Kunafa: The Iconic Middle Eastern Dessert Taking America by Storm

It’s golden, crispy, sweet, and cheesy all at once – kunafa (also spelled knafeh, kanafeh, or kunafeh) is an iconic dessert that has captivated the Middle East for centuries and is now making waves worldwide. Picture delicate threads of buttery pastry wrapped around a melting layer of sweet cheese, soaked in a perfumed syrup, and topped with a sprinkle of pistachios. This indulgent treat balances crunchy and creamy textures with syrupy sweetness and a hint of salty cheese, creating a unique flavor experience that lingers in memory

. Long a staple at celebrations from Ramadan dinners to weddings, kunafa is often hailed as the Middle East’s most beloved dessert – ask anyone from an Arab country their favorite sweet, and many will reply without hesitation: kunafa

A large tray of Kunafa Nabulsiya—bright orange from a touch of food coloring—garnished with crushed pistachios. This style of kunafa, originating in Nablus, Palestine, features a layer of mild white cheese beneath the crisp shredded pastry crust

What exactly is kunafa? At its core, kunafa is a traditional Middle Eastern dessert made from a base of kataifi — finely shredded phyllo dough that resembles vermicelli noodles — which is layered with a rich filling (typically cheese or cream) and then drenched in a sugar syrup called attar or ater

. The pastry is first doused in clarified butter or ghee and baked until golden and crunchy. Classic kunafa recipes use soft stretchy cheeses like Nabulsi or Akawi (salty Palestinian cheeses) that melt into a delightful gooey layer

. In some versions, especially popular in Egypt and Turkey, sweet cream known as ashta or clotted cream forms the filling instead of cheese. Once out of the oven, the dessert is immediately soaked in hot sugar syrup that has been infused with aromatic rosewater or orange blossom water, giving kunafa its signature floral sweetness

. Finally, it’s often topped with a sprinkle of chopped pistachios for color and crunch

. The result is a decadent confection that marries buttery, crispy pastry with sweet, creamy filling and fragrant syrup in every bite.

From Nablus to the World: Kunafa’s Origins in Palestine

Kunafa’s history is as rich as its flavor. Food historians debate its exact origin – with some tracing it back to the kitchens of 10th-century Fatimid Cairo or Damascus under the Umayyads, where chefs supposedly created it to satisfy caliphs during Ramadan

. However, the most famous and widely accepted origin story leads to the city of Nablus in Palestine

. In fact, the most celebrated version of this dessert is called Kunafa Nabulsiya, literally “Nablus-style kunafa,” which uses the local salty Nabulsi cheese. Nablus has become virtually synonymous with kunafa – the dessert has been described as a “Palestinian institution” and a cultural touchstone of Palestinian identity

. Generations of Nabulsi families have passed down closely-guarded kunafa recipes, and the city’s sweet shops are renowned across the Arab world.

Historical records show that by the 15th century, Middle Eastern cooks had developed techniques for making kunafa by drizzling batter to form those fine pastry threads, and Ottoman-era cookbooks included recipes layering pastry with cheese and nuts, much like today’s dessert

. But it’s Nablus that truly put kunafa on the map: local legend even tells of bakers in Nablus crafting the dessert for an Ottoman sultan’s visit, solidifying its reputation. In modern times, Nablus has embraced this heritage with pride – in 2009, to stake their claim as kunafa capital, Nablus’s bakers united to create the world’s largest kunafa, a gigantic tray stretching 75 meters and weighing over 1.5 tons

. (The massive orange-hued pastry earned a Guinness World Record and the admiration of sweet-tooths everywhere!) Thanks to such history, Kunafa Nabulsiya remains the gold standard: authentic versions use pure sheep’s-milk Nabulsi cheese, orange blossom-scented syrup, and a glowing orange pastry crust.

A Cultural Icon of the Arab World

Throughout the Arab world, kunafa is more than just a dessert – it’s a symbol of hospitality, celebration, and cultural pride. From the Levant to North Africa to the Gulf, virtually every Arab country has adopted kunafa and added its own twist to it. It’s hugely popular across the Middle East, often deemed the king of Arabic sweets and a must-have at festive occasions

. In Jordan and Palestine, families delight in Kunafa Nabulsiya with its cheese filling, while in Lebanon one might find kunafa served for breakfast inside a sesame seed bun. In Egypt, a common variant features a thick layer of sweet cream (called kunafa bil ashta) or even whipped cream and nuts between the toasted pastry, and during the holy month of Ramadan, Egyptian pastry shops get inventive with kunafa — making it into rolls or incorporating seasonal fruits. In the Levant, kunafa is a staple at weddings, Eid celebrations, and Ramadan iftars; it’s often served warm, cut into slabs straight from a big round tray as family and friends gather. Indeed, kunafa is so cherished that one food writer noted “this iconic dessert…is undoubtedly the most popular dessert among Arabs the world over.”

Part of what makes kunafa culturally significant is how each bite connects to tradition. Serving kunafa to guests is seen as an expression of warm hospitality in Arab culture. The dessert’s presence is felt especially during Ramadan – historically, because of its hearty mix of carbs and cheese or nuts, kunafa was thought to be a good energy-rich dish to eat during suhoor (pre-dawn meal) so one could fast longer

. Even today, nights in cities like Amman, Beirut, or Cairo during Ramadan will find crowds lining up at kunafa shops after dusk, eager for a taste of the syrup-soaked pastry to break their fast. Beyond its ubiquity at holidays, kunafa carries emotional weight for Palestinians, for whom it serves as a delicious symbol of home and heritage (mentioning kunafa can evoke nostalgic smiles about family gatherings in Nablus). As one scholar observed, kunafa is “particularly associated with Nablus” and a “cultural touchstone for Palestinian identity.”

In other words, this dessert isn’t just a treat – it’s part of the cultural fabric.

Global Rise: Kunafa Goes Mainstream in America and Beyond

Once a well-kept secret of the Middle East, kunafa in recent years has exploded in popularity worldwide, finding new fans far from its homeland. Driven by Middle Eastern diaspora communities and adventurous foodies, this dessert now pops up in European capitals and American cities alike. It’s not uncommon to see kunafa on the menu at trendy international restaurants, and it’s even available frozen in some grocery stores. In the United States, kunafa has truly entered the mainstream culinary scene. Middle Eastern bakeries from New York to California report that kunafa is one of their top-selling items, frequently ordered by customers of all backgrounds who have fallen in love with its unique taste. Food reviewers and travel shows have also taken note: the Food Network featured a Brooklyn restaurant’s knafeh on “The Best Thing I Ever Ate,” praising its delectable combination of crispy filo, sweet melted cheese, and aromatic syrup

. Influential food magazines and bloggers have listed kunafa as a “must-try” dessert, introducing it to broader audiences.

One clear sign of kunafa’s crossover success is finding it in American grocery aisles. In 2021, beloved specialty grocer Trader Joe’s surprised shoppers by carrying a frozen kunafa, effectively bringing this niche Arabic sweet into countless American homes

. And while connoisseurs will tell you a packaged version can’t match the real thing from a bakery, the fact that a national supermarket saw demand for kunafa speaks volumes. As one Middle Eastern food expert noted, “the secret has leaked out into the American mainstream”

– kunafa’s appeal is universal. Beyond the U.S., Europe has also embraced the trend: cities like London now boast dessert shops and food trucks selling fresh kunafa, and you can find it in Paris, Berlin, and other hubs with sizable Middle Eastern communities. Whether at an upscale restaurant in a major city or a street stall at a cultural festival, global food lovers are discovering the magic of kunafa’s gooey, crunchy, syrupy glory.

Fueling its popularity are social media and the internet, which have helped kunafa go viral. Mouthwatering videos of a fork pulling up a stretchy cheese strand from a hot kunafa, or syrup being poured liberally over a freshly baked pan, have racked up millions of views on TikTok and Instagram. Enthusiastic reviews on Yelp and Reddit from non-Middle Easterners trying kunafa for the first time (“It’s like nothing I’ve ever eaten – amazing!”) spur others to seek it out. In multicultural cities, kunafa has become a star of dessert menus, often labeled as a “Middle Eastern cheese pastry” with a tempting description. And for those nowhere near a Middle Eastern bakery, fear not: several online sweet shops now ship kunafa nationwide in the U.S.

, so a person in, say, Ohio can order an authentic tray of kunafa from a bakery in Michigan or New Jersey. In short, kunafa has transcended borders – a dessert that began in a Levantine city centuries ago is now delighting taste buds around the globe.

Modern Twists on a Classic Dessert

Like many great desserts, kunafa has proven wonderfully adaptable. While purists stick to the traditional recipes, creative chefs and home bakers have developed modern twists and fun variations on kunafa, blending its elements with other flavors. In the Middle East – especially the innovation hub of Dubai – inventive versions of kunafa have become a craze in recent years. Walk into dessert parlors in big cities and you might find kunafa cups layered with pastry, cream, and even fruits like mango, or kunafa parfaits served in jars. One popular trend has been Nutella kunafa, where the standard cheese filling is swapped out (or supplemented) with a generous layer of gooey Nutella hazelnut chocolate spread. The result? A fusion of Middle Eastern tradition with chocolatey decadence that has had young dessert lovers raving. Similarly, some cafes offer kunafa cheesecake – essentially a cheesecake with a crust or topping of crispy kunafa pastry – marrying two desserts into one. In the Gulf, it’s not unusual to see mango kunafa in summer: chunks of sweet ripe mango and cream are encased between layers of kataifi pastry for a lighter, fruity spin that still delivers that kunafa texture and syrupy finish.

Kunafa has inspired creative multi-layered desserts. In this Dubai bakery, kunafa is reimagined as a tiered “cake” and even crumbled into ice cream sandwiches. Some versions replace the cheese with drizzles of Nutella or sandwich the crispy kunafa with ice cream, illustrating the dessert’s versatility

One of the most talked-about modern kunafa creations is the “Dubai kunafa chocolate bar,” a viral sensation that emerged in 2023. This treat takes crumbled crispy kunafa pastry and rich pistachio cream, and encases them inside a milk chocolate shell, forming a candy bar with Middle Eastern flair. Videos of the pistachio kunafa chocolate bar being cracked open to reveal its crunchy green filling took TikTok by storm, and soon confectioners across borders were replicating it

. The bar brilliantly combines the familiar format of a chocolate candy bar with the flavors of kunafa (pistachio, buttery flakes, and sweet syrup notes), appealing to a new generation of dessert aficionados. Another hybrid is kunafa ice cream: some shops bake a thin kunafa and then top it with a scoop of bouza (Arabic elastic ice cream) or even Italian gelato, blending hot and cold, chewy and crunchy. There’s even been a trend of kunafa shakes and freakshakes – think milkshakes topped with bits of kunafa pastry and cheese cream. These imaginative variations might make traditionalists raise an eyebrow, but they underscore kunafa’s enduring popularity and its ability to evolve with the times. Importantly, even these modern takes pay homage to the original – they keep the essence of kunafa (the pastry, the sweet syrup, the cheese or cream) while adding new flavors to the mix. From Los Angeles to London to Lahore, kunafa is being continually reinvented, ensuring that this centuries-old dessert stays fresh and exciting for future generations

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Where to Eat Kunafa in the USA

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The Everlasting Allure of Kunafa

Kunafa’s journey from the bustling souks of Nablus to supermarket freezers in the U.S. is a testament to its irresistible appeal. It’s a dessert that carries history in its layers – every forkful tells a story of cultural tradition, of a city famous for cheese or a grandmother’s closely-held recipe. Yet it’s also a dessert that transcends boundaries, capable of delighting a palate that’s never experienced Middle Eastern cuisine before. Americans who may not have heard of kunafa a few years ago are now seeking it out at food festivals or adding it to their list of must-try global desserts. And for Arab Americans, seeing kunafa gain recognition is a point of pride, a sweet piece of their heritage being embraced by others.

What makes kunafa so special? Perhaps it’s the contrast of textures and flavors – the way the crispy pastry meets the silky cheese, or how the floral sweetness of rosewater syrup complements the rich butter and nuts. Perhaps it’s the sense of indulgence and comfort it brings – truly soul food for anyone with a sweet tooth. Or maybe it’s the communal aspect: kunafa is often made in large trays meant to be shared, and eating it tends to be a social affair, wrapped up with hospitality and joy. As it continues to gain popularity, kunafa is forging connections between cultures. A person in Los Angeles can bite into a kunafa and be momentarily transported to the old city of Jerusalem where a vendor scoops bright orange knafeh on a piece of cardboard, or to a cafe in Amman where friends chat over knafeh and tea. In a world where food is often a bridge, kunafa is now crossing oceans, inviting everyone to enjoy a taste of the Middle East’s most enchanting dessert.

In the end, kunafa’s charm is enduring and ever-evolving. Whether you savor a classic slice of kunafa Nabulsiya with its gooey cheese and glowing crust in a traditional bakery, or try a modern kunafa-inspired chocolate bar or milkshake, you are experiencing a dessert that has captivated hearts for generations. And as kunafa continues to conquer new frontiers – appearing in fusion forms and new locales – one thing remains constant: that first warm, syrup-soaked bite will always feel like a “hug” for your taste buds, no translation needed. Enjoying kunafa is more than eating a dessert; it’s participating in a delicious tradition that connects Palestine to Paris to Pennsylvania, one sweet slice at a time. Sahtein (bon appétit)!