A good hearty Lebanese meal is incomplete without a generous serving of dessert. Lebanese cuisine has a wide variety of decadent sweets, an absolute delight for every sweet addict. What makes the Lebanese desserts so special is the use of spices like turmeric and cinnamon along with rose water and orange blossom. This unique combination of flavors is what makes the dishes so unique and unforgettable. Here are some of the most delicious Lebanese desserts that Lebanon has to offer.
12 Best Desserts You Must Try Out in Lebanon
1. Riz bi Haleeb
Riz bi haleeb is a Lebanese-style rice pudding that is extremely easy to make and yet incredibly flavorful. It is mostly served cold and garnished with soaked almonds, raisins, and pistachios. The flavour of rose water and orange blossom gives the taste a new flavour dimension.
2. Sahlab
If you want a sweet respite from hot weather, then sahlab is the perfect dessert for you. This flavoured cornstarch dish was introduced in Lebanon by the Ottomans. It has a jelly-like consistency and is mildly sweet. It is served chilled and garnished with dry fruits and desiccated coconut. Honey is optional for people who prefer their desserts to be sweeter.
3. Sfouf
Sfouf is a Lebanese turmeric cake and is one of the most loved Lebanese desserts. Lebanese people don’t use turmeric in their main course; they use it in their deserts. The main ingredients are flour, semolina, turmeric, milk. It is an extremely soft and spongy cake and is served with tea or milk. The cake is garnished with sesame seeds to give it an authentic Lebanese taste.
4. Namoura
Namoura is a mouth-watering Semolina cake soaked in Lebanese sugar syrup. It is decorated with almonds or cashews. The dish is well complemented by a hint of citrus flavour from the orange blossom. It is a perfect dessert for people who are fond of sugary, moist, and gooey food!
5. Barazek
Barazek is a thin sesame cookie with pistachios. The texture is crunchy and nutty. It is not overly sweet. The sesame seeds are lightly toasted to give them a distinctive smoky flavour. It is insanely delicious and one of the most loved Lebanese desserts.
6. Awamat
Awamats are walnut-sized doughnuts soaked in sugar syrup. Abd al-Baghdadi, a famous historian called them the sweets of the judge. On the outside, they are crunchy and soft on the inside. You can devour these decadent doughnuts with coffee or ice cream as well. Lebanese festivals are incomplete without this dish.
7. Baklawa
Baklava is one of the most well-known middle eastern desserts. Assorted ground nuts are sandwiched between filo pastry sheets and soaked in syrup. The pastry sheets stick to each other with the help of butter and are baked in the oven till it’s golden and crispy. The combination of the nuttiness of dry fruits, flakiness of pastry, and richness of butter is a match made in heaven.
8. Maamoul
Maamoul is a small shortbread pastry filled with pistachios, dates, or walnuts. Eid or Easter is incomplete without this fantastic dish. In ancient times, the rulers used to distribute these cookies among the employees of the palace. This dish symbolizes that after the fasting period, there is a sweet reward.
9. Meghli
Meghli is a special dessert that is distributed to celebrate the start of a new life. The rice pudding is flavoured with star anise, caraway, and cinnamon and garnished with a generous topping of dry fruits. The flavour is exquisite and mouth-watering.
10. Halawa
Halawa is a traditional flaky sweet dish made with an assortment of dry fruits. This decadent dessert is one of the most exported Lebanese desserts in the world. You can gorge on this scrumptious dish with ice cream, pita bread, or brownies.
11. Knefeh
Knefeh is Lebanese style pie. You can imagine the popularity of this dish by the fact that it is also known as the queen of Arab desserts. The crispy pastry is filled with lots of cheese and soaked with rose and orange-infused sugar syrup. This dish tastes like a piece of heaven.
12. Maakroun
Maakroun is a super tasty, sweet fried dessert. They are shaped like a finger and is common in Lebanese festivals and weddings. This dish is so delectable that it is impossible to stop after eating a single piece. It is a must-have dish for people with sweet teeth.
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