Popular Turkish desserts

Turkish cuisine, which is one of the best in the world, is famous for its desserts and sweets. Turkish desserts have everything from simple puddings and ice cream to sophisticated phyllo dough and even meat desserts. In this article from Ebla Real Estate, we will talk about the most popular Turkish desserts.

Table of Contents
Toggle

Popular Turkish desserts:
Lokum (Turkish Delight):
Turkish Baklava:
Fırında sütlaç:
İrmik Helvası (Semolina Halva):
Künefe:
Aşure:
Trileçe:
Lokma:
Halka Tatlısı:

Popular Turkish desserts:

Lokum (Turkish Delight):

Made from a base of starch, gel, and sugar. The flavors available to try are vast and mind-boggling, including so many different fruits and nuts. These soft, sweet, and sticky cubes are commonly covered in sugar or coconut shavings.

This delicacy can be found in airports, convenience stores, and candy shops not just in Turkey, but all over the world. Most Turks agree that this fabulous and hugely popular Turkish dessert should always be enjoyed with a cup of hot Turkish coffee.

Turkish Baklava:

This is the most popular 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.

Traditionally baklava is oven-baked and consists of up to forty layers of delicate, translucent pastry, topped with a layer of finely chopped nuts (ground pistachios or crushed walnuts) and butter. Once out of the oven, it is sizzled and soaked with sweet traditional syrup. It is worth noting that you can find the best baklava in Turkey in Gaziantep.

Fırında sütlaç:

Fırında sutlaç is also one of the most beloved Turkish desserts. It is prepared with milk, rice, rice flour, sugar, and vanilla often topped with grated hazelnuts and cinnamon. The whole mix is finally browned in a salamander broiler and sugar is added depending on whether it’s consumed for dinner (this isn’t uncommon) or as a dessert. Rice pudding is beloved in all parts of the world and every country has its own version.

İrmik Helvası (Semolina Halva):

This vastly popular dessert is a common sight at kebab shops and restaurants and is traditionally served at wakes in Turkey.

It is made from semolina, butter, sugar, milk, and pine nuts, commonly topped with cinnamon. It’s often enjoyed with a scoop or two of ice cream, either on the side or placed beneath the hot serving of semolina halva.

Semolina halva served with cinnamon and ice cream is a heavenly combination and, no doubt, one of the country’s most beloved popular Turkish desserts.

Künefe:

The künefe is a type of cake that is traditionally eaten in kebab restaurants, because it must be eaten hot. This dessert consists of a thin noodle-like pastry that’s deep-fried and soaked in sweet, sugar-based syrup layered with cheese or clotted cream and nuts.

This dessert is popular not only in Turkey but also in the Middle East and the Balkans.

Aşure:

This is another popular Turkish dessert that is famous among tourists and locals. Ashura, known as Noah’s Pudding is a delicious puree Turkish dessert made from a mixture of cereals, fruits, dried fruits and nuts.

It is commonly made during the first month of the Islamic calendar known as Muharram. People make Aşure on the 10th of the Muharram and distribute it among the neighbors.

Trileçe:

From the great Bosphorus palaces to small traditional restaurants, everyone is served trileçe. The trileçe is a soft cake like a tiramisu made from three different kinds of milk (cow’s milk, sheep’s milk and buffalo milk) with a caramel layer on top.

Lokma:

It is one of Turkey’s most popular quick desserts that you can get on the street. Lokma is a chestnut-sized piece of deep-fried dough flavored with sugar, sherbet (or sweet lemon syrup), honey, and cinnamon. This sweet has a rich tradition. Moreover, it’s always served by people who celebrate a special occasion.

Halka Tatlısı:

It’s also one of the most popular street desserts in Turkey. The best way to describe Halka Tatlısı is as churros covered with sweet sherbet. It’s one of the sweetest and stickiest Turkish desserts but traditionally, it’s still eaten with hands, so if you want to try it, prepare to get your fingers sticky.