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Home » recipe

Qatayef (Katayef) Recipe; folded pancakes with nuts

Published: May 5, 2019 · Modified: May 18, 2023 by Amira · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission.

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Qatayef are stuffed Arabic pancakes, fried to perfection then dunked in simple syrup. Crunchy, sweet and so satisfying.
Total time 1 hour 30 minutes
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Qatayef is a staple dessert in the Middle East especially during the holy month of Ramadan. These stuffed and fried pancakes are the darling on dessert table.

Qatayef / Atayef or Katayef is an iconic Middle Eastern treat, made from pancakes stuffed with nuts and golden fried then dunked is thick simple syrup. Crunchy sweet and oh boy so satisfying dessert.

A white dish with assorted folded pancakes with nutes

Qatayef

Qatayef is the star dessert in Egypt during the month of Ramadan. It is also the easiest to make. You see, pastry shops make them ready for you to get, stuff and fry to your own liking so half of the work is done for you. or should I say most of the work. Katayef is easy to make and requires few ingredients that is most probably there in your pantry. The point is how to get the perfect batter every time.
I used to make really nice qatayef but after a lot of trying .. this is it for sure and I do not think I would modify this recipe any better. It is seriously very delicious and all my friends like it to the max and said it is the best.
My kids never like qatayef, I guess because they appreciated nuts before. This time when I made it they went crazy, especially the two older kids. My youngest still ate the dough and discarded the nuts!!!.
Qatayef is really very versatile. You can make them sweet or savory. My favorite savory stuffing is with feta cheese and mint, you can also stuff them with browned minced meat. Or may be stuff them with cream and left them as is without frying like this Qatayef Asafiri recipe

Syrup is poured over qatayef in a white platter.

Qatayef Recipe FAQS

How to get the perfect Qatayef batter?
The most tricky part in making Qatayef is the batter itself. Too thick, and you'll have thick pancakes that will tear apart while folding. Too thin, and it will not bubble to perfection. Although this recipe is the best I have ever made and I have experimented with many flour types, your flour might be different. So make the batter, let it rest and bubble, then before cooking deflate with a whisk and check the consistency, it should be thinner than pancake batter. If you are not sure, try one or two before going for the whole thing, if you feel the batter is thick and moving slowly out of your ladle then add warm water by 1 tablespoon at a time, whisk and try again. It is a learning curve so you need to be patient.

What temperature to cook qatayef pancakes on?
Another crucial point in making qatayef. Too hot and it will burn. Not enough heat and it will be pale and you'll stay forever waiting for it to cook. This also needs experimenting, you can start with the temperature you usually cook your pancakes on. I find the best temperature is between 285F to 320F, mine was 295F.

Can I freeze Qatayef and for how long?
Many say you can freeze Qatayef before stuffing them, I haven't had luck doing that. I like to stuff then then lay them on a baking sheet in single layer, freeze for a couple of hours then put them in a zip lock in the freezer. They will stay for up to 6 weeks and I can even say longer but this is just for safety and freshness. Worth noting that, I freeze nuts stuffed qatayef and ground beef stuffed qatayef but haven't tried the ones with cream or feta cheese.

How to make Qatayef crunchy the longest?
Eventually qatayef gets soft as the syrup makes them soft, that's why I like freezing and frying them on the spot so we do not have many leftovers. Here are some points to consider:
1- Frying: I like frying mine to a darker shade of golden brown, the longer you fry then the crunchier they will become. If you want a soft one then do not fry for long.
2- Thick Syrup: you have to make thick syrup, I have tried many time to make them in thinner one but they turned soft quickly and never as crunchy.
3- 2 Minutes or less in the syrup: I've times mine, when I leave them for like 5-6 minutes in the syrup after they are out of the frying pan, they turn crunchy quicker than if I leave them for just 2 minutes.

A close up look at a platter with qatayef stacked on top of each other .

Qatayef Recipe : step by step

  1. Qatayef Ingredients
    Qatayef batter ingredients are basically flour, yeast, sugar, water, dry milk, baking powder and a dash of saltA photo showing ingredients for Qatayef recipe
  2. Qatayef Stuffing
    The most common stuffing is a combination of nuts, whatever you like and whatever you have in your pantry.
    A photo showing ingredients for Qatayef recipe
  3. Start the batter
    Combine all the batter ingredients in a deep bowl, cover and let it rise and bubble for like 30 minutes. Please note, a recent tip from mom is to make this in your blender and this worked like a charm much better than a whisk.
    Step by step photos for making Qatayef
  4. Cook the batter
    Scoop the batter on a non-stick skillet or a hot griddle. You'll notice bubbles forming on the surface. Once the surface is no longer wet this means it id one. Do not flip them. Place on a flat surface, do not stack them up until they have cooled down to room temperature., and cover with a clean kitchen towel until you are done with the whole batch.
  5. Stuff
    When you are done and the pancakes have cooled down, stuff your pancakes with you filling and press ends to seal.
  6. Freezing option
    When you are done, you can lay them on a flat surface and freeze. Fry without thawing afterward when you are ready to consume.
  7. Frying
    Heat oil in a frying pan and fry the qatayef to your perfection. I like mine crunchy so I fry them to dark golden brown color.
  8. Dunk in Syrup
    Take the fried qatayef out of the oil, place on a paper towel for just 15 seconds then dunk them in the simple syrup. We want them to be placed in the syrup while they are still hot. Toss to cover then take them out leaving them to drip the excess syrup.
Hand holding one qatayef showing the nut mixture inside.

Related Recipes

  • Tulumba is a popular street food throughout the Middle east. Tulumba pastries are fried to golden brown and dunked in cold syrup for an out-of-this-world crunchy yet so fluffy on-inside sweet fritters.

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A plate of food on a table, with Qatayef

Qatayef Recipe

Qatayef are stuffed Arabic pancakes, fried to perfection then dunked in simple syrup. Crunchy, sweet and so satisfying.
4.80 from 29 votes
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Course: Dessert
Cuisine: Egyptian, Middle East
Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 24 Qatayef
Calories: 140kcal
Author: Amira

Ingredients

Qatayef batter:

  • 2 cups (240 g) all purpose flour.
  • 1 teaspoon (3g) dry yeast.
  • 1 Tablespoon (14g) sugar.
  • ½ teaspoon (1g) baking powder.
  • 1 Tablespoon (6g) dry powdered milk.
  • A pinch of salt.
  • 1 ¾ (420 mL) cups of warm water.
  • Oil for deep frying.

Thick simple syrup:

  • 2 cups (400 g) sugar.
  • 1 (240 mL) cup water.
  • ¼ cup (60 mL) honey
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice.
  • A dash of vanilla powder or ½ teaspoon vanilla extract.
  • Filling: nut mixture of your choice used about two cups mixed nuts and raisins.

Instructions

Make the syrup:

  • In a sauce pan over medium heat, add syrup ingredients, stir a little then let it boil.
  • When it boils, reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes.
  • Turn heat off and let it cool down to room temperature, it will thicken as it cools down.

Make the batter:

  • In a deep bowl, combine first 6 ingredients, add water and mix well. (Note1)
  • Cover and let it set for 30 minutes.
  • Stir the batter a bit to check consistency if it is too thick then add a tablespoon of water. Batter should be thinner than pancake and not lumpy. (Note2)

Cook the pancakes:

  • Heat a griddle or a pan and scoop about 2 Tablespoons of the batter.
  • The batter will bubble at the surface and cooks, do not flip
  • When the surface is longer wet remove and it is golden brown, remove from heat. (Note3)
  • Arrange qatayef bubble side up on a baking sheet and cover with a towel. Set aside until you are finished with the rest of the batter.
  • Continue until you finish all the batter.

Fill the pancakes:

  • Hold the pancakes bubble side up, fill with little over a teaspoon of the nut mixture. Do not overfill as it will not close or tear and crack.
  • Fold pancakes in half and pinch the sides to firmly close. (Note4).

Frying the pancakes:

  • Heat oil for deep frying over medium heat.
  • For a crispy golden qatayef, fry for like 3 minutes on each side until they are dark golden brown. If you want a softer qatayef, fry them until they are just light golden brown.
  • Take them out of oil place on a paper towel for 5-15 seconds then quickly dip them in the cooled syrup while they are still hot. Toss to cover with syrup.
  • Take qatayef out and let them drip in a colander. The more you leave qatayef in the syrup, the more syrup it will soak and then it will become softer.

Video

Notes

Note1:  a recent tip from mom is to make this in your blender and this worked like a charm much better than a whisk.
Note2: most probably you'll need to add from 1 to 1 ½ Tablespoon of warm water to the batter to make it thinner. I've tried with many flour brands and it always end this way.
Note3: It is somehow hard when you first make Qatayef to figure out the right temperature for you. Too hot and it will be burnt, too low it will be pale and takes forever to cook. Over the years my observation is go for the range from 285F to 320F. I had t experiment with a couple before I figured out the right temperature. Mine was a notch less than 300F something like 295F.
Note4: You can at this point freeze stuffed pancakes on a parchment lined baking sheet for a couple of hours then place them in a ziplock and keep in the freezer. Fry directly from frozen, there is no need to thaw. This makes Qatayef a very convenient make ahead dessert. It keeps for about 6 weeks in the freezer.
Please check the nutrition disclaimer policy.

Nutrition

Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 2.1g | Fat: 2.5g | Sodium: 11.5mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 19.1g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 0.8mg
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Time to show you off!!

A close up of food, with Qatayef made by a fan
A close up of food, with Qatayef made by a fan
A close up of food, with Qatayef made by a fan
A close up of food, with Qatayef made by a fan

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About Amira

I’m overjoyed that you have stopped by! My hope is to introduce you to new flavors, creative ways and fresh takes on favorites. To help you create food with style that will bring everyone around your kitchen table. From weeknight dinners for crazy busy days to desserts with the “wow” factor, and classic comforts from the Mediterranean. One thing in common, they are all recipes that have been tried and tested by family and friends.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kym

    April 17, 2021 at 9:21 pm

    4 stars
    Ramadan Kareem! This was an amazing recipe! My Palestinian husband loved them and this is one of his mother’s specialties...these are better! Thank you!

    Reply
    • Amira

      April 18, 2021 at 11:06 am

      Thanks Kym for your feedback, happy you liked them.

      Reply
  2. Lina D.

    January 03, 2021 at 8:19 pm

    4 stars
    Love Middle Eastern cuisine and these were so tasty. I had a couple left but they were not crunchy the next day. Loved them anyways :). Thank you.

    Reply
    • Amira

      January 05, 2021 at 8:56 am

      Thank Linda for your feedback, I am happy you liked them. They tend to lose a bit of their crispiness when the second day. You might try to freshen them up in the oven.

      Reply
  3. nat

    October 24, 2020 at 12:45 pm

    Oh Amira...You are my new hero. This will make London feel sunny. Even though it’s pissing. As always. Xx

    Reply
    • Amira

      October 30, 2020 at 9:46 am

      Hehehehe, This is one of our favorite all year long. Thanks Nat.

      Reply
  4. Basmah

    May 20, 2020 at 9:46 am

    Hi! What level of heat does the pan need to be when I cook the pancakes?

    Basmah

    Reply
    • Amira

      June 02, 2020 at 5:31 pm

      Hi Basmah, if you are using an electric skillet or griddle I would say start preheating it at about 375F then turn it down to 360F when putting the pancakes.

      Reply
  5. Soona

    May 09, 2020 at 6:15 pm

    I'd love to make this during Ramadan for my family! Is there an alternative to powdered milk that I can use?

    Reply
    • Amira

      May 13, 2020 at 5:54 am

      Soona, thank you for your interest in the recipe. Feel free to leave it out, I just tried that and it went ok.

      Reply
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