17 Popular Turkish Desserts that You Simply Can’t Miss

If you’ve got a sweet tooth and you’re heading to Turkey, you’re in for a treat! Turkish desserts offer something for everyone, no matter your usual preferences.

You may even discover something you wouldn’t normally like.

From delicate pastries soaked in syrup to rich puddings and even a few lighter options, there’s bound to be a dessert that’ll tempt your taste buds.

After years of exploring Turkey’s dessert scene, I’ve tasted all of these save the last one…it’s next. Some of them have become personal favorites, a few are a bit too sweet for my palate, and some I didn’t enjoy.

But that’s part of the fun of discovery, aye?

With so many tempting options, deciding where to start can be overwhelming! In this guide, I’ll walk you through 17 desserts I think you should try on your trip to Turkey.

I will share insights to help you discover which ones might be perfect for you and what makes them different. Try a few, or go all out and sample them all!

Either way, you’re sure to discover some delightful sweets that might just become the highlight of your trip.

17 Best Desserts and Sweets to Try in Turkey

While each one is great on its own, there are some, like Turkish baklava or sütlaç, that seem especially delightful with a cup of strong Turkish coffee or a glass of tea.

There are some desserts classified as sütlü, which simply means “with milk” or “milky.” They are definitely some of my favorites.

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1. Aşure (Noah’s Ark Pudding)

This Turkish dessert is especially popular during Muharram, the Islamic calendar’s first month. Being it’s a lunar calendar, it changes every year.

Given it is believed that Noah’s Ark landed on Mt. Ararat, this is a popular dish believed to have originated from the pudding made by Noah.

Basically, it is believed he made a pudding from the grains, dried fruits, and nuts that were left on the boat. The interesting thing about this dessert is that it is different depending on who makes it.

It’s usually made with whatever is around. If you have hazelnuts, add those in. If you don’t have raisins but do have cranberries, there you go.

So if you have had it once, you may try it again and see if you like it better the next time.

2. Kabak Tatlısı (Turkish pumpkin Dessert)

This Turkish dessert has a surprisingly large amount of sugar as it is what is used to soften the hard flesh of the pumpkin.

It is pretty easy to make. Here is a pretty easy recipe to follow.

It is often paired with whipped cream and or walnuts for an even better flavor.

3. Dondurma (Turkish Ice cream)

Turkish ice cream is often described as elastic. This is because it is a special ice cream that is made with salep powder.

This powder is also used in a famous Turkish drink called Sahlep.

Sahlep is a product made from the bulbs of orchids, adding an elastic texture. It makes it chewier and sticker than many normal ice creams. Definitely something worth trying! This Turkish dessert can be found year-round in tourist areas.

4. Lokma (donut holes)

I simply love lokma when it is fresh. I have only eaten it a handful of times in the 5+ years I have lived here because it is so sweet but the flavor is absolutely amazing! It is a Turkish street food that is completely worth a try.

They essentially are fried doughnut holes that are sweetened with a sugar syrup. There will often be options such as ground pistachios or shredded coconut to put on top though I am a fan of the “sade” plain ones.

These are special from the other Turkish desserts also because you will often see a lokma truck on the side of the road giving out free lokma (though you can get a serving on the street for 20 ₺).

There are a couple of reasons.

1. Someone died and they are honoring the deceased on the anniversary of their death. The custom is that one will go up and pray for the living family member and the deceased.
2. Because Islam is a works-based religion, many will purchase a certain amount of servings and have people go serve it on the streets as a good deed. It is their way of doing a good job.

5. Halva (Sweet sesame dish)

Helva has a very unique texture and flavor. This dry-textured Turkish dessert is made from large amounts of sugar with sesame nut butter, and tahini.

You will often see it with pistachios and other flavors mixed in. You will see this throughout Turkey and the Middle East.

Also, something to note, while it is quite sweet, it is also packed with vitamins from the tahini and when mixed with pistachios, even more nutrients.

6. Pİşmanİye (Turkish Cotton candy, kind of)

This is a fun one to eat. It is quite similar to cotton candy though different all at the same time.

For starters, cotton candy is just spun sugar. But Pişmaniye is made from flour, butter, and sugar. You can watch this video on how it is made…have fun trying to make it yourself!

You will find it in a variety of flavors and packaged in a way that is easy to take home to friends and family who didn’t come with you.

7. Sütlaç (Turkish Rice pudding)

Sutlac is one of my favorites. This is Turkish rice pudding. I had a roommate in college who introduced me to rice pudding. I loved it immediately because pudding normally has a texture that I can’t eat. But rice pudding is heavenly.

You will often see it served with a portion of peanuts that you can add or sprinkle some cinnamon on top. I highly recommend the latter as it is the best way to try.

If you have time and are feeling adventurous, I highly recommend a trip up to Hamsikoy by the black sea. Taste it in any other region then head out there and your mind will be blown by the flavor difference.

Fall of 2021 a Turkish friend and I went on a road trip up to the Black Sea region and stopped in Hamsikoy just for the sutlaç and it was completely worth it.

The flavor is so much richer, almost like it is made with cream instead of milk.

When we asked the owner of the restaurant about it, he said it was because the cows were free-roaming and able to eat such a wider variety of plants which impacted the milk.

So so delicious!

8. Künefe (Sweet Cheese pastry)

Kunefe is a much-loved dessert by Turkish people. I am much more picky with this one as the flavor has to be just right for me.

It is a shredded wheat type of pastry with a cheesy filling soaked in a sweet syrup.

Kunefe is definitely best if you have it kaymaklı (with cream) or with ice cream (dondurmalı). It is definitely a dessert that should be tried while in Turkey.

You can find it quite easily though most often is served at kebab restaurants.

9. Katmer (Pıstachıo pancake)

Next is my favorite Turkish dessert: katmer. This dish is native to Gaziantep. The picture above is Gül Katmer, or rose katmer because of the shape.

It is more often found in a square shape and cut into 4 sections.

This is a crisp phyllo dough stuffed with ground pistachios and clotted cream/cheese-type filling. My favorite is when it is served with ice cream or kaymak (unsweetened clotted cream).

Because pistachios increase energy levels and reduce morning fatigue, this is often eaten for breakfast by locals in Gaziantep.

The flavor of this dessert is so incredibly lovely. Enjoy! This post on Turkey’s 7 Regions has lots of other regional food recommendations.

10. Baklava (Flaky Sweet Pastry)

Sink your teeth into a world-renowned masterpiece of Turkish cuisine—Baklava.

This dessert, graces tables during festive occasions and everyday moments alike.

It consists of layers of paper-thin pastry dough with a medley of finely chopped nuts (pistachios or walnuts are quite common).

Then it is delicately baked and bathed in a fragrant honey or syrup.

When it is well done, baklava has a crispy exterior, an irresistibly nutty core, and the perfect amount of sweetness.

In my opinion, it is often too sweet but there are some that are less sweet than others. You can always add kaymak to it to cut the sweet also.

Each golden layer whispers of a timeless tradition, a dance of textures and flavors that will awaken your senses.  

Also, the photo above has a chocolate baklava. That was so much better than I anticipated it to be. While it isn’t traditional, it’s worth trying!

11. Bomba (Nutella Pastry)

I realize my photo above isn’t actually a picture of the dessert.

You see what happened was my local friend said this was the best place to get them from. In my haste to try it, I neglected to take a photo.

But never mind that. Prepare to be enchanted by the bomba, a modern delight that captures hearts with its rich Nutella-infused core.

While the bomba was created in Izmir, there isn’t clear information about who created it but it is a newer dessert.

It is believed to be an evolution of the Murabbalı mecidiye from the Ottoman Empire which was typically stuffed with apricot preserves.

With a name that means “bomb,” this dessert indeed detonates flavor on your taste buds.

A golden, flaky exterior envelops the velvety Nutella within, creating an explosion of chocolatey goodness.

Bomba is a dessert for the daring, a contemporary twist on Turkish pastry that bridges cultures and indulges the palate.  

12. Kazandibi (Caramelized Milk Pudding)

In the realm of velvety pleasures, Kazandibi reigns as a caramelized milk pudding that reveals the patience and skill of the one who made it.

As the name suggests—translating to “bottom of the cauldron”—this treat is born from the golden transformation of milk and sugar.

The result?

A pudding with a dual personality: creamy beneath and caramelized above.  

This is a dear friend’s favorite so I was anxious to try it and when I did I though that it tasted a lot like sütlaç to me. There is a similar flavor though quite different textures.

13. İrmik Helvası (Turkish Semolina Halva)

İrmik Helvası has a simplicity and mild sweetness to it. It is perfect for the one who wants something sweet but not too sweet.

It is made with semolina flour (think cream of wheat), butter, and sugar playing harmoniously in each bite.

This dessert, served on special occasions and cherished everyday moments, is a testament to the power of basic ingredients.

I remember the first time my Turkish roommate taught me how to make this. As we made it I couldn’t help but feel like I was making a drier cream of wheat.

We added nuts and just enough sugar to make it sweet but not sweet like many of the syrup-drizzled desserts across Turkey.

Definitely recommend trying this one traditional Turkish dessert.

14. Acıbadem Kurabiyesi (Turkish Almond Cookie)

Elevate your sweet journey with Acıbadem Kurabiyesi, these delicate Turkish almond cookies that are known for their subtlety and finesse.

Ground almonds alongside a touch of sugar and a bit of butter, create a mildly sweet cookie that pairs perfectly with your afternoon Turkish tea.

These cookies are quite delicious despite their simplicity.

15. Lokum (Turkish Delight)

Discover the allure of Lokum, the famed Turkish Delight that has tantalized taste buds for centuries. Every time I hear this name I immediately think of Edmond in “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.”

My second thought is to “Aplets & Cotlets” that we would get when we would visit my grandma in Washington. Having the real thing in Turkey was absolutely magical.

These confections are dusted in powdered sugar and come alive with flavors ranging from rose and lemon to pistachio and pomegranate.

A delicate chewiness (when they are fresh) gives way to a burst of flavor, transporting you to the heart of Turkish bazaars.  

16. Kemalpaşa Tatlısı (Kemalpaşa Dessert)

Indulge in the delectable charm of Kemalpaşa Tatlısı, a dessert that carries the name of a town and the essence of Turkish tradition.

This dessert, comprised of small, dumpling-like cakes soaked in syrup, offers a glimpse into the regional flavors that define Turkey’s culinary tapestry.

With a history that traces back centuries, Kemalpaşa Tatlısı is a sweet embodiment of culture and community.

These are easy to make at home and that way you can cut the sweetness of them by about half, making them even better in my opinion.

17. Sütlü Nuriye (Milky Baklava)

Sütlü Nuriye is a variation of the beloved Baklava. How you might ask?

Layers of buttery pastry and crushed pistachios are combined with a milk-soaked layer, creating a perfect combination of flavors and textures.

I especially love this because baklava is often too sweet for me but the milky layer cuts some of that sweetness, really making it a perfect blend of the two.

As you savor this delectable blend, take in the mingling of tradition and innovation.

It is a testament to the endless possibilities within Turkish dessert craftsmanship.  

Final Thoughts on Desserts in Turkey

If none of those seemed healthy enough for you, my favorite healthy treat is some delicious, plump dates and walnut combo.

They are the perfect combination of sweet and nutty.

Of course, there are so many more options. Turkish delight, baklava, tulumba tatlısı, almond cookies, cakes and so much more!

I hope you enjoy eating your way through Turkey!

Are there other Delicious Turkish desserts that I didn’t list here?

Well, I will see you around. If you’re looking for other food posts, I did one on Turkish foods you should try.

Afiyet Olsun! (Turkish version of “bon appetit”)