A Decadent List of Vegan Lebanese Desserts

A delicious guide to vegan Lebanese desserts, where you’ll be introduced to some of the most decadent treats in Lebanese cuisine.

a collage of four different Lebanese desserts, including a tray of baklawa, flat cake, white pudding and stuffed pancakes

What are vegan Lebanese desserts?

Vegan Lebanese desserts use dairy-free milk/butter in place of traditional milk/butter. Any pastry used is also made of plant-based foods.

These desserts have either been spun off from the traditional desserts I grew up on or are as is and are vegan-friendly.

I can assure you that if you have a sharp sweet tooth, you will be delighted with these recipes.

Lebanese desserts are renowned for their unique flavors, textures, and ingredients.

What are Lebanese desserts made of?

Desserts in Lebanon are known for their rich flavors and variety of ingredients.

Some of the most common ingredients used in Lebanese desserts include:

Nuts: Almonds, walnuts, pistachios, and pine nuts are commonly used, often as fillings or toppings.
Phyllo/filo dough: A thin, crispy pastry that is commonly found in desserts in Lebanon.
Sweet concentrated sugar syrup: Known as attar is a mixture of sugar, water, and flavorings, such as rose water or orange blossom water. The viscosity of attar will differ depending on the desserts it is applied to.
Cheese: Cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and akawi cheese are often used in knafeh and halawet el jibn or similar. However, there are now vegan alternatives that can be used as replacements.
Semolina: A type of grainy wheat flour that is used to make cakes like namoura and sfouf.
Dates: A sweet fruit that is often used as a filling in ma'amoul (a stuffed cookie)
Spices: A variety of spices are used in Lebanese desserts, including cinnamon, cardamom, anise, and nutmeg, to add flavor and aroma.

Desserts in Lebanon can be found all over the country in various cities, towns and villages.

If you are planning a trip to Lebanon, it is well worth the visit to head north to Tripoli (with a guide who knows how to navigate the city), Lebanon’s second-largest city.

Often touted as the “dessert capital” or “food capital” you will find streets lined with food & dessert vendors and specialty dessert shops serving an amazing assortment of delights.

In this list of Lebanese desserts you will find rich and nutty baklawa made from filo pastry to dairy-free milk desserts.

All of these recipes have been sourced from the vegan Lebanese food recipes collection.

Baklawa - Lebanese Baklava

Baklawa is a classic Lebanese dessert also known as Lebanese balava. It is made with layers of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts. It is sweetened with sugar syrup called attar which is drizzled on top.

Baklawa

Atayef

This Atayef recipe is sweet and fluffy pancake that is stuffed with a mixture nuts and coconut, oven baked until golden and crunchy, then drizzled with a light sugar syrup.

Walnut stuffed atayef

three glasses of thick milk drink topped with pistachio, cinnamon or coconut

Sahlab

Sahlab is a warm winter-time favorite. This sweet drink recipe is thick and creamy and made from dairy-free milk infused with the subtle flavors of mastic, rosewater and or orange blossom water. It is either topped with cinnamon, pistachios or shredded coconut or a combination of these.

Thick Hot Sweet Milk

Meghli

Meghli is a sweet and silky pudding traditionally served to celebrate the birth of a newborn baby. Made with ground rice, water, natural sweetener, warm spices and is adorned with shredded coconut, raisins, or nuts for an added layer of flavor and texture.

Lebanese Meghli

Riz bi Haleeb

Riz bi haleeb translates to rice in milk. This simple recipe is a satisfying rice pudding that is made with rice, dairy-free milk, natural sweetener, and rosewater. It is garnished with either cinnamon, rose petals or pistachio.

Riz bi Haleeb

Muhallabi in three bowls with pistachio and rose petal garnish

Muhalabia

Muhallabi (muhalabia) is a silky and smooth milk pudding that is flavored with rosewater or orange blossom water. It is often topped with crushed pistachios or almonds for added texture and flavor.

Muhalabia

Haytaliyeh

Haytaliyeh is a creamy and rich Lebanese dessert that is made with milk, sugar, and orange blossom water. It is often garnished with nuts, or fruit for added texture and flavor. Haytaliyeh has a smooth and velvety texture and a delicate floral aroma that is served cold.

Haytaliyeh

Sfouf

Sfouf is a traditional Lebanese cake made with turmeric, semolina, and flour. It is flavored with anise and garnished with sesame seeds or nuts. Sfouf has a moist and dense texture and a fragrant flavor.

Sfouf

Namoura

Namoura is a classic Lebanese dessert. This recipe is made with a base of semolina flour, sugar, and dairy fre butter. It is often flavored with orange blossom water or rosewater, which adds a delicate and aromatic scent to the dessert. Namoura is typically cut into small diamond-shaped pieces. It also goes by the name of basbousa or harrissa.

Vegan Basbousa

In conclusion, Lebanese desserts offer a wide variety of flavors and textures.

So, go ahead and indulge in some of these delicious treats, and experience the unique flavors of Lebanon.

Otherwise, you might be interested in this list of vegan Middle Eastern recipes or explore some savory options, this list of Lebanese side dishes is filled with little delicious meals, some are good enough as a main.

Do you like fun and comforting foods, here's a list of vegan Lebanese stuffed foods.

Are you into street foods? Check out vegan Lebanese street food.

Did you make any of these recipes? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.

Decadent Vegan Lebanese Desserts

What are vegan Lebanese desserts?