Desserts are the best part of the every meal. Who doesn’t like desserts? Every country has its own signature desserts, including Turkey. Baklava and Turkish delight must sound familiar to you. But Turkish desserts are more than just these two. If you’re still not familiar, here is the list of best Turkish desserts for you.
1. Kunefe 
This was one of the best desserts we’ve ever had. Kunefe refers to a crisp cheese-filled dessert made with shredded kadayif dough soaked in sweet syrup and topped with clotted cream. It’s a traditional Middle Eastern dessert that’s popular in Turkey, Greece, the Balkans, and the South Caucasus region. When served piping hot from the oven, the cheese comes away in these stretchy gooey strings. It’s absolutely delicious and easily one of my favourite Turkish dishes.
2. Baklava 
I’ve always wondered where baklava comes from and it’s interesting to learn that it may have its origins in Turkish Ottoman cuisine. According to this article, its current form may have been perfected in the imperial kitchens of Topkapi Palace. Baklava is a rich and sweet pastry made with layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and held together with syrup or honey. It’s popular in Turkey and in many other countries in Central Asia, the Middle East, the Balkans, the South Caucasus, and Egypt.
3. Sambali 
Sambali refers to a rich and sticky type of semolina cake made with milk or yogurt, molasses, sugar, almonds, and lemon juice. We tried it off a street food cart in Selcuk but I think it’s available at Turkish pastry shops.
4. Halka Tatlisi 
Halka tatlisi is a fried dessert dipped in sweet syrup. It’s like a Turkish version of churros that’s often served as street food. You’ll find halka tatlisi vendors everywhere in Istanbul.
5. Dondurma 
Dondurma is Turkish ice cream. It’s a sticky type of ice cream that’s made with salep and mastic which makes it chewier in texture and more resistant to melting. It’s delicious and one of the best ice creams I’ve ever had.
Like chestnut or simit carts, dondurma shops are everywhere in Istanbul, which is hardly a bad thing.
6. Turkish Delight 
Turkish delight or lokum refers to a family of gelatinous confections commonly flavored with rosewater, mastic, bergamot orange, or lemon. It’s often cut and eaten in small cubes dusted with powdered sugar to prevent clinging. Source: willflyforfood.net
