I feel like Lebanese desserts don’t get nearly enough love around here, and honestly, that’s a shame because they’re absolutely magical. I’ve rounded up 10 traditional Lebanese desserts you need in your life, from flaky pastries to creamy puddings. Trust me, your sweet tooth is about to be very, very happy.
1. Layali Lubnan
Okay, I’ll admit the look might not grab you right away: the pistachios and syrup can create a slightly murky color, but trust me, it’s delicious. This one is simple.
About 20 minutes of hands on work, then you let it chill for a couple hours. You start with a soft semolina pudding and finish with a layer of homemade ashta cream.
2. Nammoura (Semolina Cake)
Think of nammoura as sweet cornbread, but a hundred times better. The texture is eerily similar to cornbread, yet this cake is so much sweeter even before you drench it in a sugar and rosewater syrup. Feel free to swap in honey if that’s more your thing.
3. Sfouf
Sfouf is a simple, moist, fluffy cake with a wonderful sweet and nutty flavor. It needs just 15 minutes of prep and 40 minutes in the oven, and you’ll need fewer than 10 ingredients.
No eggs, super easy. It’s the perfect light treat after a heavy meal.
4. Lebanese Baklava
And yes, Lebanon does baklava beautifully. Some folks will tell you that nothing beats a classic baklava, even after tasting shaabiyat.
Me? I can’t pick a favorite. They’re both ridiculously good.
5. Znoud El Sit
Znoud El Sit is this wonderful mash up of cannoli, crepes, and baklava. I know, it sounds wild, but the flavor is spectacular and that crunchy outside is pure joy.
It’s not a long process, but it does require some precision, so don’t stress if your first batch isn’t perfect. That’s totally normal.
6. Shaabiyat
Shaabiyat is kind of like baklava’s cousin, with the same crispy, flaky phyllo dough and that glorious buttery, syrupy finish. The one little twist?
What’s tucked inside. If you love one, I’m pretty sure you’ll be head over heels for the other.
7. Maamoul
Maamoul are these incredible date filled cookies that taste sweet and rich without sending your sugar through the roof. They do ask for a little patience while you shape them, but the recipe gives you 20 gorgeous cookies, and they stay fresh for weeks. Honestly, you can snack on them for weeks after baking day.
8. Aish el Saraya Recipe (Lebanese Bread Pudding)
This isn’t your typical bread pudding, but I think you’re going to fall for it anyway. The base uses rusks, a hard, dry, sweet bread that you soak completely with a syrup of rose water, orange zest, and lemon juice. Then you do it all over again with another layer.
9. Kanafeh
Kanafeh is a personal favorite of mine. It looks completely unique and smells unbelievably amazing, as so many Lebanese sweets do.
A few of the ingredients might not be at your regular grocery store, but you can grab them at an Asian market or online. And please, use the exact ingredients listed, because substitutions will change the whole look and flavor.
10. Halawet El Jibn (Sweet Cheese Dessert)
I could just read you the recipe description and you’d be drooling, I swear. Each piece is a soft, pillowy cube of sweet cheese, rolled around a filling of clotted cream and finished with crushed pistachios and a fragrant rose petal jam. It’s as dreamy as it sounds.
