Balkan is a peninsula connecting Europe and Middle East and this crossroads between the East and the West has always attracted many invaders. As a result of that, nations blended in for centuries in this region, as well as their cultures and customs. Many tourists praise the traditional cuisine when they visit Balkans, although it is difficult to be sure whether an original recipe originates from this area or is it brought by one of many invaders, and locals just adapted it to their taste. In the next series of articles we plan to make you familiar with some specialties of the house which are frequently prepared in Serbia. This time we’ll write about sweets, actually pastries that are traditionally made.

Vanilice
A cookie bite-size, made by two halves of baked dough, modeled with shape cutters, usually filed with jam and sprinkle with powdered sugar. This cookie is always prepared for Slava table especially in Western Serbia. It’s a perfect combination with coffee or tea. After a cookie, you’ll want another, then another …and there is no need for you to be embarrassed, because cookies are small and you have the perfect excuse that you can’t get enough of this crunchy-sweet taste.

Orasnice
The most common form of this cookie is the new moon or a horse shoe and it is rolled in chopped walnuts. It is served after the main meal with coffee and this dessert is great for those who don’t like too much sweet pastry.

Lenja pita (Lazy pie)
This pie consists of two crusts, among which is fruit filling, usually from apple or cherry. After baking, pie is cut into cubes and sprinkled with powdered sugar. This simple sweet will please the taste for all gourmets.

Salčići (Lardy cake)
When you read that this pastry is made of lard, you’ll probably say: „This isn’t the best choice for me“. But don’t make conclusion to soon because this old recipe makes a great sweet with perfect taste of crunchy and juicy treats. It takes time and effort for preparing this pastry. Stretched dough is filled with jam and fold into the desired shape (triangle, square, sweet rolls) and after baking is  sprinkled with powdered sugar as well.

Štrudla (strudel)
This one is most commonly baked in the territory of Vojvodina. It is made from dough and filling (poppy, nuts or cherries…). When štrudla is baked, cut pieces look extremely decorative because of the way of preparation. Depending on your taste it could be sprinkled with powdered sugar.

Most of these sweets can be found in better bakeries or restaurants which nurture traditional cuisine. Let us know which one you have tasted and which one is your favorite 🙂