23 Authentic, Traditional & Delicious African Dessert Recipes To Experience

Africa is home to hundreds of different cultures and cuisines. Meaning that when it comes to selecting recipes, you will never be short for answers. 

The cuisine of Africa is rich in flavor and is no stranger to exploring the weird and wonderful ingredients the Earth has to offer. They have something to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth.

From bread puddings to trifles, there really is something for everyone to enjoy. 

Ready to explore the world of African desserts? Below are 23 incredible authentic African desserts for you to bake and try!

Check them out now!

1. Almond Ghriba

This small bite-sized dessert is perfect for any occasion. Containing almond flour, sugar, lemond, and eggs, this dessert is perfect for those following a gluten free diet!

They are sweet, soft, and utterly delicious. The small size of them makes them delightful for serving at parties where guests can mingle and eat. Or at the table to enjoy together. 

Just don’t forget the powdered sugar to coat the cookies! It’s what makes them so delicious. 

2. Caramelized Peanut Bars (Nkate)

A tasty treat called nkate cake is well-liked in Ghana and Equatorial Guinea. In some places, it is also referred to as kongodo.

For those who tend to feel guilty after indulging in the magic that is dessert, Nkate is a healthier alternative. 

A sweet syrup consisting of sugar, lemon juice, and water is used to crush and caramelize oven-roasted peanuts. These crispy small peanut pieces are enjoyed as snacks all day.

3. Samsa

This traditional dessert may resemble something like a Samosa. Originating in Tunisia, the triangles are filled with roasted nuts and covered in ground almonds and hazelnuts before being baked in the oven. 

Golden brown and crunchy makes the perfect texture for Sama. They are traditionally enjoyed at the holy time of Ramadan and are eaten throughout the month. 

You can easily make this dessert in large batches. Perfect for the holidays or as an extra treat!

4. Puff Puff

Deep fried dough. No more words are needed. 

Puff Puffs, a delectable West African food that can be purchased almost anywhere, are also referred to as Beignets, Mikate, Bofrot, African Donut, and plain Deep Fried Dough.

They are simply the tastiest little fried balls of perfection.

Serve at all of your parties this holiday season with a dusting of powdered sugar and a selection of dips. We always opt for melted chocolate!

5. Malva Pudding

This South African dish is moist, sweet, and perfect for serving to the family. 

It is a delicate, sweet cake with beautiful caramel undertones that is sweetened with apricot jam.

The pudding is drenched in a lovely bath of creamy syrup while it is still warm, making the cake incredibly flavorful and moist.

Simple to make for any level of baker, this is best served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or some heavy cream. 

6. Algerian Sables

Algerian Sables, Sables meaning sand, is a butter cookie with a jam filled middle. Using a rather simple cookie dough these small biscuits come together to create something beautiful. 

Fill with your favorite flavor of jam and serve with a dusting of powdered sugar. Making them festive for the holiday season. 

These sandwich cookies are loved by everyone and have even become a British delicacy!

7. Moroccan Honey Sesame Cookies (Halwa Chebakia)

Bringing sweet and savory together, these Moroccan desserts are a beautiful way to end any meal. Or as a sweet treat throughout the day. 

These flower-shaped cookies have a delightful sticky-sweet flavor that is complemented by the addition of honey, sesame, cinnamon, saffron, anise, and orange blossom water.

Once made into a flower shape, the dessert is then fried and dipped in hot honey with orange flower water. 

8. Mauritian Polenta Pudding

This special dessert is all about taking something rather mundane and turning it into something wonderful. 

Also known as Poudine Mais, this treat is made of polenta, cardamon, vanilla, and coconut. Simple ingredients that bring so much flavor and texture. 

This dessert is often enjoyed as a way of cooling down on a hot day. Perfect for summer picnics or cookouts with the family!

9. South African Trifle

If you aren’t an experienced baker and have little to no idea about how to start then this no-bake trifle recipe is for you. 

A South African trifle is essentially a dish that is stacked and baked-free.

This dish is a serious flavor sensation, starting with a layer of Boudoir biscuits soaked in Amarula Cream Liqueur, then caramel treat, jelly, fruit, and custard. 

When you’ve finished layering, top it with whipped cream and a few pieces of fruit and almonds.

10. Kunafa With Cream

Also known as Knafeh is a buttery dessert that is built with layers of pastry over creamy, silky milk pudding. 

It is topped with a drizzle of simple syrup and garnished with crushed pistachios. You get a creamy, crunchy blend of textures and flavors with every bite. 

This pudding is treasured and is often made for large parties to share with friends and family. 

11. Moroccan Orange Cake (Meskouta)

 This simple, fragrant orange cake is extremely easy to make. With no icing this dessert uses the oranges to keep it moist and full of flavor. 

Whether it is for the summer BBQ or Thanksgiving, this dessert is sure to please everyone. It is even enjoyed as a breakfast treat in Moroccan culture and is the best way to break fast in Ramadan. 

Make sure to use fresh oranges to get that intense,zesty flavor!

12. Bread Pudding (Om Ali)

This Egyptian dessert is brought to modern day with one simple twist. Using Palmiers instead of Roaa (Egyptian Flat Bread). 

Each layer is placed delicately until you have a pudding of crushed palmiers, mixed nuts, sweetened hot milk, and whipped cream. 

It is then broiled in the oven until the top is bubbling, golden and crispy. Serve with a selection of small pastries. 

13. Koeksister

If you are looking for a dessert that is going to look fabulous with your spread and taste even better, then you have to make Koeksister. 

When the dough is ready, it is braided into the required length of koeksister strips and deep-fried till golden brown. The ingredients include canola oil, flour, milk, salt, and butter.

The small fried pastry is then smothered in syrup for an even sweeter taste. Taking less than an hour to make this is the perfect way to spend your Sunday morning. 

14. Halwad

This Somalian dessert is a jelly-like dessert which is often served around Eid. 

Halwad is incredibly sweet and sticky like jelly. The addition of almonds or sesame seeds occasionally lends the halwad a slight crunch.

The halwa needs some time to set and combine well with the spices, so making this dish will take some time and patience, but the tasty treat you end up with will be well worth it.

15. Coconut Balls (Kube)

Traditionally this dessert was served as a cake, however, they are now more enjoyed in small bite-sized balls. 

Popular in Ghana they are enjoyed almost as a candy. Shredded coconut cooked in a hot sugar syrup which is then cooled and formed into small balls. 

These balls of heaven are the perfect after school snack or as a small treat after dinner. 

It is imperative that you keep an eye on that cooking coconut. Burn it and you need to start again!

16. Couscous Pudding (Caakiri)

In the states we don’t often see couscous as a dessert. Paired with a salad, its great, but as a dessert? You just have to try it!

Caakiri is a delicious dessert made in the Democratic Republic of Congo that combines yogurt, milk, and sour cream with couscous. 

Similar to rice pudding only with so much more flavor and excitement. 

Perfect if you need a stunning, tangy dessert in a rush and have no idea what to make! 

17. Fried Banana Dessert (Gabon)

A Banana Split Sunday is always a good choice. But why not use your bananas in a different way? 

This Fried Banana Dessert is a great way to combine the softness of a banana with a crispy, delicious deep fried dough. 

The bananas can be served immediately from the fried oil or placed in a warm oven for a short period of time to maintain their crispness before serving.

18. South African Milk Tart (Melktert)

Often served a morning or afternoon dessert to be enjoyed with tea, this recipe is smooth, silky, with a slight crunch. The only baking to be done is with the crust.

You can purchase premade crusts or make it even more special by baking your own. 

Once you great your thick, creamy fillings pour it into the base, sprinkle with cinnamon and leave to cool. Perfect for those hot summer days. 

19. Mauritian Caramel Flan

Flan is often regarded as a difficult dessert to perfect. And it is. But this recipe makes it a tad easier. 

A combination of custard powder, milk, sugar, eggs, and vanilla. All blended and baked in the oven until your knife comes out clean.

The hardest part? Perfecting your caramel syrup which creates that encompassing glaze. This dish is sweet, impressive, and is sure to satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth. 

20. Crunchies (South African Oatmeal Bars)

Make breakfast delicious and exciting with these South African Oatmeal Bars. We all know that granola bars keep things simple for those rushed mornings. 

Crunchies are salty, sweet, spicy, crunchy, everything you could ever want to start the day! In less than 60 minutes you can have a delicious breakfast, snack or dessert for the entire family to enjoy. 

Prep at the start of the week and store in the refrigerator throughout the week. 

21. Baseema

Meaning ‘delicious’ is Sudanese, you know exactly what you are getting with this dessert. 

It is a common dessert in the Sudanese region. Yogurt, flour, coconut, sugar, and other basic baking ingredients are used to make it.

The cake will be baked and then glazed with a mixture of lemon juice, water, and sugar.

Each bite is soft, moist, and utterly delicious. You can even toast the coconut to add extra flavor and texture. 

22. Vinegar Pudding (Asynpoeding)

This beloved South African pudding is a rather peculiar dessert to introduce. But once you do, everyone will love it. 

Using a raisin and date batter the cake is then soaked in a syrup made from vinegar. Traditionally it was made from wine but somehow vinegar became a popular choice. 

Serve on a bed of custard and dig in! 

Never use balsamic vinegar in your mixture. You don’t want to know the outcome. 

23. Aartappel Poeding 

Want a new way to enjoy potatoes? Aartappel Poeding is a potato pudding which is traditionally served at weddings and time of celebration. 

Mashed potatoes which are then seasoned with sugars and sweet aromatics before being baked until crisp and golden brown. 

Add in some chopped almonds for a delicious crunch throughout the dessert. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Final Thoughts

Africa is a place of exploration and discovery. Whether in nature or in food, it is a compilation of cultures, traditions, and cuisine. 

You can go to one area of Africa and experience something completely different in one village over. 

Ready to try some authentic African desserts? Above are 23 authentic, delicious African dessert recipes for you to make and taste. Full of flavor and wholesome ingredients, you may never want to eat boring food again. 

So, what will your favorite be? The moist Malva Pudding or the unusual Aartappel Poeding. You will never know until you try them!