As a sweet-tooth, chocoholic and dessert aficionado, I could not help but evangelize my love for sugar and express it in the form of 10 delectable international sweets. Whether you are a lover of pie, flaky pastries, calorie-laden delicacies or consider yourself a seasoned expert in all things coco, this list is guaranteed to cue your sugar cravings.
1. America: Apple Pie
Piping hot, checkered Apple pie is undeniably the sweet symbol of the nation that lives under the star-spangled banner.
2. England: Banoffee Pie
Sorry America, but our fellow English speaking comrades win the pie game. Who wouldn't want to wash down a fresh cuppa with a thick slice of buttery biscuit topped with sliced banana, cream, and toffee?
3. Brazil: Brigadeiro
The Brigadeiro is a Brazilian bonbon composed of condensed milk, fine cocoa and a hint of butter, a recipe that transforms each bite into a silky and elegant affair.
4. Turkey: Baklava
Baklava is a pastry that starts with fresh, crisp filo dough on top of which is sprinkled finely chopped pistachios, which are then blanketed by more filo dough until a gorgeous tower of nature green and radiant gold has been constructed. Subsequently, the creation is soaked in a divine nectar of either syrup or honey and is then ready for consumption.
5: Mexico: Churro
Thank you, Mexico for providing the world with deep-fried caloric goodness coated in cinnamon and sugar.
6. Russia: Vatrushka
No, it's not a danish, it's a vatrushka! The two desserts may as well be cousins; However, the overall consistency, softness and savory nature of the Russian vatrushka is what crowns it the champion of this debate.
7. Israel: Rugelach
Rugelach is as delicious as it is mesmerizing. The shape of this delicacy is enough to hypnotize you into eating more, and besides, who could possibly resist the temptation of a swirly chocolate pastry?
8. Canada: BeaverTail
I'm seriously contemplating about whether or not I should send an angry letter to the Minnesota State Fair for depriving us of this grand treat made by our northern neighbor. The BeaverTail is like a donut that has been pressed into a panini but still retains its fat fluffiness. It is then slathered in chocolate and sprinkled with pretty much any sweet condiment that you can conceive. I hope that I've now convinced you to help me draft a petition to the state fair.
10. Greece: Halva
The first time I came across halva was in Greece, and it was amazing. As a bit of background, there are two different halva variations: one is made of sunflower seeds, and the other is made of sesame seeds. The latter, known as semolina halva, is what I indulged upon. The dessert is a sweetened sesame pudding that nearly glows from the syrup that it is drenched in. Caloric? Extremely. Flavorful? Undeniably.
Well, there you have it! A delicious compilation of desserts that you probably want to shove in your mouth at this very second. So what are you waiting for? Go run to the grocery store right now and whip up some of these sweets!