of lemon juice, and the fragrance of rose water is drizzled on top.
The harmonious blend of savory and sweet notes makes Knafeh a comfort food that everyone can relate to. While preparing this dessert requires about an hour of effort, the end result is well worth the time invested. Knafeh is an ideal choice for parties and dinner nights when you want to impress your guests with a show-stopping sweet treat.
Lebanese Nights desserts
In the heart of Arabic cuisine lies Layali Lubnan, a sweet and aromatic dessert that embodies the essence of Lebanese nights. Translating to ‘Lebanese nights’, this delightful treat has gained popularity across Arab countries due to its irresistible flavors and floral aroma. A semolina pudding serves as the base, smothered in a rich layer of cream and topped with ground pistachios or other nuts, creating a delightful contrast of textures.
With its light and refreshing nature, Layali Lubnan is the perfect summer treat, allowing you to indulge in its sweetness while keeping your stomach in harmony.
Lebanese Ashta
In Lebanese cuisine, ashta – also affectionately referred to as kashta – is a ubiquitous ingredient in many traditional desserts. The original term ‘kashta’ literally translates to ‘clotted cream’ infused with the fragrances of rose water and orange blossom water in Arabic. Ashta has become an informal, colloquialism for kashta, commonly used in Lebanon.
This rich and creamy filling is often employed as a key component in various desserts, where it adds a luxurious touch to fruit cocktails and other sweet dishes. The authentic recipe requires raw milk, making it slightly more expensive. On the other hand, one cup of milk typically yields only one spoonful of ashta.
However, a modern adaptation has emerged, using boiled milk, bread, and cornflour.
This modified technique enables the production of one cup of ashta from a single cup of milk, making it more accessible to home bakers.
Mafroukeh
In Lebanese cuisine, Mafroukeh stands out as a beloved dessert, characterized by a perfectly cooked semolina base topped with a trio of indulgent elements: ashta, sugar syrup, and roasted nuts like pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. What sets this sweet treat apart is the versatility in its composition – some variations substitute ricotta cheese, infused with the fragrant essence of orange blossom water and sweetened with sugar, for the traditional ashta.
For those seeking a simpler route to dessert nirvana, using condensed milk cream as a substitute yields equally scrumptious results. Mafroukeh often takes center stage at joyous celebrations in Lebanon, such as weddings and other special occasions, where its rich flavors and textures are savored by all.
Jazarieh
Lebanon’s iconic sweet treat, Jazarieh, is a must-try when visiting the country. This candied pumpkin delicacy typically starts with grating the pumpkin coarsely to create its signature texture. The resulting pyramid-like structure is often topped with nuts such as almonds and pistachios, adding a delightful crunch to each bite. Despite the name ‘Jazarieh’ being derived from the Arabic word for carrots, ‘jazar’, this treat doesn’t actually contain any carrots.
Instead, it gets its vibrant orange hue from the pumpkin itself. Aromatic mastic gum and orange blossom water also add depth and complexity to the flavor profile of Jazarieh. As a popular street food in Lebanon, you can find vendors selling this sweet delight on nearly every corner.
Shaabiyat
Across the Middle East, a variety of sweet pastry delights can be found. One such treat is Shaabiyat, a trendy dessert that has captured hearts in Lebanon and beyond. This delectable pastry consists of layers of flaky phyllo dough brushed with butter or ghee, creating a rich and indulgent base for its creamy filling. The ashta-filled pastries are then baked to perfection, emerging golden brown and irresistibly sweet.
Once you’ve tried Shaabiyat, it’s likely to become your go-to comfort food, satisfying even the most discerning sweet tooth.
Baklava
In the realm of Ottoman cuisine, Baklava stands out as a beloved sweet pastry that has gained widespread popularity across many Middle Eastern countries. A staple in Lebanese cuisine, this delectable treat consists of layers of flaky phyllo pastry wrapped around a nutty filling that’s simply divine.
To create the perfect filling, pistachios, sugar, and rose water are blended together in a food processor until the nuts reach a fine texture.
The key to achieving this consistency is to pulse the processor intermittently, rather than allowing it to run continuously, thereby preventing the formation of nut butter.
If you’re looking for a show-stopping dessert to accompany your main course this weekend, Baklava is sure to impress.
Nammoura
Nammoura, a traditional Lebanese semolina cake, shares striking similarities with cornbread in terms of texture and flavor profile. While both share a rustic, crumbly consistency, Nammoura’s sweetness level is significantly elevated by the generous incorporation of honey. This delightful dessert staple, featuring semolina as its primary component, is a cornerstone of Lebanese confectionery, akin to the revered ashta filling.
Interestingly, this sweet treat is also known as Revani cake in Lebanon and, in certain Middle Eastern regions, it’s affectionately dubbed Basbousa. Preparation time for this honeyed delight clocks in at approximately an hour, making it an accessible and crowd-pleasing addition to any dinner table – even the most discerning palates will find themselves enamored with Nammoura’s unique charm.
Sfouf
The Curcuma cake, a staple of Lebanese baking, gets its name from the prominent use of curcumin powder as its primary ingredient. But where does this unique spice come from? Curcumin powder is actually derived from the roots of the Curcuma plant, which is also a key component in traditional Middle Eastern curry blends. While similar to turmeric, curcumin has a slightly more subtle taste and color profile.
This eggless cake recipe is sure to impress your guests, earning you praise for your culinary versatility. With its confirmed crowd-pleasing appeal, the Curcuma cake is an excellent choice for any occasion.
Mahalebia
With mere minutes of preparation time and a handful of pantry staples, you can whip up a scrumptious dessert that’s sure to please even the pickiest eaters. The simplicity of this treat is what makes it so beloved in Lebanon, where it’s affectionately known as a store cupboard dessert. At its core are four essential ingredients: milk, cornstarch, sugar, and rose water, which come together to create a delightfully wobbly mixture that’s reminiscent of a classic custard.
To add some satisfying crunch, simply sprinkle the concoction with chopped nuts like pistachios or almonds – or feel free to experiment with other varieties to give this Lebanese dessert your own special twist.
Meghli
In Lebanon, Meghli holds a special significance as a traditional dessert prepared to mark the occasion of a newborn’s arrival. The name ‘Meghli’ itself translates to ‘boiled’ in Arabic, reflecting the lengthy cooking time required for this recipe – a whopping almost an hour! Despite its simplicity, this delectable rice pudding is elevated by the subtle flavors of caraway, cinnamon, and anise, resulting in a rich and creamy texture.
To complete this indulgent treat, Meghli is typically topped with a crunchy garnish of nuts and crushed coconuts, adding a satisfying textural contrast.
The bottom line
Indulge in the sweet treats of Lebanon! As you embark on this culinary journey, we’re confident you’ll be inspired to try one or more of these mouthwatering desserts. If you’re looking for even more Lebanese food inspiration, we’ve curated a comprehensive list of 27 BEST Lebanese Foods that’s sure to satisfy your cravings. For now, let’s take a delightful stroll through some scrumptious recipe ideas and explore the possibilities of creating your own delicious Lebanese desserts at home!
