These international desserts rock my world

Offer me common, everyday, typical American desserts or sweets and, more often than not, I’ll likely say “no, thank you.”

Donuts, cake, pie and ice cream just don’t tempt me much.

There are exceptions, of course. My sister-in-law makes the most amazing homemade pies from scratch, and those I cannot pass up. I’m also a huge fan of Jeni’s ice cream and usually won’t turn that down. But otherwise, I’m perfectly okay to skip most American-style desserts.

That all changes if you offer me an exotic dessert from another country. Then, count me in! I don’t know why, but international sweets have always done it for me. Maybe it’s because they’re usually a bit less sweet than American desserts.

If you’re wondering what I mean by international sweets and desserts, here are my top three favorites of all time, followed by a longer list of honorable mentions.

Knafeh from Palestine (seen in the above “heating instructions” photo) is new to me as of 2024, and I’m madly in love with it. Enjoyed throughout the Middle East, this dessert is served and eaten warm. It involves a light layer of pastry, a middle layer of gooey, slightly salty melted cheese and a topping of crushed pistachio nuts, all enrobed in a sugar syrup flavored with roses or orange blossoms. Knafeh combines a satisfying contrast of warmth, texture and sweet flavor with the cheese pull of a really great pizza. I’m typically nuts for sweets made with nuts, and I find knafeh utterly irresistable. You can find it at Al Aqsa Sweets in Westerville.

Gulab Jamun from India (seen in the photo at the very top) has been a favorite dessert of mine for about 30 years, since I first tried it in my 20s. Fried cheesy-dough balls served warm in honey or rose-flavored syrup, these are decadent and delicious. You can find them at most Indian restaurants – or even in the refrigerated or freezer section of most Indian groceries. Don’t ever allow yourself to be served only one – you need at least two and preferably three of these sweet little guys for the full experience. I even love their name. Gulab jamun always gets me jammin’!

Tres Leches cake from Mexico or Central America is the only item on my top three favorite desserts list that is not served warm. I do typically prefer warm desserts, but this sweet treat is so good I don’t mind the chill. It’s basically a slice of white cake that has been soaked in sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk, making it soft, soaking wet and extra delicious. If the idea of cold, wet cake doesn’t appeal to you, all I can say is great – that leaves more for me! But trust me, it’s wonderful. Just be sure to eat it with a spoon so you can savor every last drop of the sweet milk it’s sitting in. You can find this traditional dessert at El Molcajete and other Mexican restaurants in Columbus.

Honorable mention goes to the following international treats which I also very much enjoy. I will happily travel out of my way to get any of these authentic desserts!

Cannoli and Zeppole from Italy (or from any decent Italian restaurant)
Alfajores from South America
Turkish delight from Turkey (or from Troya in Monterey!)
Sticky toffee pudding from the UK
Baklava from Turkey/Greece/the Middle East (or most good Greek/Middle Eastern restaurants)
Sesame balls from China (often available on a dim sum menu – yum!)
Sticky rice with fresh mango from Thailand (or from most truly great Thai restaurants)
Mochi from Japan (best eaten fresh – like from LA’s Little Tokyo district!)
Crepes with Nutella and fruit from France (or from Crepe Town or Holy Crepes here in Columbus)