This Umm Ali is a traditional Egyptian Sweet Pastry Dessert similar to North American bread pudding. It uses puff pastry, raisins, almonds and coconut to make a delicious dessert!
Okay, before you run away screaming, hear me out. This Egyptian Sweet Pastry Dessert is totally delicious, easy, and made from really common ingredients.
It’s made with regular old puff pastry, milk and cream, coconut chips, sugar, almonds, and raisins. I buy my coconut chips at Trader Joe’s, but if you can’t find any you can substitute shredded coconut.
Just bake the puff pastry according to package directions, then let it rest until it’s cool enough to handle. Use your hands to tear it up into small pieces into a 9 x 9 baking dish.
Sprinkle on the raisins, coconut chips, and almonds, then drench the whole thing with milk and cream and add a generous dose of sugar. Bake it until it bubbles, then grab a spoon and dig in!
Also, I have a confession to share with you today. I have four Egyptian tattoos! All four of them are on my feet and ankles.
I have a hieroglyphic which represents the notion of “becoming” and the Eye of Horus on my right ankle, then I have more hieroglyphics which represent the love of wisdom on my left food and the Tree of Life on my left ankle.
I’ve ALWAYS wanted to go to Egypt, for as long as I can remember. The Husband and I really wanted to go there for our honeymoon, but 2012 wasn’t quite the safest time to be heading over there.
I’m hoping we can make the trip in a few years. I want to cruise the Nile!
This umm ali recipe is really similar to a bread pudding, just without the eggs. The puff pastry turns into a croissant-like consistency while it bakes and it comes up just warm and gooey and delicious.
I know you’re here because you like to try new things, so be brave and go try this one!!
Umm Ali Recipe (Egyptian Sweet Pastry Dessert Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 sheet puff pastry - baked according to package directions and cooled to room temperature
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 cup raisins
- 1/4 cup coconut chips
- 1/8 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup half-and-half
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Tear the cooled puff pastry sheet into bite-sized pieces and lay in a 9" x 9" baking dish.
- Sprinkle the almonds, raisins, coconut chips, and sugar over the pastry.
- Pour the milk and half-and-half over the top, ensuring it is evenly coating the pastry pieces.
- Bake 15 minutes, until toasty and bubbly.
Nutrition
Please note that this Umm Ali recipe is often spelled with these variations: Om Ali recipe, Ummali recipe, Omali recipe, Um Ali recipe, Oum Ali recipe, or Oumm Ali recipe.
i made this last week using coconut milk . it came out delicious
Hi, This is traditionally a Nubian desert (extreme south) from teethe southern most point of the Egyptian Nile. Very friendly people and the crime rate is high- SOMEONE stole4 Tomatoes in 2019!
Made this for my book reading group discussion of “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. It was super easy as you basically just throw everything together and bake. There’s nothing to slice or dice, not even an egg to be broken. Anyway, this was a big hit with the group. The raisins and almonds give it a middle eastern flavor that is a rich and satisfying but is not terribly sweet.
Hi, can this be made in advance? How should it be stored and how long will it stay good? Looks delicious thanks for posting.
Hi, Ariel! I wouldn’t make this in advance – the pastry would get soggy 🙁
This looks delicious and should be renamed “Yumm Ali” – now pinned and will be attempting it this weekend. Egypt is one of my favourite places to visit but, sadly, I haven’t been back since the “Arab Spring” uprisings of a few years ago.
But some time in the not-too-distant future, I hope …
All best,
Penny
Thanks, Penny! It’s a really unique dessert. So easy, yet so tasty!