Zoolbia Recipe (Persian Saffron Syrup Fritters)
Make zoolbia: lacy Persian fritters piped into hot oil and soaked in saffron rose syrup. Crisp outside, chewy inside. A Ramadan favourite made at home.
Mithai from Pakistan, kunafa and baklava from the Middle East, saffron puddings from Iran and chhena sweets from Bengal. Every dessert here is tested in a home kitchen, with the exact syrup stage, milk reduction or bake to look for, and a fix for the usual failures.
Recipes developed and tested by Farwa Zeeshan
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Eid and wedding sweetsKheer, firni and kulfiSyrup, pastry and datesSaffron, rose and chhenaFrom the oven
Pakistani mithai
Eid and wedding sweets
- 9Sheer KhurmaEid vermicelli in milk
- 9Gajar ka HalwaWinter carrot halwa
Gulab JamunSoft gulab jamun- JalebiCrisp homemade jalebi
- 9Sohan HalwaMultan's chewy halwa
- 9Doodh BarfiSoft milk barfi
- 9Chum ChumCoconut chhena rolls
- 9Habshi HalwaDark winter halwa
Milk puddings and frozen
Kheer, firni and kulfi
- 9Ras MalaiRas malai in saffron milk
- 9FirniGround rice firni
- 9KulfiPistachio kulfi
- 9FaloodaRose milk falooda
- 9KheerCreamy rice kheer
- 9RabriLayered rabri
Middle Eastern and Turkish
Syrup, pastry and dates
- 9LuqaimatDate syrup dumplings
- 9BasbousaSemolina syrup cake
- 9Umm AliWarm pastry milk pudding
- KunafaCrisp cheese kunafa
- 9BaklavaPistachio baklava
- 9QatayefRamadan stuffed pancakes
- 9LokumRosewater Turkish delight
- 9KaakDate-filled cookies
- SekerpareSemolina syrup cookies
From Iran, Afghanistan and Bengal
Saffron, rose and chhena
- 9Bastani SonnatiSaffron rose ice cream
- 9Faloodeh ShiraziFrozen rose noodles
- 9QottabAlmond pastries
- 9FirniAfghan milk pudding
- 9SandeshSoft chhena sandesh
- 9PatishaptaCoconut jaggery crepes
Cakes and bakes
From the oven
- Chocolate Spice CakeMoist chocolate spice cake
- 9French MacaronsFrench macarons
- 9Shahi TukrayFried bread in rabri
- 9Lab-e-ShireenCustard fruit trifle
Learn the technique
Guides behind these recipes
Quick answers
Dessert Recipes FAQ
What desserts are made for Eid in Pakistan?
Sheer khurma, meethi seviyan, lab-e-shireen, firni and kheer.
What is the most popular Middle Eastern dessert?
Kunafa and baklava, especially during Ramadan.
What is one-string syrup?
Sugar syrup boiled until a drop pulled between finger and thumb forms a single thread.
How do I stop milk desserts burning?
Use a heavy pan, keep the heat low and scrape the bottom often.
Which dessert is easiest for beginners?
Sooji halwa, meethi seviyan or firni.
Every recipe
All dessert recipes
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Sholeh Zard Recipe (Persian Saffron Rice Pudding)
Make sholeh zard: Persian saffron rice pudding with rosewater, cardamom and almonds, set and decorated with cinnamon patterns. Creamy and never gluey.
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Kleicha Recipe (Iraqi Date Cookies)
Make Iraqi kleicha, the national cookie: a cardamom and rose water dough rolled around spiced date paste, sliced into spirals and glazed. Tender every time.
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Muhallebi Recipe (Rose Milk Pudding)
Make silky muhallebi, the Arabic milk pudding thickened with cornflour and scented with rose or orange blossom, topped with pistachios. Lump-free method.
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Kaak Recipe (Saudi Date-Filled Cookies)
Make Saudi kaak, soft semolina cookie rings filled with spiced date paste for Eid and Ramadan. Dough resting, shaping and baking cues so they stay tender.
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Qatayef Recipe (Ramadan Stuffed Pancakes)
Make qatayef, the Ramadan stuffed pancakes: a bubbly one-side batter, nut or cream filling, sealed edges and a light syrup. Fixes for pancakes that won’t seal.
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Besan Ladoo Recipe (Gram Flour Ladoo)
Make melt-in-mouth besan ladoo by slow-roasting gram flour in ghee, cooling slightly and binding with powdered sugar. Roasting cues and shaping tips.
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Besan Burfi Recipe (Gram Flour Barfi)
Make melt-in-mouth besan burfi by roasting gram flour in ghee until golden and nutty, then setting it with sugar syrup. Roasting cues and fixes included.
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Kaju Katli Recipe (Cashew Fudge)
Make smooth, glossy kaju katli with cashew powder and sugar syrup cooked to the right stage, kneaded and rolled thin. Tips to avoid crumbly or sticky katli.
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Kheer Recipe (Creamy Rice Pudding)
Make creamy rice kheer by slow-simmering rice in full-fat milk with cardamom, saffron and nuts until thick. Ratio, stirring tips and fixes for thin kheer.
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