Whether or not you are trying to punctuate a Greek feast or in search of a dessert with easy sophistication, we have now a number of recipes that spotlight the sweeter aspect of Greek delicacies. With its layers of flaky phyllo, nuts, and honeyed syrup, baklava is rightfully a preferred selection; right here, we provide a chocolate-hazelnut model in addition to a elegant baklava cheesecake and a enjoyable baklava pie that may be made along with your selection of crust and nuts. There are fried delights, too, together with Greek doughnuts referred to as loukoumades and delicate rolled diples coated in honey, plus truffles, cookies, and extra desserts that includes phyllo. These are our favourite takes on Greek desserts.
Vasilopita (Greek New 12 months’s Day Cake)
Meals & Wine / Picture by Brie Goldman / Meals Styling by Lauren McAnelly / Prop Styling by Natalie Ghazali
Flavored with orange, brandy, cinnamon, and cloves, this fragrant cake recipe comes from Argiro Barbarigou of Papadakis restaurant in Athens, Greece. There, it is historically eaten at daybreak on New 12 months’s Day to convey good luck, however you needn’t wait till January to attempt it for your self.
Chocolate-Hazelnut Baklava
Meals & Wine / Picture by Jen Causey / Meals Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Hazelnuts, chocolate, cinnamon, and honey make this baklava from Oleana Restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, stand out; it is wealthy and candy sufficient to fulfill you after an enormous meal.
Bougatsa
Ellen Silverman
Decadent and creamy, conventional Greek bougatsa is made by baking collectively layers of flaky phyllo and velvety custard. Chef Nasim Alikhani offers hers a Persian spin by flavoring it with rosewater, saffron, and cardamom somewhat than the standard cinnamon.
Loukoumades
Robby Lozano / Meals Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
Loukoumades are primarily Greek doughnut holes, although the candy dough is scooped somewhat than punched out of a full-sized ring. As soon as fried, they’re tossed in a mixture of melted butter, honey, and cinnamon, then sprinkled with chopped nuts.
Baklava Cheesecake
Robby Lozano / Meals Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Christina Daley
With its crisp pistachio-graham crust, creamy filling laced with orange, cinnamon, and cardamom, and shredded phyllo and honeyed pistachio topping, this dramatic Greek-inspired dessert is worthy of a grand event.
Strawberry Ekmek Kataifi
Conventional ekmek kataifi consists of shredded phyllo that is soaked in syrup and layered with custard. Right here, 2021 F&W Greatest New Chef Paola Velez replaces the custard with a luscious strawberry pudding and a dollop of honey-flavored whipped cream, nonetheless capturing the crispy-creamy stability of the unique.
Nutty Baklava Pie
This pecan pie-baklava mashup is without delay crunchy, sticky, and candy. Use your selection of blended nuts and ready piecrust to customise it to your liking, and remember the bursts of phyllo for a crispy, festive flare.
Kourampiedes (Greek Christmas Cookies)
The straightforward flavors of butter, sugar, almonds, and vanilla shine in these crumbly, melt-in-your-mouth Greek vacation cookies.
Karithopita (Greek Walnut and Olive Oil Cake with Orange Syrup)
Aromatic with olive oil, walnuts, and heat spices, this cake is lightened by whipped egg whites and made additional moist with the addition of Greek yogurt. It is served with a sweet-tart citrus syrup for tangy pops of coloration.
Diples (Fried Greek Pastry with Honey and Nuts)
A primary four-ingredient dough is handed by means of a pasta rolling machine and shaped into ultra-thin cigars that fry as much as be impossibly gentle and crispy. They’re tossed in an orange- and cinnamon-infused honey syrup and dusted with chopped nuts earlier than they disappear off the serving platter.
Kourambiedes
These slice-and-bake shortbread cookies get their easy but refined taste from a contact of cloves, a shot of brandy, and loads of butter. You should definitely beat the butter for 10 minutes to attain the signature gentle texture.
Tirokroketes (Greek Fried Goat Cheese Balls) with Honey
Wine aficionado Victoria Moore’s golden fried tirokroketes are sweet-savory balls of recent goat cheese coated in breadcrumbs and drizzled with honey that may be served as an appetizer or dessert.