The blessed month of Ramadan is upon us and what better way to celebrate and make those family and community iftars all the more special than giving and bringing wonderful selections of sweet delights and treats. Spoil your loved ones with baked goods, chocolates, and dates that are already prepared and packed in luxe, beautiful boxes, trays, and baskets. Here are some of my favorite ones which will become wonderful additions to your Ramadan gatherings.
Hacked Cookies
King Abdullah Road, Ar Rahmaniyyah
https://goo.gl/maps/E3LF451X4YWXnAS7A
Available in Jahez, The Chefz, Hunger Station
With customer comments like “a cookie bakery worthy of the guilt trip” and perfectly baked cookies aptly named Stuffed, Melted, and S’mores, Hacked has delivered on their promise to hack our taste buds. The gorgeous bakery and their smart packaging in royal blue and white (with extra special messages available for those special celebrations inside the boxes) win our cookie points.
Butter
Available in The Chefz and Jahez
The bun lovers are a particular bunch – they have a simple but sophisticated taste and only a perfect bun will do. At Butter, you will find breads that are soft and moist inside and crisp sides with well-measured fillings with just the right sweetness. The selection ranges from their lightly sprinkled Almond and Swedish Cinnamon Buns to the more lavish Chocolate Pistachio Buns. Packed in wonderful bright yellow boxes, these buns make a wonderful family gift- albeit one that will disappear quickly.
Aani & Dani
Various locations
A go-to cake and chocolate shop for those “in the know”, this proudly Saudi dessert retail company offers phenomenally tasty cakes with ingeniously mixed flavors. Their chocolate mousse cakes and cheesecakes are legendary and are not just extremely well decorated but also light and fresh – a real party favorite. For this Ramadan, they are making the Qarqiyan treat moon-shaped baskets and gold lanterns – a gorgeous addition to any Ramadan table.
Santa Nata
Al Takhassusi, Al Mohammadiyyah
Freshly made Pastel de Nata are deliciously irresistible and you will not be able to stop yourself at just one piece. This traditional Portuguese dessert which is a combination of blistered, caramelized custard and flaky golden brown puff pastry is a sweet made in heaven. The Pastel de Nata come packaged in large sized boxes and are just perfect for a family treat or an iftar treat – perfect for little hands to hold and have too.
Bateel
Various locations
We cannot make this list without mentioning the iconic Bateel dates and chocolates. Bateel boutiques in the city are a must-visit during Ramadan. Their dates are packed in gorgeous boxes, baskets, trays, and tin cans in Arabesque patterns; such amazing personal gifts and corporate gifts for family, friends, and colleagues. This Ramadan, they are having a luxe Calendar Box with 30 drawers which can be customized with your choice of Bateel’s plain dates, gourmet-filled dates, date maamoul, and more.
Lock
Hittin
If you’re confused on what sweet to give or bring to iftar, check Lock Patisserie. They carry cakes, chocolates, tarts, and croissants. What got to us were their macarons in vibrant colors. They’re not only a treat for the tastebuds but also a treat for the eyes.
Hanoverian
Takhassusi
Hanoverian is a trendy chocolate shop and café with lines of people craving and waiting for their delicious sweets. Their well-curated chocolates are housed in gorgeous, sophisticated boxes, now mostly in red, which makes them all the more covetable. They also introduced popular Saudi designs and patterns in their boxes recently: the perfect souvenirs!
