Give your usual repertoire a boost with our all-time best Mediterranean dessert recipes. Delicious regional ingredients, like pistachios, honey, fresh fruit, and Greek yogurt make these sweets stand out. If you're craving a treat, these recipes are sure to satisfy.
Ginger-Turmeric Barley Pudding
Savor your after-dinner drink and dessert at once with this Mediterranean dessert recipe. Medjool dates are larger than regular dates, with a soft texture and buttery caramel flavor, but you can easily substitute them for regular dates. This treat also features other regional flavors (and anti-inflammatory elements), including fresh ginger and ground turmeric, so you can truly enjoy without guilt.
Chocolate Almond Butter Fruit Dip
If you like hummus, you'll probably love this sweet, scoopable dessert. In only 15 minutes, with only five ingredients (including Greek yogurt and heart-healthy almond butter), you can make this Mediterranean dessert and feed a crowd. It's delicious by the spoonful, but we recommend dunking slices of sturdy fruit, like pears, apples, and strawberries.
Lemon Cream Pavlova with Berries
Meringue-based pavlovas, named after the famed Russian ballerina, are claimed by both Australia and New Zealand, although meringue cakes themselves may actually have originated in North Africa as long ago as the 13th century, before spreading to Europe. In our version, fresh raspberries team with chopped pistachios and a lemon curd cream, for a light and luscious Mediterranean treat. For a single-serving version, follow our directions for mini pavlovas, and they'll steal the show at your next dinner party.
Lemon Olive Oil Cake
This is no ordinary classic cake recipe. Fruity Italian olive oil accentuates the lemon flavor in this indulgent Mediterranean dessert, along with making the texture remarkably tender. Instead of frosting, serve this cake topped with a mix of seasonal fresh fruits, such as blood oranges, berries, or sliced plums.
Cider-Poached Pears in the Slow Cooker or Pressure Cooker
Choose your own adventure with this slow cooker or Instant Pot creation. Make it fast or slow, depending on your schedule and appliance. With honey, cardamom, and crystallized ginger in the apple cider poaching liquid, sweet-spicy regional goodness infuses this Mediterranean diet dessert. Chopped pistachios and Greek yogurt top things off with a fitting flair.
Lavender-Honey Lemon Tart
With loads of crisp, fresh citrus and sweet honey, this Mediterranean dessert reminds us of something we'd dream of ordering at a Greek seaside café. The buttery pastry crust will please traditional tart fans, and aromatic lavender buds lend lovely complexity and a modern touch.
Mint Greek Frozen Yogurt
If you love Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies or mint chocolate-chip ice cream, give this super-refreshing Mediterranean dessert recipe a try. Fresh mint infuses the frozen Greek yogurt for a double dose of cool in each bite.
Sweet Ricotta and Strawberry Parfaits
Perhaps you've layered this unripened, soft cheese into a lasagna casserole. But one of the many reasons we're so fond of ricotta is that it stuns in both sweet and savory dishes. Take it into dessert territory with a stir of honey, vanilla, Mediterranean spices, and lemon zest, then layer it between fresh strawberries, and the pretty parfaits are ready to party.