Our favorite Ramadan thing is dessert. And we are protective of our classics. But unlike hummus we are a little bit more flexible when it comes to accepting dessert fusions. Maybe we are hypocrites, or maybe the fun nature of our favorite course makes it easier for us to accept it being naughty.
Unlike other countries (we are looking at you, Egypt) that love creating mutations like Volcano Nutella Kunafeh and red velvet balah el-sham, Kuwait stays pretty tame. We are not saying that desserts here are boring. With the intense competition, we get some really interesting creations that stay true to the original dish without completely defiling it.
Baklava
Like cheesecake baklava. It is a fusion dessert and we are ok with that. Mostly because we are fans of both! And the crunchy baklava sheets contrasts really well with the rich creamy cheese filling.
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An ice-cream filling is just as good. Helps cool us down in this heat.
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Kunafeh
But then again, we really do love cheesecake. And Kunafeh! Ok, we might as well confess we love most desserts and we have a constant problem having to choose what to have. And these two-in-ones help our indecision.
Basbousa
But if basbousa is more up your alley, then try this cream-filled basbousa cake. We love the original, but this also makes sense. The sponge cake is lighter and it takes less syrup so it is not as calorie dense. You get to have your cake and eat it too.
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And because cheesecake seems to be very popular this year, here is a three-in-one. Basbousa + pistachio base + pistachio cheesecake = AMAZINGNESS!!!
Or even better, ice cream! Which is perfect for the summer months.
Dates
We actually think the molten date cake is a genius idea. Nothing is synonymous with Ramadan like dates. Just turn it into a sticky, sweet gooey molten cake and you have hit the jackpot. We actually love it because it doesn’t try to riff on another dessert but just shines and stands out on its own.
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Everyone loves a good tamreya! The original energy bar! But with two new flavors, pistachio and sweet caramelized Lotus Biscuits.
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Things in Little Cups
We really like things in little containers. It helps ease our guilt. Makes us feel like we only had a teeny tiny bit!
We have seen a couple of Istikana desserts this year. And we really love the pistachio Esticanape. We love how the glasses let the gorgeous green shine through. It is sweet but not overpowering. Crunchy nuts coupled with cream and cake, hit the right spot where it comes to textures and taste.
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While Zwara’s cups look more traditional, they have some interesting flavors such as mango and raspberry custard.
We couldn’t decide if Opera’s Kunafeh Creme Brulee cup belonged here or with kunafeh. And with four other flavors, everyone will find something they love!
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Frankendesserts
Atayef! They are usually filled with something. And then almost always deep fried then soaked in syrup. Sometimes they are savory. But we have never seen an atayef cake! This is the kind of ingenuity we really appreciate. Well ok, it is a crepe cake, but with a Ramadan twist.
We love a good Rahash cake!
We wait for the Doh! Ramadan box because we love a good fusion. We’re extremely pleased. Fresh, fluffy doughnuts with very Middle Eastern fillings makes just proves that the world can co-exist in peace.
We’re still on the hunt for the most creative, new or fun dessert that is still very Ramadan. We might be back with more if we don’t end up crashing from all the sugar!
Featured image by bazaar staff