{"id":"f-91677779fp1-d52b4137-8dcd-5d0e-95e1-31499f45acee","title":"Ramadan 2026: 8 Delectable Middle Eastern Iftar Desserts to Sweeten Your Fast","description":"Discover the most cherished Middle Eastern desserts perfect for breaking your fast during Ramadan 2026. From the 'Queen of Arabic desserts' to delightful fried dough balls, these sweet treats offer a perfect end to your Iftar.","timestamp":1771831348,"category":"food_and_health","headline":"Ramadan 2026: 8 Delectable Middle Eastern Iftar Desserts to Sweeten Your Fast","modifiedHeadline":"Tasty Middle Eastern desserts for your Iftar feast","subCategories":["scid_4e939139"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"ec0a7bc7-2b56-4d40-be8f-f6ca83231212","bundleTitle":"World on a plate","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"217","fcSummary":"during ramadan’s sunset iftar, eight iconic middle eastern desserts offer a delightful experience. kunafa features crispy phyllo and cheese, while qatayef are sweet, folded pancakes. baklava boasts flaky layers and nuts, and umm ali is a comforting egyptian bread pudding. basbousa is a semolina cake, luqaimat are crunchy dough balls, mahalabia is a delicate pudding, and balah al sham are fried choux pastry.","summary":"Celebrate Ramadan 2026 with delectable Middle Eastern desserts! Indulge in Kunafa, Qatayef, Baklava & more – a sweet Iftar tradition.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/Daily_Digest/IN/en/feedpost-specials/f-91677779fp1-d52b4137-8dcd-5d0e-95e1-31499f45acee","sourceUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/Daily_Digest/IN/en/feedpost-specials/f-91677779fp1-d52b4137-8dcd-5d0e-95e1-31499f45acee","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/9IpU2xsNTwS0.webp","content":"

\n As the sun sets during Ramadan, these eight iconic Middle Eastern desserts are essential for a satisfying Iftar. Experience a symphony of flavors and textures that are sure to delight.\n

Kunafa: A Golden Crown

Often hailed as the reigning monarch of Arabic sweets, Kunafa is a truly unforgettable dessert. It features a base of finely shredded phyllo dough, meticulously

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layered with a generous filling of molten Nabulsi cheese or a rich, thick cream. This masterpiece is then baked to a perfect golden hue, after which it's luxuriously bathed in a fragrant sugar syrup, often infused with the delicate scent of rosewater. The result is an exquisite interplay of textures – a satisfying crunch from the baked pastry giving way to the gooey, creamy interior, creating a legendary sweet experience that is both comforting and indulgent after a day of fasting.

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Qatayef: Pocketfuls of Joy

Qatayef are a quintessential part of the Ramadan dessert landscape, appearing as delightful, small, folded pancakes. These seasonal favorites are traditionally filled with a variety of luscious ingredients, most commonly sweetened Akkawi cheese for a salty-sweet contrast, or a rich, clotted cream known as Ashta. For an added crunch and depth of flavor, some variations include finely chopped walnuts. Once filled, they are either gently fried to a crisp or baked until golden brown. The finishing touch is a generous drenching in a simple syrup, often perfumed with the floral notes of orange blossom, making each bite a burst of festive sweetness.

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Baklava: A Nutty Delight

Baklava is a globally adored pastry renowned for its intricate layers and intense sweetness. The foundation of this delicacy is built upon dozens of impossibly thin sheets of phyllo dough, each meticulously brushed with clarified butter to ensure a shatteringly crisp texture. It is then generously packed with a mixture of finely crushed nuts – typically pistachios, walnuts, or cashews – which provide a delightful nutty counterpoint. After baking, it’s soaked in a rich, sweet syrup, often a blend of honey and orange blossom water. This process imbues the pastry with a deep, resonant sweetness and a wonderfully dense yet flaky profile, offering a powerful and satisfying energy boost.

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Umm Ali: Egyptian Comfort

Representing the national pride of Egyptian desserts, Umm Ali is a warm and deeply comforting bread pudding. Its base is typically made from puff pastry, which bakes into delightful flaky layers, soaked in a rich mixture of milk and cream. To enhance its flavor and texture, it's generously adorned with ingredients like plump raisins, crunchy pine nuts, and shredded coconut. Once assembled, it's baked until the top develops a beautiful, caramelized crust, resulting in a silky smooth and soul-warming finish that is perfect for concluding an Iftar meal.

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Basbousa: A Semolina Dream

Basbousa stands as a classic Egyptian cake, distinguished by its primary ingredient: semolina. This gives the cake a unique, slightly coarse texture that is wonderfully satisfying. The cake is baked to a golden brown, and immediately after it emerges from the oven, it's thoroughly drenched in a hot, sweet syrup. This crucial step ensures that the cake remains incredibly moist throughout, with each piece infused with a delightful citrusy essence, making it an ideal accompaniment to a cup of strong, bitter Arabic coffee.

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Luqaimat: Crunchy Bites

Often described as 'crunchy pillows,' Luqaimat are irresistibly moreish, bite-sized morsels. These are essentially small dough balls that are deep-fried to achieve a delightful contrast: an airy, soft interior encased within a perfectly crisp exterior. The traditional way to enjoy Luqaimat is by drizzling them generously with dark, sweet date molasses, known as Debs, and then sprinkling them with toasted sesame seeds for an added nutty flavor and texture. Their easy-to-share nature makes them a fantastic and addictive treat for communal Iftar gatherings.

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Mahalabia: Aromatic Pudding

Mahalabia offers a wonderfully delicate and light dessert experience. This smooth milk pudding is thickened using either rice flour or cornstarch, creating a velvety texture. Its subtle flavor is enhanced by aromatic infusions of rosewater or orange blossom water, adding a fragrant and elegant dimension. Typically garnished with slivered pistachios for a visual and textural contrast, Mahalabia serves as an excellent palate cleanser, providing a cooling and sophisticated end to the meal after the richer flavors of Iftar.

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Balah Al Sham: Fried Delights

Resembling dates in their shape, Balah Al Sham are known as the 'Sweets of the Levant.' These are distinctive ridged pieces of choux pastry that are deep-fried to achieve a beautiful golden-brown crispness on the outside, while remaining wonderfully soft and airy within. They are most commonly served by being submerged in a fragrant syrup, which can be enhanced with saffron for a unique aroma, or they might be split open and filled with a luscious cream before being served. Their satisfying crunch and sweet interior make them a popular choice for Iftar.

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Ramadan 2026: 8 Delectable Middle Eastern Iftar Desserts to Sweeten Your Fast

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