Updated Date : 22.02.2023
Top 15 Turkish Desserts and Sweets
It is the legacy of the Turkish Ottoman Empire and the fact that the empire spread over various regions; it holds the essence of all the areas. Therefore, the traditional foods of multiple realms amalgamating in one place became the identity of Turkey.
Here is a quick look into the top 15 delicious Turkish desserts and sweets to try. These will surely tantalize your taste buds on your trip to Turkey.
1. Turkish Baklava
This is the most famous traditional Turkish dessert that people around the world know and enjoy. The introduction of Baklava dates back to the Byzantine Empire. However, its recipe was developed and refined during the time of the Ottoman Empire. Today the new recipe developed during the Ottoman period is being used to make Turkish Baklava.
It is made by stuffing the layers of the dough with nuts such as pistachio, almonds, and hazelnut. If you wish to have a genuine taste, the best baklava in Turkey is found in Gaziantep, where this dish was born hundreds of years ago.
2. Tavuk Gogsu
This dish is translated as "Chicken Breast" in English, the main ingredient in this pudding. First, the chicken is boiled and shredded into fibers. Later it is again boiled with water, sugar, milk, rice, or cornstarch. Once it is ready, cinnamon is used for flavoring.
3. Firin Sutlac
This is another Ottoman cuisine still eaten in Turkey. Ingredients for firin sultan include sugar, rice, rice flour, water, and milk. It is made into oven-baked rice budding. The modern version of this pudding includes vanilla instead of rosewater for flavoring and aroma.
4. Kunefe
Kunefe is one of the many popular desserts in Turkey. It is made like a cake which is later cut into pieces. Regardless of its cake-like shape, you will not find it among pastries as it should be eaten hot.
Kunefe is made with cheese which is the local version of Mozzarella, butter, and sugar syrup. The taste is so delicious that it is worth trying on your trip to the south of Turkey famous for Turkish Kunefe.
5. Turkish Delights
Turkish delights are famous all over the world. They are found throughout the Mediterranean basin making them a specialty of Istanbul. Turkish delights were first made in 1776 by a confectioner of the Ottoman Empire.
They are fluffy, soft, and pleasant to chew. The ingredient of Turkish delights includes cornstarch, fruit paste or nuts, and sugar. It was used as an evening toffee by high-society ladies in ancient times. They look lovely on the tea table and can complement other desserts on your kitty part table.
6. Kazandibi
The dish dates to the Ottoman Empire. The dish is popular because of the burnt bottom of the pan in which it is made. Kazandibi is made with starch, sugar, rice flour, butter, milk, and vanilla flavors. The caramelized top of the Kazandibi contrasts nicely with the milky taste of its ingredients.
7. Turkish Tulumba
This is a fried street food desert in Turkey and people of all ages like this sweet. This is a kind of Turkish pastry. The flavor is enhanced by soaking it in lemon syrup. The sweet is made by adding the batter in a piping bag with a star nozzle.
8. Pismaniye
This dessert personifies the traditional taste of Turkish desserts with origin in the city of Kocaeli; The ingredients include sugar, roasted flour, and butter. The final dish has a resemblance to cotton candy, though the texture is a little different. The dish is garnished with nuts like walnut, pistachios, or cacao.
9. Ashure
This is another Turkish pudding that is famous among tourists and locals. However, this Turkish dessert also has a historical legacy attached to it. According to Islamic beliefs, Noah made a pudding upon his survival from the big flood. At that time, the prophet Noah used all the ingredients locally available. Today, there are various recipes for this Turkish pudding. It is made with grains, including chickpeas, wheat, haricot beans, and sugar.
The dried fruits used in this desert are dried figs, apricots, and nuts like hazelnut, commonly made during the first month of the Islamic calendar known as Muharram. People make Ashure on the 10th of the Muharram and distribute it among the neighbors.
10. Zerde
This is one of the famous Turkish desserts that you can commonly find people enjoying. It is customary for Turkish people to make Zerde at their weddings and the birth of a child to celebrate the occasion. It is made with essential ingredients such as corn starch, rice, water, and saffron for the beautiful aroma and Curcuma for the yellow color. Once it is cooked, the dish is garnished with local nuts and fruits. Mainly people use pistachio, pine nuts, and pomegranate.
11. Cezerye
This Turkish dessert is made with carrots, as is the dish's name when translated into Arabic. Cezerye is caramelized carrots with a taste of cinnamon. Its flavor is further enhanced by adding nuts like walnut, pistachios, and hazelnuts. For garnishing, the dish is sprayed with crushed coconuts. It is a dry sweet so can be carried on travel or as a gift for relatives.
12. Gullac
It is one of the first desserts that come to mind when milky dessert is mentioned. Gullac dessert is made with milk, pomegranate, and a special kind of pastry. It's a dessert you can't get enough of. In general, people are consumed during Ramadan.
13. Katmer
Katmer is an insatiable, delicious dessert that melts in the mouth. In Gaziantep, it is served with breakfast in the mornings. Definitely try this delicious dessert with the very thin dough when you come to Turkey.
14. Ayva tatlisi (quince dessert)
A different taste to try again in Turkey! It is cut in half in the middle, the seeds are removed, granulated sugar is added and 1 glass of water, cinnamon, and cloves are added to it and cooked on low heat until it boils. It will be a dessert that will remain on your palate.
15. Cevizli Sucuk (walnut sausage)
Sucuk with walnuts is one of the delicious desserts. It is a traditional dessert with molasses coating and walnuts. It is usually a dessert that can be eaten with tea or coffee.
The Final Word
Turkey is famous for its desserts and sweets. The sweet and savory taste of these treats is worth praise by whoever eats them. Tourists visiting Turkey enjoy the scenery and the amalgamation of contemporary architecture with ancient ones, but they enjoy these Turkish delights and sweets.