16 Easy And Delicious Greek Desserts

Greek food is generally rich and delicious, their desserts are no different. If you’ve been looking for some easy and delicious

Greek dessert recipes to try out, then look no further. We have found 16 of the best traditional recipes for you to try. 

1. Best Galaktoboureko Recipe

This is a traditional Greek dessert made from phyllo pastry, soaked in syrup and filled with semolina cream. In order to get the best results, make sure the pastry is super crispy and the filling is a nice fluffy texture.

Essentially, this is a custard-filled pie topped with a sweet syrup. 

You’ll probably have most of the filling ingredients at home already, such as milk, sugar, and eggs. Something you may not have is rice flour, which you should be able to find in a well-stocked grocery store or health food store. 

2. Quick And Easy Greek Yogurt Dessert

If you’re looking for a super quick dessert recipe, this is the one for you as it is ready in around 10 minutes. This cooling, creamy and crunchy dessert is the perfect way to finish off a big meal as it’s light and refreshing. 

Combining Greek yogurt, condensed milk, some lemon zest and juice, and a few crunchy layers of digestive biscuits.

The recipe allows you to play around with the ingredients to create the perfect after-dinner treat for you. Why not try crumbling some crushed dark chocolate on top? 

3. Baklava Recipe 

Baklava is easily the most famous Greek dessert, with good reason as it’s absolutely delicious. Layers of crisp, flaky phyllo pastry with sweet honey in the middle are something to be excited about.

Nuts used in this recipe include pistachios, walnuts and hazelnuts so are sure to replace these if you have any allergies. 

Don’t be concerned about the idea of making Baklava, no one is expecting you to make the pastry yourself. If you don’t think your pastry-making skills are up to the challenge then using a frozen or chilled version will do just as well. 

Getting an even spread between layers of pastry is the key to making a great Baklava!

4. Tahini Halva 

Greeks aren’t always associated with being vegan-friendly. However, this is an easy vegan dessert that only takes around 15 minutes to make. Use a few simple ingredients such as tahini paste to make a rich and sweet treat. 

You’ll need a candy thermometer to keep an eye on the temperature of the syrup if you don’t get to the exact temperature of 250℉. This can be the make or break of making a good tahini halva recipe. 

Overall, you get a sweet and nutty dessert with the consistency of fudge. You can easily add your favorite flavors to make them your own and impress your dinner guests. 

5. Ekmek Kataifi

A sweet and crispy dessert commonly found in Greek, Turkish, and Middle Eastern cuisines, Kataifi is shredded wheat that is dried to form a crumbly pastry.

Topped with a thick custard and whipped cream mixture, this isn’t a dessert for the fainthearted. Hints of cinnamon and lemon juice will awaken your senses along with the gentle crunch of pistachios on the top. 

You can find Kataifi dough in any Greek, Turkish, or Middle Eastern store, or if failing to find one near you, any online marketplace will sell this vital ingredient. All the other ingredients are common pantry staples. 

6. Rizogalo – Greek Rice Pudding

Rice pudding isn’t everyone’s go-to dessert, but for those lovers of this somewhat controversial dish, this Greek recipe may change your mind. A thick and creamy treat that is mainly made from rice and milk. 

Adding some Greek flare with some citrus elements such as lemon juice when cooking the rice is essential.

For best results, try using short, round grain rice such as Arborio rice for a traditional Greek texture. 

7. Pasteli – Greek Honey-Sesame Bars

Considered to be the original Greek power bars, pasteli can be traced back to the ancient Greeks. Essentially, the bar is made from honey and sesame seeds but there are a variety of different flavors.

These flavors usually incorporate nuts such as pistachios. 

Rich and sweet, this concentrated source of calories means you only need a little so try not to overindulge. To form the bars, honey is boiled until 250℉ and mixed with toasted sesame seeds to form a sticky mixture. They are cooked before serving. 

8. Portokalopita – Greek Orange Cake

As with many other Greek desserts, phyllo pastry is used to make portokalopita. The cake doesn’t contain any flour, so you might ask how is it a cake?

Dried phyllo sheets are mixed with orange juice and zest to make a tangy batter. When the cake is cooked it’s soaked in a sugar syrup to compliment the aromatic citrus flavors. 

The cake is best served warm with your favorite ice cream flavor. 

9. Kourabieedes – Greek Butter Cookies

These Greek butter cookies are sometimes referred to as Wedding cookies as they are served as a staple at any Greek get-together.

Ideal when cooking for a crowd, these simple biscuits will please everyone.

There are no fancy ingredients used here, but  A LOT of butter (hence the name). When the cookies are ready they are dusted with a topping of powdered sugar and served. 

10. Greek Almond Cookies

Who doesn’t love a crunchy, chewy cookie? These cookies are naturally gluten-free, which is ideal for catering to different diets.

Here, almond flour, sugar, salt, and orange zest are combined to make cookie dough rather than traditional flour. The dough is rolled in flaked almonds to give it that crunchy outside texture. 

Swapping out the orange for any other citrus fruit works just as well. To add a little more sweetness you can also try adding some vanilla extract. 

11. Loukoumades – Greek Honey Balls 

Nuts are at the heart of many Greek desserts, so if you don’t like them then I do apologize.

Loukoumades are often referred to as the Greek form of a donut. This is a longer recipe as you need to allow the dough to rise for a few hours.

The honey balls are sprinkled with walnuts, cinnamon, and honey to make the perfect dessert or afternoon snack. This isn’t the most healthy food as they are deep-fried, so be sure to enjoy them in moderation (if you can).  

12. Tiropita – Greek Cheese Pies

These light and flaky pies filled with feta cheese aren’t exactly what you think of when you think of dessert, but neither is a cheese board.

You can make individual pastries or cook them in one large pan and cut them into portions depending on your preferences. 

Every cook makes their fillings differently, but this recipe uses Parmesan for flavor and ricotta for some added creaminess.

Making the individual parcels can be a little tricky and may take a few attempts to get right, so don’t get disheartened! 

13. Orange Flavored Melopita 

Melopita comes from the Sifnos Island in the Cyclades and is a traditional Greek Honey Cheesecake. Who doesn’t love cheesecake?

Fresh, unsalted cheese such as anthotyros or myzithra which is similar to ricotta. The cheese is sweetened with Greek citrus honey to add richness to the dish. 

Hints of orange come through with this dish from the zest or some added orange food flavoring. You can make this as powerful or as subtle as you like. 

14. Kormos or Mosaiko 

Kormos, otherwise known as Mosaiko, is a no-bake chocolate dessert made from crushed biscuits that are bound together.

In appearance, it looks like something has gone horribly wrong, but makes up for it with the sweet chocolate buttercream and rich Tia Maria liqueur. 

Any type of chocolate can be used for this recipe, dark chocolate is traditional but many other flavors work just as well. An addition of Greek homemade fruit preserves and some extra coarse sea salt can provide a pop of flavor that bursts in your mouth. 

15. Karythopita 

Karythopita is a traditional Greek spiced walnut cake that is full of nutty goodness along with aromatic spices. Warming brandy and spices create a delicious comforting sensation.

More spices such as cinnamon are packed into the syrup that is drizzled over the cake for a sweet and sticky coating. 

16. Pasta Sokolatina 

This moist Greek chocolate cream cake can be found across the country and you may have noticed it in American Greek pastry shops. As with many Greek desserts, this one is soaked in syrup.

Topped with a layer of Bavarian chocolate cream and covered in a chocolate ganache, it’s a truly rich and heavenly dessert. 

As well as a mountain of chocolate, you’ll also find hints of coffee, yogurt, and vanilla in this indulgent cake. The coffee is actually used in the syrup rather than the cake itself.

Be prepared for the amount of cream you’ll consume with this dish. 

It’s quite a long-winded dish, but if you stick with it you’ll have made something truly amazing. Try whipping out this recipe for a special birthday or occasion where you want to impress. 

Final Thoughts

Here you have 16 of the most delicious Greek dessert recipes. There is something for everyone here, from chocolate to vegans and from nuts to yogurt the Greeks really know how to make a tasty dessert!

We hope you found this article interesting and inspirational, giving you some fresh new ideas on what to make for dessert in the future. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is A Typical Greek Dessert?

A typical Greek dessert could be anything from Rizogalo to Halva, both have been mentioned in this article. The most famous dessert associated with Greece is Baklava, a combination of flaky filo pastry, a nutty middle, and a sweet honey glaze on top. 

The majority of Greek desserts use this flaky pastry, some sort of syrup, and a variety of nuts in their recipes. 

What Is The Greek Pastry?

Greek pastry is called phyllo (or filo), which is a thin unleavened dough that makes a thin and flaky sheet of pastry. In many dishes, layers of this pastry are held together with syrups or butters to create a thick crust.

The thick crusts can therefore be filled with tasty cheeses or fruits.