Sultan's Delight
Sultan's Delight, born in Turkey as Sultan Sarması (literally “the Sultan's roll”), is a striking and surprisingly simple dessert to make. It is one of the many delicious specialties of Turkish pastry, a tradition rich in fragrant, comforting sweets that has also won over the web in recent years. In this recipe, a soft layer of cocoa pudding is topped with whipped cream and then rolled up on itself, creating elegant, irresistible swirls.
Don't be fooled by its looks: although the result is truly impressive, the preparation is fairly simple and needs no special pastry techniques. The shredded coconut adds a fragrant note and a pleasant texture that pairs perfectly with the softness of the pudding and the whipped cream. A fresh, indulgent dessert that is ideal to make ahead, perfect for finishing a summer dinner or surprising guests with something different from the usual.
Instructions
- 1
First, line the baking pan with parchment paper and sprinkle the whole surface with shredded coconut, so it is ready to use right away.
- 2
Make the pudding: combine the cocoa, sugar and flour directly in the heavy-bottomed saucepan you will cook in. Pour in the milk in a thin stream, whisking, then place over low heat and cook, stirring constantly, until the first bubbles start to appear. Keep cooking for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring vigorously.
- 3
Once ready, remove from the heat, add the butter in small pieces and stir until completely melted. Gently pour the mixture over the shredded coconut, moving the coconut as little as possible. Let it cool completely at room temperature, then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- 4
Whip the cream while it is very cold from the refrigerator.
- 5
When the pudding is completely firm, spread the whipped cream over the whole surface, level it well, then let it rest in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours.
- 6
After the resting time, use a smooth-bladed knife to cut the slab, starting from the long side, into equal strips 4 to 6 cm (about 1½ to 2½ in) wide. Gently roll each strip onto itself to form swirls.
- 7
The Sultan's Delight is ready; all that is left to do is serve it.
Ago's Notes
- The Italian original lists “farina di cocco”, but its own description mentions grated coconut: use dried shredded (desiccated) coconut, not coconut flour.
- Made in a 30x40 cm (12x16 in) baking pan; cutting 4 to 6 cm strips along the long side gives roughly 8 swirls.
- Total time is about 40 minutes of work plus roughly 10 hours of resting in the refrigerator.
I absolutely love how the richness of the cocoa meets the airy texture of the cream; it is such a satisfying way to make a dessert without ever turning on the oven. While it feels quite different from our lighter Italian budini, it shares that same passion for smooth, creamy textures. The chocolate flavor is intense and deeply rewarding.
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