Mutanjan Recipe (Royal Multicoloured Sweet Rice)
Make mutanjan, the royal Pakistani sweet rice with three colours, khoya, cham cham, nuts and ghee. Par-boil, layer and dum for separate, glossy grains.
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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Zarda Recipe (Pakistani Sweet Saffron Rice)
Make Pakistani zarda with fragrant basmati, saffron, nuts and coloured sugar syrup. Learn to keep the grains separate and the sweetness just right.
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Sooji ka Halwa Recipe (Semolina Halwa)
Make halwa puri style sooji ka halwa: semolina roasted in ghee until golden, then cooked in cardamom syrup. Exact ratio, timings and fixes for lumps.
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Badam Halwa Recipe (Rich Almond Halwa)
Make rich badam halwa with ground almonds, milk, sugar and ghee, stirred until glossy and leaving the pan. Exact stages and fixes for grainy or oily halwa.
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Jalebi Recipe (Crispy Homemade Jalebi)
Make crispy homemade jalebi with a fermented or instant batter, piped into hot ghee and dipped in warm saffron syrup. Fixes for flat or soggy jalebi.
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Gulab Jamun Recipe (Soft Milk Powder Jamun)
Make soft gulab jamun with milk powder, fried slowly on low heat and soaked in warm cardamom syrup. Fixes for hard, cracked or raw-centred jamun.
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Kunafa Recipe (Crispy Cheese Kunafa with Syrup)
Make crispy, golden kunafa with a stretchy cheese centre and fragrant sugar syrup. Kataifi or semolina base, butter ratios and baking tips.
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Kuwaiti Darabeel Recipe (Crispy Rolled Wafers)
Make Kuwaiti darabeel, paper-thin rolled wafers with cardamom and saffron. Batter ratio, hot plate technique and how to roll them before they set.
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French Macarons Recipe (Smooth Tops, Full Feet, Buttercream)
Make French macarons with smooth tops, ruffled feet and no hollows. Macaronage test, resting time and oven tips, filled with vanilla buttercream.
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Chocolate Spice Cake Recipe (Moist, with Cinnamon and Cardamom)
Bake a moist chocolate spice cake with cocoa, hot coffee, cinnamon, cardamom and a glossy chocolate ganache. One bowl, no mixer needed.
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