Serbia is well-known for its delectable national dishes but the desserts that follow are so good you’ll want to skip the meal altogether. Whether the sweets are served at a family gathering, a slava (patron saint celebration), or casual Sunday lunch, one thing is certain, dessert-making in Serbia is taken very seriously and traditional desserts are prepared with just as much love and precision as the main dish.
Many would argue that traditional desserts like fruit pies, baklava, krempita or homemade cakes are unsurpassable favourites among kids and adults alike. However, the choice is often so wide, that you will commonly find yourself tempted with a stacked solitaire of crêpes surrounded with a range of homemade fruit spreads, irresistible treats like airy pastries, doughnuts and domestic cookies.
Let’s check out some of the crunchiest, creamiest and most mouth-watering Serbian desserts!
The heavenly milky koh
For everyone that grew up in Serbia, chances are their grandmother or mother made koh quite often during their childhood. This light, airy, and syrup-soaked cake has been a staple in Serbian kitchens since anyone can remember. Koh is a simple yet nostalgic dessert made with just a few ingredients—eggs, sugar, flour, and milk—baked until golden and then drenched in warm milk to give it a soft, spongy texture.
Since the ingredients are cheap and usually something every household always has in the pantry, koh traditionally made for a perfect dessert even when times were hard and sweets weren’t a daily occurrence.
The sweetest welcome – slatko
We cannot talk about Serbian desserts and not mention the most traditional of all – the famous slatko. Something jam-like might not be the first thing that crosses your mind when thinking about sweets. However, slatko is not your ordinary fruit spread. Though it is not a dessert in the conventional sense, slatko holds a special place in Serbian culture, as it is a flavourful little spoonful that is traditionally offered to a guest with a glass of water. It is an incredibly sweet fruit preserve, most often homemade from strawberries, cherries, plums, figs, or quince.
Historically, slatko was considered a luxury, a symbol of generosity and hospitality. Nevertheless, the tradition remains to this day and families prepare slatko in large batches during the summer, preserving the flavours of fresh fruit for the colder months.
Vanilice
Every cuisine put their own spin on lard-based cookies, and vanilice are the traditional Serbian version of these crumbly delicacies.
The easiest way to describe vanilice is to imagine a plate of tiny sandwich cookies, filled with jam and dusted with powdered sugar. No wedding, slava or gathering is complete without a generous tray of vanilice gracing the table. They are soft, buttery, bite-sized, with just the right amount of crumbly.
The dough, traditionally made with lard, gives them a melt-in-your-mouth quality that pairs perfectly with the tanginess of homemade jam, usually apricot or plum.
Krempita – The Queen of Serbian Pastries
If you’re at a local bakery or pastry shop and find yourself in two or more minds which sweet to spoil yourself with, the one and only krempita is something you can’t leave without. The name says it all – it is a cream-pie (krem-pita), thus incredibly creamy and smooth. The only thing keeping the custard in place is the two layers of airy puff pastry. Serbia’s version of krempita is typically less sweet than its Western counterparts, allowing the flavours of fresh eggs and vanilla to shine through.
Krempita is a prefect finish to a meal and is usually combined with a cup of good old Turkish coffee.
Ruske kape
A funny dessert name for fun times – Russian hats got their name probably because they in a way resemble the traditional fur hats worn in Russia. Each little cake has got two layers of sponge cake filled with a rich, creamy center, then rolled in chocolate and sprinkled with snowy coconut flakes. Don’t forget to serve them frosty and cold!
Serbia is also known for another coconut dessert called čupavci. It features a soft, sponge-like base soaked in chocolate milk and coated in shredded coconut.
The Serbian take on strudel
Serbian households have their own version of the famous strudel, and it is a must-try. Once you have a taste of the Serbian poppy strudel, it will be the only strudel you’ll crave for. However, the three most popular kinds in Serbia are walnut strudel (štrudla sa orasima), sour cherries strudel (štrudla sa višnjama), and, of course, the poppy seeds strudel (štrudla sa makom). You can enjoy these rich rolled pastries as an afternoon treat with a cup of coffee or tea.
The ultimate no-bake delights – Oblande and Bajadere
Oblande (wafer cakes) and bajadere are two classic no-bake Serbian desserts that often share the same festive table. Oblande are the best dessert choice during the period of Lent, as they are a combination of crispy wafer and rich caramel in several layers. When you see little diamond-shaped pieces on a plate at a slava, be sure you’re looking at oblande. Bajadera, on the other hand, is a layered praline-like dessert made from ground nuts, sugar, butter, and chocolate. Both of these desserts are made in large batches for any kind of celebration in Serbia, as they are family favourites and disappear qickly!
Princes krofne
At first glance, the resemblance with the French profiterole and Serbian princes krofne is uncanny. They both consist of delicate choux pastry filled with vanilla custard cream. And yet, the Serbian version comes in all sizes and it is not topped with chocolate, but powdered sugar. Although they might look fancy, in Serbia they are just a common homemade treat, which can also be found in many pastry shops specialised only for the fluffiest of princes krofne.
Serbian cakes
No Serbian celebration could be complete without a cake to crown it all. They come in all shapes, flavours, colours, and sizes, but some of the most popular traditional Serbian cake recipes include: Plazma cake, Reforma cake and the many kinds of fruit cakes.
- Plazma torta – if you are a fan of cakes, but not one of baking, Plazma cake is just the right choice for you. This no-bake cake is made with ground or milk-soaked Plazma biscuits, which is a local ingredient that cannot be changed for anything else. Unique and not too sweet, Plazma cake will impress your guests and have them asking for recipe after the first bite.
- Reforma torta – a luxurious layered cake with a rich chocolate and walnut filling, Reforma is a dessert for all ages.
- Voćne torte (fruit cakes) – light, refreshing cakes with layers of sponge cake, custard, and fresh fruit are perfect for spring and summer gatherings. Serbs like to experiment with fruit combinations, and the choice can vary depending on the season: from bananas, pineapple and kiwi, to strawberries, raspberries and oranges.
The sweet taste of Serbian tradition
Desserts are more than mere indulgences in Serbia, as there is a delicious piece of tradition in every recipe and every choice of ingredient. From the simplest joys of silky koh, to classic vanilice and the multitude of cake recipes, Serbian homes, bakeries and pastry shops will tempt your taste buds like no other. So, the next time you find yourself in Serbia, don’t just settle for a piece of cake—ask for the story behind it. After all, the best way to experience a culture is one bite at a time.
