Rose Turkish Delight Recipe

A Turkish delight has been around forever and as you can see from the title — it's a staple in the Turkish culture. According to The Culture Trip, this treat dates back over 500 years and it just so happens to be one of the first sweets ever introduced in the world. Many people would buy this sweet treat for special occasions, even wrapping it with lace handkerchiefs to jazz it up. Today, it's just as popular and just as tasty.

Recipe developer Catherine Brookes of Blue Sky Eating came up with her own spin on this Turkish classic that's great to bring a crowd together and that's great if you want something that's a little bit outside of the box. "This recipe is really fun to make and the result feels like something special despite being surprisingly easy! It's a great one to make as a gift," Brookes raves. "The unique floral flavor of rosewater is what makes Turkish delight special," she shares, adding that "the taste is sweet and floral."

You will only need a few things to whip up this rose Turkish delight, and if you bake a lot — you may have some ingredients in your pantry already. All you need is cornstarch, water, caster sugar, lemon juice, gelatin powder, rosewater, red food coloring, and powdered sugar. "Rosewater has quite a distinct flavor so I wouldn't recommend subbing it here," Brookes notes. "In the U.K. you can find it in the baking section of most large supermarkets."

Once you have those things, you can make this rose Turkish delight.

It's time to get down to business! Take out a small loaf pan and grease it before lining it with parchment paper. Then, grease the parchment to add that triple layer of protection, which will precent the mixture from sticking to the pan.

Now, grab a mixing bowl or jug and add the cornstarch and ½ cup of water. Use a spoon to stir and combine well.

You will need to bust out a large saucepan for this next step. Place it on your stove and add the remaining water and the cornstarch mixture that you just whipped up. Then, toss in the sugar, lemon juice, and gelatin. "Although traditional Turkish delight doesn't contain gelatin, adding it here helps it to set more easily," Brookes says.

Turn the heat to medium and continue cooking until the sugar dissolves. Be sure to stir the mixture frequently during this time. 

Once the sugar dissolves, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the mixture cook for about 25 minutes, until it achieves a smooth and glossy consistency. "Make sure to simmer the mixture for the full 25 minutes until thickened, as this will ensure it sets later," Brookes notes.

Let it cool for 10 minutes before adding the rosewater and the food coloring to the mix. Then stir through to combine the rosewater with the other ingredients. 

Now, you can pour the completed mixture into your prepared pan. All you have to do is leave it out to sit at room temperature for at least 8 hours (or overnight). 

Once set, remove the block from the pan and slice it into cubes. As a helpful reminder, this recipe yields 32 cubes! You can place the cubes on a plate or a board. but just make sure that you leave space in between each one so they don't stick together. Now, they need to sit and sweat for t least 24 hours.

We're almost to the finish line and this is the last step. In a small bowl, mix the powdered sugar and one tablespoon of cornstarch together. After the 24 hours, dip the Turkish delight pieces into the mixture to coat well. The powdered sugar adds even more sweet flavor to this wonderful dessert. 

Now, these tasty rose Turkish delight bites are ready to be consumed. These are great served as-is, but Brookes has another serving suggestion for chocolate lovers. "If desired you could also dip the Turkish delight in melted chocolate," she shares.

Luckily, this dessert is great to make ahead of time and you can enjoy them well after you make them! "Leftovers should keep well for 2 weeks in an airtight container," Brookes shares. We hope these are a hit at your next party or gathering!