Bosnian and Herzegovinian Desserts

Tufahija is a dessert made from apples which are stewed in water and sugar, stuffed with an almond or walnut cream filling, then shortly baked and doused in sugar syrup. The origin of the dessert is Persian - it came to Bosnia with the Ottomans wh... READ MORE

This Bosnian dessert couples shredded kadayıf dough and a rich nut filling, which usually consists of chopped walnuts. Though there are rolled varieties, kadaif is typically layered, with the nut filling placed between the two layers of butter-coa... READ MORE

A classic Bosnian dessert, gurabija is a type of round, flat shortbread cookie that is usually made with flour, sugar, and oil. This sweet specialty is believed to have oriental origins, and it’s been an essential part of the culture, tradit... READ MORE

Jabukovača is a traditional Bosnian apple pie originating from the city of Sarajevo. It is made just like baklava, with the addition of chopped apples. The thin dough is spread with a combination of chopped apples, sugar, vanilla sugar, w... READ MORE

Hurmašica is a Bosnian treat prepared by dousing the pastry dough consisting of butter, eggs, sugar, and flour in lemon-flavored sugar syrup. Just like many other Bosnian dishes, this dessert also came from Türkiye, where its relative ... READ MORE

Ružice or đul-pita is a Bosnian baklava variety made with yufka sheets that are filled with ground walnuts, melted butter, and raisins, if desired. The concoction is rolled, then cut into smaller pieces which are subsequently placed in th... READ MORE

Sutlijaš is a popular Bosnian treat consisting of only three main ingredients: rice, milk, and sugar cooked together in the same pot. This flavorful rice pudding is very similar to the Turkish sütlaç, which has been bro... READ MORE

Ruske kape or šubarice is a dessert that is especially popular in Balkan countries such as Bosnia, Serbia, and Croatia. The base is made with eggs, sugar, flour, and baking powder. It is traditionally filled with vanilla custard, c... READ MORE

Ćupter (also known as ćufter) is a traditional dessert from Herzegovina and central and southern Dalmatia, made from boiled must (unfermented grape juice), though grapes and other fruits can also be used. The must is mixed with flour, and the mixt... READ MORE

Smokvara is a traditional dessert hailing from Herzegovina. It is prepared with a dark-brown dough consisting of fig pekmez—a thick syrup-like product—wheat and corn flour, sugar, oil, and water. The dough is shaped into flat ... READ MORE

Šljivopita is a traditional plum dessert prepared by baking plums in the oven. It is a simple dessert made by pitting very ripe plums and arranging them in one or two layers in a baking dish. The plums are sprinkled with sugar and flour and... READ MORE

A favorite homemade treat during the holiday season, orašnice are traditional Bosnian walnut cookies. Everyone has their own version, however, the standard recipe for orašnice only uses three ingredients - egg whites, sugar,... READ MORE

Ćetenija is a traditional sweet treat from the Balkans, particularly popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as in parts of Serbia and Montenegro. Made from simple ingredients like sugar, water, and flour, ćetenija is a delicacy typically prepa... READ MORE

Halvapita is a traditional dessert made with simple and few ingredients, namely wheat flour and jabukov pekmez, a type of preserve made with only apple juice. The flour is first cooked with water and a bit of jabukov pekmez. The resulting paste is... READ MORE

Sulpita is a traditional Bosnian sweet treat, often associated with festive occasions. It is a type of soft, moist cake made from simple ingredients like flour, eggs, sugar, and milk. The cake is usually soaked in a sweet syrup agda after baking, ... READ MORE

Stambolka or slatko od bundeve is a traditional Bosnian dessert made with a pumpkin that is cooked long and slow in water and sugar until tender and sweet. Depending on preference, the pumpkin can be topped with jabukov pekmez or walnuts once cook... READ MORE

Rešedija is a traditional Bosnian treat of stir-fried wheat starch and sugar (sometimes also jabukov pekmez) resembling small granules. The preparation starts with mixing wheat starch, sugar, and water, then stir-frying this mixture in a pa... READ MORE

Sevdiđah is also the name of a traditional Bosnian soft and moist cake that has jabukov pekmez and kaymak as one of its main ingredients. The cake is made by baking a sponge base, which is then soaked with the syrup after it cools. This soaking pr... READ MORE

Kajmačnica is a traditional Bosnian dessert of semolina custard enveloped in phyllo pastry and doused in agda, a syrup made with cooking sugar and water. It is a traditional Bosnian cake similar to the Greek galaktoboureko. The preparation starts ... READ MORE

Paluza or plete is a traditional Bosnian pudding-like treat made with only jabukov pekmez and wheat flour. Water and jabukov pekmez are cooked until boiling, and then a mixture of wheat flour and water is poured into it while constantly stirring, ... READ MORE