African Desserts

Kunāfah consists of two crunchy layers of shredded and buttered kataifi or knefe dough, filled with a luscious cheese cream that's often flavored with orange zest and cardamom, then drenched in a sugar syrup infused with lemon ju... READ MORE

Although it is believed to have its origins in Persia, zulbia or jalebi is an international dessert with variations that spread throughout the Middle East, India, and Asia. In its basic form, this sweet dessert is created by combining flour with y... READ MORE

Qatayef is an Arabian dessert and a staple of the Ramadan holiday feast. It is a sweet pancake that is usually filled with cheese or nuts such as walnuts, almonds, pistachios, or hazelnuts. Qatayef can also be consumed plain, topped with clotted c... READ MORE

Chebakia is a chewy, crunchy, and fragrant Moroccan pastry made by arranging strips of dough into a flower shape. It is then fried, coated in honey, and sprinkled with sesame seeds. This sweet treat is traditionally prepared during the month of Ra... READ MORE

Baghrir is a soft and spongy Moroccan and Algerian pancake made with semolina flour. It is characterized by numerous holes on its surface, a result of yeast-produced bubbles in the batter that form and break as the pancake cooks. The pancake is co... READ MORE

Although there are many recipes, the Egyptian umm Ali dessert is usually made by dividing bread or puff pastry into pieces, then mixing it with sugar, milk, and coconut flakes. The mixture is typically sprinkled with raisins, pistachios, almonds a... READ MORE

Creamy and sweet, melktert is a South African dessert consisting of a pastry crust filled with a combination of sugar, flour, eggs, and milk. The name melktert means milk tart. The dish can be served either hot or cold, and it is... READ MORE

Malva pudding is a traditional dessert consisting of a pudding base covered in a creamy, sweet sauce made with water, cream, vanilla, butter, and sugar. The pudding is usually made from butter, sugar, eggs, apricot jam, milk, flour, and salt. The ... READ MORE

These crescent-shaped cookies are usually associated with Morocco, but they can be found throughout Algeria and Tunisia in slightly different forms and under various names. Their name translates as gazelle ankles, but they are better know... READ MORE

Mehalabiya is a creamy Arabian dessert, in many ways similar to the French blancmange. It is made with a mixture of milk and sugar, cooked and thickened with rice flour or cornstarch, and usually flavored with orange blossom or rose water... READ MORE

Makroudh is a famous North African dessert which usually consists of a sweet date filling that is placed inside semolina dough. It is fried or baked, and then doused in honey-based syrups which are often flavored with lemon or orange. The name der... READ MORE

Makroud el louse are flourless Algerian cookies consisting of almonds, eggs, sugar, and a flavoring of orange flower water. Baked until lightly browned, these cookies are typically tossed in powdered sugar in order to be completely coated. Once co... READ MORE

Bambalouni are traditional Tunisian doughnuts that are especially popular in the village of Sidi Bou Said. They are made with flour, hot water, yeast, and salt. After the dough has been prepared, it is fried in hot oil until golden brown, and the ... READ MORE

Seffa is a traditional dish that is typically reserved for celebrations and festivities. It consists of either vermicelli noodles or couscous combined with a savory-sweet onion sauce and a topping of icing sugar, cinnamon, raisins, and ground almo... READ MORE

Koeksister is a sweet South African snack with a sticky appearance. It is prepared by frying braided dough strips in oil, then dunking them into a cold sugary syrup. These sticky treats are sold on every major street in South Africa, and today the... READ MORE

Sfenj are popular Moroccan and Algerian doughnut-like fritters made from sticky unleavened batter, similar to Libyan sfinz and Tunisian bambalouni. The dough is traditionally shaped into rings and deep-fried until it develops a g... READ MORE

Bradj, also known as mbardja, mteqba, or mbarja, is a traditional diamond-shaped pastry from the northeast, traditional consumed in Constantinois, Jijel, Bibans, and Kabylie region. This diamond-shaped delicacy consists ... READ MORE

These traditional Moroccan twice-baked cookies come in both sweet and savory versions. They are prepared with shortbread or yeasted dough that is usually enriched with orange blossom water, aniseed, or citrus zest, as well as toasted nuts and drie... READ MORE

Kalb-el-louz is a popular Algerian baked dessert consisting of semolina and ground almonds as key ingredients. It's typically flavored with cardamom, cinnamon, vanilla, and orange blossom water. After it has been cooked, kalb-el-louz is combined w... READ MORE

This internationally known, decadent, and sugar-packed dessert is usually made with a mixture of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt, which is deep-fried and then bathed in syrup or honey. The origin of lokma fritters is ancient but often debated. It is... READ MORE

Meskouta is a traditional cake originating from Morocco. This orange and almond cake is made with a combination of almonds, eggs, sugar, honey, orange juice, lemon juice, orange flower water, oil, flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Once prepar... READ MORE

Ghoriba are traditional Middle Eastern cookies that come in a few varieties – some can be chewy, while others have a shortbread-like, crumbly texture. The cookies are traditionally shaped into balls or disks, and often have characteristical ... READ MORE

Every important celebration in Algeria is never complete without mkhabez, a traditional and delicate Algerian pastry. It is made with nuts (mostly almonds), sugar, eggs, and flavorings, then cut into small, elegant shapes. Essentially, it is easy ... READ MORE

Sellou is a popular Moroccan sweet consisting of oven-browned flour, fried almonds, and toasted sesame seeds. The dessert is not baked, as all of the ingredients are combined instead. Rich and nutty, sellou acts as food that restores energy and he... READ MORE

Kelewele is a flavorful Ghanaian dish consisting of deep-fried plantain chunks that are usually combined with salt, ginger, and hot peppers. It is usually served as an accompaniment to bean stews or rice dishes, although kelewele is also often sol... READ MORE

Ladob is a Seychellois dish based on plantains, breadfruit, and cassava. It can be prepared in sweet or savory versions. The dessert version is prepared by boiling plantains or cassava in coconut milk, along with nutmeg, vanilla, and sugar as flav... READ MORE

Assidat zgougou is a traditional dessert made with a combination of seeds of Aleppo pine, sugar, flour, starch, water, and rosewater. The zgougou seeds are ground and combined with the sugar, flour, and starch, then stirred continuously while the ... READ MORE

Tamina is an ancient Algerian sweet treat consisting of toasted ground semolina, butter, and honey. It is typically decorated with cinnamon or sugared almonds. Traditionally, it is served when celebrating the birth of a child, but it can be prepar... READ MORE

Créponné is a traditional lemon sorbet, created by Gilbert Soriano of the Crèmerie l'Oranaise in Oran. It is made by mixing lemon zest and juice with boiling sugar syrup, leaving it to rest in the freezer for a couple of hours... READ MORE

This African snack is very popular in countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya. The dough is made with sugar, flour, water, yeast, and milk or coconut milk. It can be additionally enriched with ingredients such as ground peanuts or almonds. A... READ MORE

Ma'amoul is an ancient cookie filled with fruits and nuts such as dates, walnuts, and pistachios. The cookies are traditionally prepared for Easter, festivals, and celebrations, and they are typically shaped into balls or domes. In order to differ... READ MORE

M’hanncha or snake cake is a traditional dessert in which warqa pastry is filled with a delicious almond paste, then shaped into a snake-like form. Although there are numerous recipes for the almond paste, it is typically p... READ MORE

Jawzia (or djouzia) is a traditional walnut nougat originating from Constantine. This sweet delicacy is made from walnuts, honey, egg whites, sugar, and vanilla extract. It features delicately toasted nuts coated in a soft, honey-rich paste, enhan... READ MORE

Chakery is a sweet West African dessert with a creamy texture. It consists of couscous, milk, yogurt, and sour cream. Chakery is usually served at the end of an African meal, and it is recommended to add pineapple chunks in it for extra sweetness,... READ MORE

Basbousa is a traditional Arabian semolina-based cake that is soaked in syrup, then studded with almonds. This Libyan variety includes desiccated coconut in the cake mixture and date-paste that is sandwiched between the two layers of semolina cake... READ MORE

Mbesses is an Algerian sweet cake that is made with a combination of semolina or farina and eggs as the key ingredients. Apart from those, this cake consists of milk, yeast, sugar, honey, butter, and just a pinch of salt. It is typically garnished... READ MORE

Raib is a Moroccan-style yogurt that is usually prepared at home. The base is made with milk, yogurt, sugar, and it is often flavored with orange blossom water, rose water, syrups, mint, or orange. When the ingredients are combined, the m... READ MORE

Melkkos is a South African staple made by boiling milk and combining it with a mixture of flour, salt, and butter. The dish is vigorously stirred until lumps develop, and it is then left to rest. It can be served as a dessert or a light meal in it... READ MORE

Koba is a traditional snack from Madagascar, typically made from a blend of ground peanuts, brown sugar, and rice flour. This mixture is wrapped in banana leaves and steamed for several hours, resulting in a dense, slightly sweet cake with a uniqu... READ MORE

Pampoenkoekie is a South African dessert consisting of fluffy pumpkin fritters. The fritters are made with cooked and puréed pumpkin, flour, baking powder, sugar, eggs, milk, and salt. When golden-brown and fully cooked, they are traditiona... READ MORE

Ktefa or jawhara is a layered Moroccan dessert that is assembled with paper-thin sheets of fried warqa pastry. The filling between the crispy layers is usually made with a combination of toasted ground or roughly chopped almonds and sugar... READ MORE

Bonbon coco is a delicious candy originating from Madagascar, and it’s also popular on Reunion island. It consists of grated coconut, sugar, water, and just a pinch of salt. The ingredients are cooked over medium heat until the combination b... READ MORE