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What to eat in Croatia? Top 76 Croatian Desserts

Last update: Thu Feb 13 2025
Top 76 Croatian Desserts
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01

Sweet Pastry

CROATIA and  7 more regions
4.3
Krafne
Krafne infographic
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Krapfen was probably the first European-style doughnut to appear, followed by similar varieties in other countries. These pastries are traditionally prepared with leavened dough that is deep-fried until golden and crispy on the outside, while they remain soft, light, and airy on the inside.


Though krapfen can be prepared plain, they are most often filled or topped with jams, and vanilla or chocolate custards, while the top is usually dusted with powdered sugar or drizzled with chocolate. The origin of the word krapfen dates back to 9th century, and the recipes in German can be found as early as the 14th century. 

MOST ICONIC Krafne

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02

Dessert

CROATIA and  2 more regions
4.2
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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, chocolate, or both.


The outer edges are then covered with chocolate, and the whole concoction is rolled in desiccated coconut on the sides. It is recommended to serve ruske kape well-chilled.

03

Dessert

CROATIA and  7 more regions
4.1
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Île flottante or floating island is a popular dessert originating from France, consisting of meringues that are poached in vanilla custard and often topped with caramel sauce and toasted almonds. The meringues are usually made from whipped egg whites, sugar, and vanilla extract.


This classic dessert is one of the staples of French comfort food, although it is popular internationally, sometimes with small tweaks and variations, in countries such as Austria (Schneenockerln), Hungary (Madártej), Croatia and Serbia (šnenokle), and Italy (uova di neve). 
04

Pudding

CROATIA and  5 more regions
4.0
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Grießbrei is a traditional Central European pudding based on semolina. The dish is made with milk, semolina, and sugar. It's often flavored with vanilla and cinnamon. The milk is heated, the semolina stirred in, and the mixture is then stirred until it becomes creamy and thick.


Most people like to eat semolina pudding for breakfast, and the dish is sometimes enhanced with the addition of fruit such as cherries, strawberries, peaches, pears, or apples. It's recommended to serve it in a shallow bowl since there's more surface area to cover with the desired toppings. 
05

Cake

RAB, Croatia
4.0
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Rapska torta is a traditional cake originating from the Croatian island of Rab, where it was first served in 1177 to Pope Alexander III. This decadent cake is characterized by its signature spiral shape and ingredients such as almonds, lemon zest, orange zest, and Maraschino liqueur.


Nowadays, the cake is a very popular souvenir that can be baked in various forms, while locals prepare it only for festive occasions such as baptisms and weddings.

MOST ICONIC Rapska torta

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06

Sweet Pastry

DALMATIA, Croatia
3.9
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Fritule are traditional Croatian version of sweet, round fritters. They are prepared with a basic yeasted dough which incorporates eggs, flour, milk, butter, and sugar. Different varieties often employ raisins, grated apples, yogurt, and baking powder.


The thick, buttery base is usually enriched with strong vanilla and citrus flavors, which give these small fritters a pleasant aroma and a distinctive flavor. The secret ingredient in the preparation of these miniature doughnuts is brandy. Rum, local fruit liquors, or strong spirits can all be incorporated into the velvety dough. 

MOST ICONIC Fritule

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07
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Mađarica, meaning Hungarian girl, is a traditional layered cake that is usually associated with festive occasions. The layers are coated in a velvety, chocolate-infused cream, and the whole cake is finished with a dark chocolate glaze.


Although not much is known about its origin or etymology, mađarica is believed to be an original Croatian dessert that was modeled on traditional Hungarian layered cakes.

08

Sweet Bread

CROATIA and  5 more regions
3.9
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Makowiec is the Polish name for poppy seed roll, a traditional cake where poppy seed paste is placed between layers of dough. Raisins, almonds, honey, and orange peel can be added to the cake in order to enhance its flavors. Ideally, makowiec should not be too sweet.


It is characterized by its unique appearance when cut, with the dough and the poppy seed filling winding around each other in a spiral. When served, makowiec is usually dusted with powdered sugar. The cake is often consumed alongside tea or coffee, and it is typically prepared for festivities such as Christmas or other winter holidays. 
09

Sweet Pastry

MEĐIMURJE COUNTY, Croatia
3.9
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Međimurska gibanica is a traditional, highly caloric layered pastry originating from the Croatian region of Međimurje. It is usually served as a dessert after a big meal, but due to its nutritional value, it can also be consumed on its own. The pastry consists of several layers of phyllo dough filled with a combination of fresh cow's milk cheese, grated apples, ground walnuts, and ground poppy seeds, with the addition of raisins, cinnamon, rum, and sugar, according to personal preferences.


The fillings are divided by alternating layers of thin dough. Međimurska gibanica is quite similar to the EU-protected Prekmurska gibanica, with some slight variations concerning the fillings and type of dough. The pastry is ready to be consumed after it has been baked in an oven and develops a golden-brown color of the exterior, and it is then typically cut into squares and served either warm or cold.

MOST ICONIC Međimurska gibanica

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10

Cookie

TROGIR, Croatia
3.9
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Rafioli are shortbread cookies with a flavorful almond filling, enjoyed in many cities throughout Dalmatia where they are a staple of every important life event, from baptisms and weddings to funerals. Although the exact origin of these sweet treats is unknown, there are many legends and stories explaining how this half-moon-shaped cookie came to be.


Of course, every Dalmatian family has their own variation with recipes that are passed down from generation to generation. Along with almonds, modern versions of rafioli are often filled with chocolate and cream, while citrus zest and vanilla are used for extra flavor.

MOST ICONIC Rafioli

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11
12
13
14
Dessert
DALMATIA, Croatia
3.6
15
Deep-fried Dessert
NORTHERN CROATIA, Croatia
3.6
16
17
18
19
Cookie
KORČULA, Croatia
3.5
20
Sweet Pastry
ISTRIA, Croatia
3.4
21
Custard
DUBROVNIK, Croatia
3.4
22
Dessert
DALMATIA, Croatia
3.4
23
Cake
SKRADIN, Croatia
3.4
24
25
Tart
IMOTSKI, Croatia
3.2
26
27
Cake
MAKARSKA, Croatia
n/a
28
29
30
Cookie
KORČULA, Croatia
n/a
31
Cake
POŽEGA, Croatia
n/a
32
33
Dessert
SLAVONIA AND BARANJA, Croatia
n/a
34
Dessert
KORČULA, Croatia
n/a
35
36
Sweet Pastry
KOPRIVNIČKI BREGI, Croatia
n/a
37
38
Sweet Pastry
RUKAVAC, Croatia
n/a
39
Dessert
DALMATIA, Croatia
n/a
40
Sweet Pastry
ŠIBENIK-KNIN COUNTY, Croatia
n/a
41
Cake
CRIKVENICA, Croatia
n/a
42
43
44
Dessert
VIS ISLAND, Croatia
n/a
45
Cake
ZADAR, Croatia
n/a
46
Cake
ZELČIN, Croatia
n/a
47
Cake
DUBROVNIK, Croatia
n/a
48
Cake
VIS ISLAND, Croatia
n/a
49
Cake
GRIŽANE, Croatia
n/a
50
51
52
Cake
PAKRAC, Croatia
n/a
53
Cake
ĐURĐEVAC, Croatia
n/a
54
55
Dessert
DALMATIA, Croatia
n/a
56
57
Cake
PRIMORJE-GORSKI KOTAR COUNTY, Croatia
n/a
58
59
Cake
POŽEGA, Croatia
n/a
60
Deep-fried Dessert
SLAVONIA AND BARANJA, Croatia
n/a
61
62
Cake
MEĐIMURJE COUNTY, Croatia
n/a
63
Cookie
SLAVONSKI BROD, Croatia
n/a
64
Dessert
CRES, Croatia
n/a
65
Dessert
VIROVITICA, Croatia
n/a
66
Dessert
VIROVITICA, Croatia
n/a
67
68
69
Cake
ROGOZNICA, Croatia
n/a
70
Dumplings
NORTHERN CROATIA, Croatia
n/a
71
Cake
CVETLIN, Croatia
n/a
72
Sweet Pastry
NORTHERN CROATIA, Croatia
n/a
73
Cake
MEĐIMURJE COUNTY, Croatia
n/a
74
Dessert
MEĐIMURJE COUNTY, Croatia
n/a
75
Cake
VARAŽDIN, Croatia
n/a
76

TasteAtlas food rankings are based on the ratings of the TasteAtlas audience, with a series of mechanisms that recognize real users and that ignore bot, nationalist or local patriotic ratings, and give additional value to the ratings of users that the system recognizes as knowledgeable. For the “Top 76 Croatian Desserts” list until February 13, 2025, 2,543 ratings were recorded, of which 1,788 were recognized by the system as legitimate. TasteAtlas Rankings should not be seen as the final global conclusion about food. Their purpose is to promote excellent local foods, instill pride in traditional dishes, and arouse curiosity about dishes you haven’t tried.

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Croatian Desserts