Armenian cuisine is such a treasure, especially when it comes to sweets!
They’re packed with amazing flavors and have influences from other cultures.
If you’re looking for something new to try, then look no further.
Here are 10 sensational Armenian desserts that are sure to become your new favorites.
1. Nazook
This pastry boasts a stunning golden brown hue and is enjoyed in both Armenia and Russia. Its sweetness is perfectly balanced, and its interior offers a delightful tenderness complemented by a delicate crunch from the dough.
Sharing similarities with gata, some even use the names interchangeably for both desserts. Both nazook and gata are rich in sweetness, butter, and nuts.
The main distinction lies in their presentation, with gata being larger and more intricately adorned, while nazook is made in smaller, pastry-sized portions.
2. Honey Spice Cookies
To conclude this list, I’m including one of my favorite Armenian and Russian desserts. Please don’t be discouraged by the recipe’s total time of 380 minutes and run away.
The setting aside of the dough is the most time-consuming element, at four hours. Making these cookies is just as simple as anything else on this list of traditional Russian sweets.
Biting into one will trigger a flavor explosion on your tongue because it’s incredibly wonderful. Although the texture is excellent, the glaze gives a pleasant crispiness, too. Trust me, these cookies will quickly become your new favorite holiday delicacy.
3. Armenian Gata
This stunning and elaborate dessert may appear difficult to make, but even with rise time factored in, it only takes about two and a half hours. Preparation takes just 30 minutes, while cooking takes another 30, so it is not nearly as difficult to prepare as you might believe.
It’s like a cross between bread and cake, but it’s softer and tastier than either. The gata’s outside is gently sweetened with vanilla, sugar, and honey, but the filling is where the magic truly occurs.
The filling is so wonderful, in fact, that you’ll never realize it’s comprised of only five ingredients: sugar, butter, flour, salt, and walnuts. It is delightfully sweet, buttery, and nutty. Armenian gata is the ideal dessert to serve with coffee or tea if that’s what you’re searching for.
4. Rice Pudding
Wherever you go in the world, rice pudding remains virtually the same. It feels like home; it is warm and creamy. This dish simply calls for water, rice, sugar, cinnamon, and whole milk.
It does take some time to prepare a little over three hours in fact, despite being simple to make. So, although it will not be challenging, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to create it or you’ll be extremely disappointed.
5. Armenian Nutmeg Cake
When I initially prepared this simple Armenian cake, my family hesitated to try it. They said it looked like cornbread that was burned with nuts on top. The description was somewhat precise.
Ultimately, they were won over by the cake’s amazing perfume. You can’t help but want to taste it because it smells so exquisitely of brown sugar and nutmeg.
One mouthful was all it took for them to understand their error. Though simple, this nutty, spicy, and oh-so-sweet cake is packed with flavor. It soon became a household favorite because of its alluring perfume and rich, warm flavor.
6. Matzoon Cookies
Matzoon cookies are brimming with flavor and are thick and fluffy. You can prepare about three dozen of them in just 40 minutes using only ten pantry staples.
If you’re the type of person who prefers to eat only the tops of muffins, then these cookies are ideal since that’s essentially what they are muffin tops. They have a wonderful nuttiness and are chewy and softly sweet. Anyone would, in my opinion, find them to be enjoyable.
7. Kourabia (Armenian Shortbread Cookie)
Kourabia have a striking resemblance to raw donuts, yet, in spite of their looks, they’re incredibly delectable. They are incredibly buttery and soft and crumbly.
You’ll also like how simple they are to prepare, in addition to their exceptional softness and flavor. They only require four ingredients: sugar, clarified butter, white flour, and blanched almonds.
8. Armenian Baklava (Pahklava)
The deliciousness of Armenian baklava won’t come as a surprise if you’re acquainted with the dish. It contains the same spicy, nutty filling and thin, flaky phyllo dough.
The syrup is the primary distinction between Turkish and Armenian baklava. Although you’ll use some of the same ingredients such as lemon juice, sugar, and water for both, you’ll also use lime juice and cloves for Armenian baklava. It imparts a zestier, spicier flavor.
9. Armenian Apple Chunk Cake
Wouldn’t the ideal fall activity be creating the ideal apple cake with just one bowl, one whisk, and ten simple ingredients? You certainly can with Armenian apple chunk cake!
All that is needed is three gala apples, vanilla, walnuts, eggs, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, oil, and flour. While this is baking, the powerful apple cinnamon perfume and the thick texture are extremely impressive.
10. Cranberry Citrus Nazook
With the aforementioned classic nazook recipe in mind, this citrus variety offers the same wonderful sweetness, shape, and texture but it also has cinnamon sugar and dried cranberries. These delicious pastries provide a sweet and tart taste.
If cranberries are not your thing, you can substitute craisins or raisins.