18 Authentic Lebanese Desserts Every Sweet Lover Should Try
Published Mar 06, 2026
A collection of 18 authentic Lebanese dessert recipes featuring classic sweets like baklava, maamoul, knefeh, and other traditional favorites.
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Being Lebanese, I may be a little biased, but I truly think our desserts are some of the best. Lebanese-style desserts aren’t just sweet, but they’re also beautifully balanced with unique flavors, textures, and aromatic spices. If you’ve ever had baklava, maamoul, or meghli, you know exactly what I mean. Below, I’m sharing 18 Lebanese desserts I make all the time, some classic, some with my own twist, all absolutely worth trying.
18 of my Top Lebanese Desserts
I’ve broken down the dessert list into three sections. Lebanese pastry and cakes, cookies, and non-bake desserts like milk pudding, and a Lebanese-style fruit cocktail that is great topped with ashta!
Lebanese Pastry and Cake Recipes
Dessert
Pistachio Baklava Recipe
Easy Lebanese-style pistachio baklava! Use phyllo dough for a shortcut and simple syrup, with finely chopped pistachios in between layers.
3 hours 15 minutes
Dessert
Lebanese Homemade Knafeh
This Homemade Lebanese dessert, known as Knafeh, is a simplified version of the Middle Eastern dessert made with layered shredded dough and mozzarella cheese soaked with syrup.
40 minutes
Dessert
Pistachio Cake Recipe
This pistachio cake uses real pistachios (no extracts or puddings), olive oil, and yogurt, baked into a sponge-style cake with a homemade cream cheese frosting.
50 minutes
Dessert
Lebanese Baklava
Make this homemade Lebanese-style baklava in a fraction of the time with this easy method! Filled with walnuts and sugar, it's flaky and delicious
1 hour 5 minutes
Dessert
Sfouf (Turmeric Cake)
Sfouf is a Middle Eastern semolina turmeric cake, made with simple ingredients, no eggs and no butter. It's vegan-friendly, light and delightful
50 minutes
Lebanese Cookies
Dessert
Lebanese Anise Cookies
This Lebanese Anise Cookies recipe is a Middle Eastern spiced cookie traditionally made during Eid al-Fitr and Easter. Also called Ka'ak il Eid, these cookies are crisp, buttery, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.
40 minutes
Snacks
Tahini Cookies
These Tahini Cookies with sesame are chewy, nutty, and lightly sweetened with honey. They’re easy to make, naturally dairy-free and gluten-free for a wholesome treat
23 minutes
Dessert, Snacks
Pistachio Cookie Recipe
These pistachio cookies are easy to make in a food processor with pistachios, almond flour, rolled oats, and honey. Ready in under 20 minutes.
20 minutes
Breakfast, Dessert
Atayef Recipe
My Lebanese dessert recipe for atayef is an airy and slightly sweet Middle Eastern dessert stuffed with cheese and drizzled with sugar syrup (ater) and crushed pistachios.
2 hours
Easy No-Bake Lebanese Sweets
Dessert
Semolina Pudding (Layali Lubnan)
“Layali Lubnan,” a Lebanese dessert semolina pudding, is a deliciously creamy and fragrant dessert with a crunchy pistachio topping.
2 hours 50 minutes
Snack
Lebanese Fruit Cocktail Recipe
Lebanese fruit cocktail recipe with strawberries, mango, kiwi, pineapple, strawberry juice, and creamy ashta on top. It's an easy Lebanese dessert recipe that is super fresh.
20 minutes
Dessert
Lebanese Rice Pudding
Lebanese Rice Pudding {Riz Bi Haleeb} with rose water, and pistachios! This Middle Eastern rice pudding is easy, homemade, and full of creamy goodness!
40 minutes
Dessert
Muhallabia (Milk Pudding)
Muhallabia is a Middle Eastern milk pudding made with 4 ingredients: milk, cornstarch, sugar, and a splash of rose water. Cook on the stove top for 10 minutes then cool, chill and serve!
1 hour 45 minutes
Dessert
Halva Recipe
This traditional halva is made with tahini, sugar, pistachios and rose water for an authentic Middle Eastern dessert that’s rich but simple!
2 hours 55 minutes
Tips for Making Lebanese Desserts
- Use natural sweeteners. I like to swap out processed sugar for honey, date syrup, or even whole dates whenever I can.
- Play around with nuts. Lebanese desserts use pistachios, walnuts, almonds, and even pine nuts in all kinds of ways. Mixing up different nuts can totally change the flavor and texture. Lately, I’ve been loving pistachio cream for a rich, nutty twist.
- Toppings make a difference. A little chopped pistachios, lemon zest, or even pomegranate arils can take a dessert to the next level. And if you want some crunch? Toasted sesame seeds add a subtle nuttiness that works surprisingly well.
- Know your basics. Sometimes, the simplest tricks make all the difference. Softening butter the right way, making homemade yogurt, or knowing how to whip up a quick simple syrup can save time and make your desserts turn out just right.
- Keep the pantry stocked. Having a few staple ingredients like nuts, dates, rice, and flour on hand makes it easy to pull together a Lebanese dessert.
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