The names and types of Turkish desserts 2024

Turkish Desserts in The Authentic Turkish Cuisine

The cultural characteristics of the Ottoman Empire had a profound impact on Turkish cuisine, coupled with the strength of the country's tourism industry, made Turkish cuisine and desserts one of the most outstanding delicacies in the world.

As the Ottoman food heritage is the result of a combination of a variety of cooking methods and food ingredients created in Central Asia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Balkans, it has a multicultural structure.

When we look at the delicacies of Turkey, we see a variety of foods in front of us, from a variety of kebabs to a variety of main dishes and soups, etc., each of which has a lot to say.

Turkish desserts are among the most exciting and delicious parts of Turkish cuisine culture that can surprise you with its shape and flavor.

It is interesting to know that these diverse Turkish sweets came as a result of cultural exchange over the years, which have now become a valuable heritage of this land.

Turkish sweets are often served in snacks or with hot drinks such as tea and coffee. When you take a look at the list of the names of these sweets, these well-known names as baklava, halva and Turkish delights will catch your eye without hesitation, but you should know that there is still a big and tasty world of Turkish sweets in front of you.

Turkish Sweets “Must Taste” When You Visit Istanbul

When you ask a Turkish person what Turkish sweets a visitor should try, it is very natural that the answer is baklava, as it is the most famous and common Turkish dessert since the time of the Ottoman Empire and to this day, perhaps it is the most consumed sweets by locals and tourists alike.

The reason for the popularity of Turkish sweets is due to the variety of Turkish sweets that came as a result of an overlap between a group of influences from all over the Arab and European world and the historical heritage of ancient and modern civilizations . Today, in this article, you will learn about the tastiest Turkish sweets ever, which has a worldwide fame for its sweet taste, lightness and enormous ability to tempt you to eat more and more.

But hey, if you think that baklava is the sweets that Turkey is famous for, you are probably wrong, or you have not seen the richness of Turkish cuisine in terms of sweets. In this blog, we’re going to offer you a panoramic view of all kinds of Turkish sweets.

Baklava, The Most Famous Turkish Sweets

Turkish baklava is one of the most famous and popular Turkish sweets around the world, with its distinctive manufacturing method, which has been inherited by generations and evolved over time, its crispy layers and fillings that are rich in nut types of walnuts, pistachios and hazelnuts, and the attractive shape that makes it the best choice for table decoration and the perfect hospitality for any occasion.

Baklava comes in many flavors, as it is served with pistachios, walnuts, hazelnuts and other delicious flavors. Hafiz Mustafa and Karaköy Güllüoğlu are also one of the most renowned brands famous for providing Turkish baklava. Sweet Saray Store is one of the most reliable stores in selling these sweets outside Turkey who collects the most famous Turkish brands in one place so that the Arab shopper can choose what he wants at excellent prices.

Types of Turkish Baklava

• Nuts Baklava
• Pistachios Baklava
• Baklava with hazelnuts
• Chocolate Baklava
• Cold Baklava dipped in milk and cocoa
• Baklava for diabetics
• Gluten-free Diet Baklava

Turkish Delights

The famous Turkish delights is one of the most famous Turkish sweets. It is a sticky, soft, chewy and sweet dessert, usually served after a cup of coffee to alleviate the severity and heaviness of Turkish coffee, which is usually served in Turkish restaurants and cafes. Turkish delights contains a variety of nuts, such as walnuts, almonds and pistachios, in addition to various and varied flavors starting from roses and strawberries to lemons and oranges. It is also on the list of souvenirs bought by tourists where thousands of boxes of which are sold all over Turkey. Turkish sources recently reported that the amount sold since the beginning of this year exceeds 510 tons at Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

Turkish delights consists of jelly, starch and sugar, and many flavorings such as pistachios and cinnamon are added. Hafiz Mustafa brand is one of the most famous for serving the ancient Turkish delights.

 Turkish kunafeh

Need not any introduction as it is way better off. It is famous in the Levant and each region has its own way of making it, khishnah (rough) or na’ama (fine), with cheese or cream, light or concentrated margarine. In Turkey it has another taste that blends with the fragrance of Ottoman history.

This oven-grilled dessert stuffed with the finest types of Turkish mozzarella cheese ,Turkish knafeh ,which smells every morning among the alleys of Turkish neighborhoods, this famous and simple to make dessert is a combination of grated wheat, nuts, and very sweet sherbet. Soft white cheese can be added to the ingredients to transform and become knafeh that melts in the mouths and raises the rates of feeling happy.

 Turkish Trileçe cake

One of the most popular types of sweets sold in Turkey is Trileçe dessert, which is a fragile cake soaked in milk, covered with a thin layer of caramel or berry sauce.

Despite all the fame that this dessert has gained, starting from Istanbul to the rest of the Turkish cities, it is not of a Turkish origin, as it reached them in the thirties of the last century.

There are many stories that talk about the origin of this dessert, some of which say that it is from South America, and others say that it is from Albania.

It is believed that the origin of the name Trileçe comes from a Spanish word, Tres Leches, meaning "three types of milk", as three types of milk were added to it, namely "sheep, goat and cow", hence the name tres Leches.

It can be tasted on its origins in most Turkish sweets shops, particularly in Mado chain.

Turkish Sutlaç 

Widely spread in Turkey and in most sweets shops, it is an excellent dish for hospitality and welcoming the guest.

Turkish Sutlaç dessert taste is unforgettable. It is prepared in a skillful way with little roasting in the oven to give it the desired color. It is rice with milk or rice with yogurt. It is made of rice, milk, sugar, raisins, some nuts and cinnamon.

Sutlaç is also considered a famous dessert in some Arab countries. Its name varies by country: in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan it is called “rice with milk”, in Palestine “bahtah”, in Egypt and Sudan “rice with yogurt”, in Tunisia “mahlabiyah”, and in Damascus it is called "rice with milk".

Sutlaç is also considered a famous dessert in some Arab countries, and its name varies by country in Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, where it is called rice with milk, in Palestine it is called purely, in Egypt and Sudan it is called rice with milk, and in Tunisia it is “mahlabiyah”, and in the Levant it is called "rice with milk".

Kazandibi Sweets

This kind of Turkish dessert is a caramelized milk powder, which became very popular during the Ottoman era. You can find them in many places in Istanbul, especially in the Sutis restaurant. This chain has many shops in Istanbul, but without doubt, the best of them are located in the Emirgan district, opposite the Bosphorus.

Kazandibi or Turkish pudding, another dish of the most famous Turkish sweets. It is milk cooked with starch until the mixture condenses and has a thick consistency, then it is poured into plates and decorated with nuts or cinnamon.

Its names differ also, since in some countries It’s called “mhallayieh”, and in others “mhallabeyieh”. Kazandibi is served cold with a pinch of cinnamon or nuts.

Bread Kadayif

One of the traditional Turkish quick-to-prepare desserts. It is also called “Turkish bread pudding” dessert. Its ingredients are few and can be done in less than half an hour, where syrup is prepared and bread kadayif are placed in the tray with an amount of warm water from 10 to 15 minutes until the volume doubles before water is drained and the tray is placed on a low fire.

Hot syrup is added until the kadayif absorbs it, the cream then is added and the dish is served after cooling.

This is one of the ways to prepare bread kadayif with cream. Some prefer to decorate them with cherries or strawberries, which gives them an appetizing look.

Irmik Turkish Sweets

Irmik dessert is one of the most famous sweets that came out of Ottoman cuisine; the semolina dessert. It was spread in Turkish homes hundreds of years ago, sometimes served with milk, others with pistachios, but was always considered light and delicious. Its ingredients include milk, semolina, sugar and ghee, and it is decorated with pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts. in Turkey, this dessert is usually served in funerals too.

In short, it is a semolina dessert which is famous and popular among Turks, and is served on many occasions, especially on religious ones.

Turkish Lokma Dessert

Lokma, Lokmat, lokmat el kadi, or zalabia, as it is called in some countries, is considered street sweets in Turkey, where people of various ranks and social positions consume it. It’s there in every home and with everyone.

Lokma is a piece of dough fried in oil and flavored with honey, syrup or cinnamon, and it is an instant dessert, where the dough is prepared and shaped in the form of small balls resembling a chestnut grain before being fried. Syrup and nuts are then added and sprinkled thereon.

Ring Dessert

It comes in the form of a “ring” and called “balah esh Sham” or “a’owame” in Arabic cuisine.

Its ingredients are oil, yogurt, flour and eggs. After preparing the main ingredients, they are fried on low heat before being sprinkled with syrup and pistachios, then served hot. One of the most famous of those who serve this sweet is Safa Tatlji. It is also available in some kiosks, malls, and commercial centers and with many street vendors in tourist areas.

Şekerpare 

Another famous, popular, and instant dessert, which includes flour, semolina, eggs with a pinch of baking powder, vanilla and butter.

Many flavors can be added to it such as coconut and Turkish coffee. Nuts are added for decoration before being served to guests. Some call it Turkish “basbousa”.

Revani Sweets

A classic dessert that has been present in Turkish cuisine since the Ottoman era. It is said that its name was given when the Ottomans occupied the city of Yerevan in what is called today Armenia. The Persian name of the cake, Revani, is also used in Greek culture. This dessert has been adapted by many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures. It is called “basbousa” in Arabic and “shamalieh” in Armenian.

In Turkish cuisine, rivani is one of the most common desserts and is served both at home and in restaurants. It is a simple dessert made with one layer of a soft yellow sponge cake soaked in a lot of light beverages.

Keşkül dessert

Keşkül is said for the bowl that the dervishes carry while begging. Previously, dervishes were forced to beg to break their pride, and they would put the money they collect in this bowl. Milk pudding would be prepared, then, with their money to be distributed to the poor and needy.

A Turkish dessert whose origin dates back to the Ottoman era. Its main ingredient is almonds – where it is also called almond dessert - along with eggs, cream and semolina, and although it contains cream, it is one of the sweets that has a light and delicious taste. Keşkül is served cold and decorated with fruits or nuts.

Katmer Dessert

Turkish katmer is one of the most famous sweets that you see while walking around the streets of Istanbul, any place that sells sweets may not be without a special corner to make this delicious dessert.

Katmer is a crispy dough flakes with pistachios and cream cooked in the oven with some Arabic ice cream added.

Aşure Sweets

Aşure is another traditional and historical dessert in Turkey that has an interesting story. According to traditional beliefs and stories, when the Prophet Noah survived the Great Storm and managed to find peace in his ship, he decided to cook food for himself and others. He looked at the food and groceries inside the ship and started working, finally he created Aşure.

Aşure is actually a mixture of sugar with cereals such as wheat, peas and white beans, which is accompanied by dried fruits such as figs, apricots and raisins.

Turkish Ice Cream

Dondurma is one of the most delicious and cold Turkish desserts. It is actually a traditional Turkish ice cream dating back to the sixteenth century. Dondurma has a viscous and dense consistency. Goat's milk, sugar, cream, sage, Roman incense, etc. are used for its preparation.

A simple and decorative layer of pistachio powder is also added. Today you can easily find different types of it in city shops and alleys to enjoy it on a hot summer day.

Tavuk Göğsü

It is considered one of the most unique Turkish desserts, because it is a kind of milk pudding cooked with chicken breast. I can guess by reading these ingredients how you change your facial expressions and try to imagine how delicious chicken meat can be by combining it with milk and sugar. I recommend not thinking about the ingredients for this dessert; just taste it, you will definitely like the different and interesting taste and wonder how there is no taste of chicken in this dessert.

In fact, white meat is used in cooking Tavuk göğsü, which adds an elastic and soft texture to the dessert. Long-term cooking of this meat with milk leaves no trace of the taste of chicken meat.

Ayva Tatlısı (Quince) Dessert

If you are a fan of fruits and have little idea how to use and process them, then this dessert is exactly for you.

Its name in Turkish is Ayva Tatlısı and it is very tasty, it is combined with sugar juice. Just take one look at this dessert, and everything will become a thing of the past.

Kabak Tatlısı (pumpkin) Dessert

As you can guess from the photo of this delicious dessert, pumpkin is one of the main ingredients of this dish. If you are a fan of this wonderful orange plant or your heart wants a little variety among very sweet Turkish sweets, pumpkin dessert will be a good choice for you.

It is interesting to know that this pumpkin dessert, contrary to its simple appearance, is not easy to cook, but also takes a very time. It is one of the winter Turkish sweets and has many fans on cold days.

Would You Like To Order Turkish Sweets online?

It seems that the topic of ordering Turkish sweets from Turkey via the internet while you are at home is a bit strange, but believe it or not, there are many websites specialized in selling Turkish baklava, including these brands, and shipping it to any country in the world. They arrive fresh and delicious as if you are eating them in Turkey .

The original Turkish baklava is one of the most delicious types of baklava around the world. It can be made at home, of course, but baklava with Turkish pistachios and baklava with Turkish nuts remain of a more delicious taste because they are made by the touch of Turkish ancestors. You can order the most delicious types of Turkish baklava wherever you are from Sweet Saray Store, that collects the tastiest sweets and the finest Turkish products in one place, online.