Shendetlie: A Taste of Albanian Sweet Tradition

Indulge in the Rich Sweetness of Shendetlie, Albania’s Beloved Dessert

Shendetlie is an extremely popular dessert in Albania, and it is sure to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth. This is an easy recipe to make, but many kitchen enthusiasts try to overcomplicate this simple dessert, making it much more difficult than it needs to be. Stick to the basics and we promise you’ll love it.

Ingredients: 

• 6 large eggs 
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup honey 
• 1 ½ cups butter 
• 1 T vanilla extract 
• 2 ½ cups flour 
• ½ t baking soda 
• ½ t baking powder 
• 2 cups walnuts 
• 1 large egg yolk, beaten

For the syrup: 

• 3 cups sugar 
• 2 ½ cups water 
• 1 T vanilla extract

1. In a large mixing bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, honey, butter, and vanilla. 

2. Add the flour, baking soda, and baking powder and mix gently until no spots of dry flour remain.

3. Fold in the walnuts.

4. Transfer the batter into a greased baking pan, and brush the top with the beaten egg yolk. Using the tines of a fork, draw some decorative lines across the top of the batter.

5. Bake in a 375°F oven for around 35 minutes, or until the top is golden and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. 

6. While the cake is cooling, make the syrup. Bring the sugar and water to a boil in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Continue boiling for a few minutes, then take it off the heat. Stir in the vanilla extract, and set aside to cool slightly.

7. Pour the warm syrup over the cooled cake. Let the cake finish cooling at room temperature, or place in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.