Moroccan sweets are the ultimate way to treat yourself. These 15 recipes bring tastes of cinnamon, almonds, and honey to your table.
They are also a great introduction to the fabulous cooking of Morocco.
1. Ghoriba
Ghoriba are tasty Middle Eastern cookies. Made using simple ingredients like flour, sugar, almonds, and butter.
The cookies come in different textures, some are chewy, others have a crumbly feel.
I think they taste especially delicious when I have them with a cup of coffee or tea. For extra flavor, try adding more almonds to the recipe.
2. Halwa dyal Makina – Piped Moroccan Biscuits With Chocolate
These Moroccan biscuits take on a churro shape. Dipped in chocolate at each end, the flavor really comes alive!
I find that the batter is typically made of cornflour. That gives the biscuit a unique taste that complements the chocolate.
For me, these are great to make any time of the year.
3. Sfenj: Moroccan Doughnuts or Fritters
For a Moroccan spin on donuts, try sfenj! You’ll think these are sinfully good.
The baker shapes leavened dough into rings. Then, the dough is deep-fried.
The donuts take on a perfect golden color. They deliver a satisfying crisp on the outside.
The inside is both chewy and fluffy. For an extra touch, add a simple dusting of sugar.
4. Almond Crescent Cookies
The ghriba is a sweet almond cookie shaped like a crescent. The cinnamon topping creates a beautiful blend with the almonds.
Together, they offer adorable and addictive goodness! Like maamoul, these almond crescent cookies have that melt-in-your-mouth quality I can’t get enough of.
If I decide to make these for a party, doubling the batch is a must. In my experience, they disappear quickly!
5. Moroccan Lemon Cake
Let’s kick off this parade of recipes with something simple. The meskouta, or Moroccan cake, is a simple cake that offers a light profile and a good amount of flavor.
The cake is zesty, because it has lemon. You’ll also find a sweet lemon glaze as a topping.
I think this meskouta is a fantastic way to finish off any meal. I love that this cake is super easy to prepare!
The oven does most of the work, and it only takes a few minutes to prep.
6. Maamoul (Arabian Date Filled Cookies)
For an incredibly soft cookie, try maamoul cookies. These cookies contain a sweet date filling.
They have low sugar. But the natural sweetness from the dates more than makes up for that!
The delightful taste isn’t the only wonderful thing about them. They have a melt-in-your-mouth consistency that you’ll rave about.
For me, one cookie is never enough. Maamoul cookies are usually served during Eid or at Ramadan’s end.
However, they are simple to prepare. So, consider baking them any time you want.
7. Moroccan Almond Snake Pastry
The m’hancha is a Moroccan pastry with an iconic shape. It takes the form of a snake.
Almond paste makes up this delicious treat. This gives it a wonderful nutty flavor and aroma.
Try dusting it with powdered sugar. You can also smear it with warm honey and almond slices.
I appreciate that the m’hancha works as both a dessert and as a dish for breakfast. The m’hancha is traditionally large.
Because of this, just one pastry is enough to serve a crowd. Often, people simply break off parts of the coil to enjoy!
8. Sellou
When I need something that doesn’t require baking, I reach for sellou. It’s a confection that calls for sesame seeds, almonds, and flour that’s been cooked.
Because it’s full of calories and nutrients, I like that sellou is often given to new moms after they deliver.
The goal? To help them restore their energy.
9. Moroccan Beghrir (Semolina Honeycomb Pancakes)
The beghrir is Morocco’s version of a pancake. However, these aren’t ordinary pancakes.
They have a spongy body. The beghrir are so soft that they practically melt.
I find that using semolina, along with yeast, gives it both a wonderful flavor and a unique look.
I appreciate that beghrir is simple to prepare. Still, I have to measure the batter carefully.
This ensures that it forms the bubbles you expect.
10. Cinnamon Oranges
The recipe for this easy dessert involves topping orange slices with cinnamon. While this may be a simple idea, for me it yields a flavorful and yummy snack.
I think the combination of orange (sweet and tart) with spicy cinnamon creates a fantastic harmony. With its light profile, this dish makes a great snack after any meal.
11. Almond Briouat
I’m always on the lookout for the perfect biscuit to have at tea time. For me, briouat takes the top spot.
This fantastic confection consists of almond paste, cinnamon, and orange flower water. A coating of honey enhances these deep-fried, triangular treats.
These pastries have an amazing array of flavors. I think that they make the ultimate afternoon treat when paired with a cup of hot tea.
12. Moroccan Chebakia (Sesame and Honey Cookies)
Another fantastic cookie from Morocco is chebakia. I find it looks just as amazing as its flavor.
The chef shapes the dough to look like a flower. Then, they deep-fry it until it reaches a golden color.
A coating of honey enhances the cookies, and sesame seeds add still more flavor.
Because the process is tedious, often chebakia are reserved for special occasions.
Still, just looking at how gorgeous they are, for me it’s already easy to tell that they are worth the effort.
13. Moroccan Mint Tea
When I think of Moroccan desserts, I think of what beverage to pair with them! To me, Moroccan mint tea works best with these tasty sweets!
The mix of green tea with mint results in a phenomenal warming and cooling sensation. I appreciate that it’s the ideal drink to sip at any time of day.
Preparing it is simple. You don’t even need special ethnic ingredients to make it.
I only need water, sugar, green tea, and mint to enjoy this wonderful and refreshing treat.
14. Moroccan Fruit Salad
For a spin on a classic dish, check out this version of fruit salad. The recipe features fresh bananas, apples, oranges, and strawberries.
I think the sweet and tangy vanilla yogurt coating is a super refreshing addition. For me, it’s also ideal for cleansing my palate after I’ve had a heavy meal.
That makes it the perfect complement to robust flavors.
15. Baklava
Of all Moroccan desserts, I think baklava is the most famous. It has earned that distinction for a reason!
For me, this crisp, sweet confection brings pure joy in a single bite.
The dish consists of crisp layers of pastry. It also has sweet honey and a lemon glaze.
Then, you’ll taste a walnut-cinnamon filling. The various flavors and textures explode in your mouth.
Shaped like diamonds, I find that baklava is a true gem among desserts.