Through the centuries Bosnian cuisine has been heavily influenced by foreign techniques and ingredients with Mediterranean and Middle Eastern origins. Albeit being inspired by culinary traditions and customs in foreign lands, Bosnians have put their twist on many popular Ottoman and Austro-Hungarian meals and have transformed them into something authentic you can only find on Bosnian soil. Here are some of the best local desserts, which you should try if you ever find yourself in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Ćetenija

To put it simply, this is a cotton candy-like dessert that requires cosmic amounts of sugar, flour and several sets of experienced hands. Ćetenija is not only a dessert, it’s a ritual that bears intrinsic importance for Bosnia and Herzegovina’s cultural heritage. Its preparation takes two days and the kneading and rolling process is carried out by at least five or six well trained cooks whose synchronized movements can either produce a delicious dessert or ruin the threaded dough long before it is properly shaped and cut into bite-sized chunks. The final result is a heavenly bite of carefully kneaded fine strands that simply melts on your tongue.

Full recipe can be found HERE

Tufahija

Initially introduced to Bosnians during the old days of Ottoman rule, the tufahija is a simple, yet unforgettable dessert. It’s a super sweet walnut-stuffed apple poached in sugar syrup. Accompanied by a cup of strong Bosnian coffee this dessert is packed with flavor and textures. Additionally, it can be topped with raisins, whipped cream and citrus zest for extra flavor. Unsurprisingly enough, you can find it all over Bosnia and Herzegovina in almost every coffee house and restaurant, even though its domestic preparation at home requires little to no culinary skills.

Full recipe can be found HERE

Bosanske Hurmašice

Similar to the Turkish Kalburabastı, this deliciousness is a syrupy biscuit-like dessert, which comes in a vast variety of shapes and sizes. Most commonly found as oval mini cakes with rhomboid decorations on top, they are sweet and buttery as they’re drenched in a citrus-infused sugar syrup. Some recipes call for semolina mixed with the traditional flour, whereas others include extra flavors from cloves and vanilla. Hurmašice cookies are typically served as coffee cakes or as a separate dessert in most bakeries and pastry shops in Bosnia.

Full recipe can be found HERE

Orašnica

Despite its resemblance to the walnut cookies found in other countries – such as Serbia’s orasnice and Bulgaria’s orehovki – the Bosnian orašnica cookies are easily recognizable by their signature crescent shape and crunchy texture. Their batter is whipped up from beaten eggs mixed with lots of granulated sugar and then slowly cooked in a bain-marie boiler or over a water bath. Once the egg and sugar mixture has turned golden, the chopped walnuts are added into it. The thick batter is then shaped into small crescents, which are baked in the oven. Unlike many other walnut-based treats popular in other countries, the Bosnian orašnica is a tasty delight, which preserves the walnuts’ crunch by incorporating chopped instead of finely crushed nuts.

Full recipe can be found HERE

Uštipci

Most Balkan countries have a variation of the Bosnian uštipci, also known as fritule, miške, pampushka, buhtichka and so forth. Wrongfully marketed as donuts in some areas of the Balkans, the uštipci are a type of deep fried fast food that’s quite popular in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Lumpy and rather unsightly for those who have never seen something similar, these deep fried balls are soft and tasty, especially when paired with jam or sprinkled with powdered sugar. Some variations are even stuffed with fruits and cheese and served as a side course in Bosnian restaurants.

Full recipe can be found HERE