No exploration of Syrian cuisine would be complete without indulging in the delightful sweets and desserts. Syrian sweets & desserts sink your teeth into the decadent layers of baklava, flavored with honey and nuts. Sample the fragrant Ma’amoul cookies, delicately scented with rosewater and filled with dates or pistachios. And don’t miss out on the heavenly Knafeh, a cheese pastry soaked in a sweet syrup that will leave you craving for more.
A luscious and indulgent dessert made of shredded pastry dough layered with sweet cheese, baked until golden, and soaked in sweet syrup.
A rich and sweet pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts, sweetened with syrup or honey, and flavored with aromatic spices.
The origin of this famous Syrian dessert goes back to the city of Hama in the central area from which it spread to many other cities. Homs is also famous for Halawat El-Jeben, but Hama remains the first home of this yummy dessert.It is prepared with cheese, semolina, sugar, and blossom water. It is served in soft slices, plain or stuffed with a cheese filling. You can enjoy this dessert with ice cream and a sprinkle of pistachio nuts.
Balah al-Sham is of Syrian origin. However, stories vary about the reason for its name. Some attribute the name to the fact that it looks like dates—Balah means dates in Arabic. Others attribute the name to the story of a Levantine man who worked long hours during the winter, making him very hungry and tired.So, he started looking everywhere for dates to fill him up and provide him with the energy needed to continue working. Not able to find any dates, he thought of making a date-like snack, which, of course, would need to contain plenty of sugar, hence, Balah al-Sham. This dessert has a delicious taste and a smooth texture. Many people enjoy it all year round, often with the addition of honey, nuts, or powdered sugar.Balah al-Sham can be made simply at home. Just heat up oil, butter, sugar, and water until boiling, then add flour and mix to make a consistent dough. Leave it to cool, then add eggs and fry it in oil. You can add as much sugar syrup as you desire when it is ready. Bon Appétit!
Roz Bhaleeb is an easy home-made dessert made with simple and readily available ingredients. As the name implies, Roz Bhaleeb requires rice, milk, and some flavoring such as blossom water.It is widely known in Syria and Lebanon and is considered a nutritious snack for children. It is served on various occasions with a sprinkle of cinnamon, shredded coconut, or pistachio nuts.
Basbousa is sticky, sweet, moist and a favorite traditional dessert in Syria. Main ingredients include nuts, self-raising flour, plain yogurt, coconut (unsweetened) and caster sugar. The ingredients are combined and baked for 35-40 minutes.A special type of hot sugar syrup is added as topping which gives it a sticky texture after cooling.
Qatayef is a kind of sweet dumpling that is stuffed with cream or nuts (typically a mixture of hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios and raisins). Other ingredients include unsalted cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and cinnamon.This Arab delicacy is typically consumed during the month of Ramadan. Some people also define it as a folded pancake. It is usually accompanied by a hot, sweet syrup or, occasionally, honey.
