10 Delicious Serbian Pastries You’ll Fall In Love With

If you’re a fan of Balkan cuisines, keep reading, you’ll surely enjoy this article. We’ve previously written about Croatian pastries, Bulgarian pastries, Balkan desserts, Serbian desserts, and in this article, we’ll focus on Serbian pastries. This article will show you the best Serbian pastries you might fall in love with, including their ingredients, preparation methods, origin stories, and more. 

But let’s start from the beginning…

Brief Overview Of Serbian Pastries In Local Cuisine

Serbian pastries are an important part of Serbian cuisine, a great way to start your day (hearty breakfast), and although Serbia might not offer a wide range of pastries like some other European countries the ones it does offer are full of heart and flavor. Serbian pastries showcase the different influences that shaped Serbian cuisine over the years, like Ottoman, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic. With that being said, let’s see which are some of the most popular Serbian pastries, starting with…

Gibanica

We’re starting this list of the best Serbian pastries with gibanica, a pastry that consists of thin layers of filo pastry, hugging a generous blend of cheese, eggs, and sometimes a sprinkle of spinach or meat. The layers of filo (or phyllo) pastry are assembled with each sheet coated in a mixture of eggs and cheese which gives it a very nice, crispy exterior while the interior remains tender. Gibanica is also a local cultural icon, a staple at Serbian gatherings, and an essential part of festivities, especially during slava (a traditional Serbian Orthodox celebration).

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our list of Serbian drinks and rakija varieties.

Burek

Burek (also known as byrek) is the ultimate superstar of Balkan bakeries and a pastry that I always say is the James Bond of the culinary world: versatile, always dressed to impress (in golden-brown, flaky pastry), and loved by many. In its essence, burek is a savory, spiral-shaped pastry with layers of thin, doughy sheets hugging a filling that’s typically meaty, cheesy, or even veggie for plant lovers. The most classic version is stuffed with minced meat, onions, and spices but you can basically stuff it with anything you like. Burek is the ultimate go-to comfort food, the centerpiece of a quick Serbian breakfast, a hearty lunch, or even that late-night snack after a night out.  

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our list of the best Croatian snacks and our favorite Croatian breakfast ideas.

Pazarske Mantije

Pazarske Mantije is a pastry that technically originates from Central Asia and was made popular by the Ottomans back in the day. It’s still popular in countries like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkey, but also in the Balkans and Serbia, especially in the city of Novi Pazar, that even developed their own delicious variations of this dish. Pazarske mantije are bite-sized dough wraps stuffed with a mixture of minced meat, onions, and spices, baked until golden brown and slightly crunchy; it’s the closest thing Serbia has to tapas.

Bundevara

Bundevara is a flaky, buttery pastry crust with a filling of sweet, and slightly tangy mixture of grated pumpkin, walnuts, sugar, and a dash of cinnamon. Typically enjoyed in the winter, it brings warmth and joy to the table and is often found at family gatherings, especially during slava (a traditional Serbian celebration).

Are you a fan of desserts? Then you may also like our Slovenian desserts, Croatian desserts, and Bosnian desserts.

Krofne

Next on our list of the best Serbian pastries we have krofne- the Serbian take on the donut; it’s a fluffy, airy, sweet pastry deep-fried to perfection, and most usually filled with either jam, marmalade, or custard. The outside of the pastry is slightly crispy, and the interior is as soft as a cloud. It’s served warm, dusted with powdered sugar, and usually alongside a cup of coffee or tea.

Enjoying this post? Then you may also like our guide to Greek pastries.

Salenjaci

Salenjaci are the Serbian cousins of croissants, pastries with a flaky texture and a rich, buttery flavor. They consist of layers of thin, delicate dough, intertwined with slathers of butter and a modest usage of sugar or jam in between, which makes the interior crispy and light at the same time (meaning it leaves you craving for more).

Kifle

This list of the best Serbian pastries couldn’t be complete without kifle, small, crescent-shaped rolls, sprinkled with sesame seeds. The dough is made of a mixture of flour, yeast, milk, sugar, and butter, which gives birth to a a tender, plain pastry that can be made salty or sweet depending on the ocassion; see you can fill it with cheese, ham, marmalade, or basically anything that pops in your mind.

Štrudla

Štrudla is the Serbian twist on the classic strudel; it’s a layered pastry, typically made with a thin, stretchy dough that’s rolled and filled with a variety of ingredients, the most popular being sweet apples, tart cherries, or a rich, poppy seed mixture. In terms of serving, Štrudla is quite versatile – it’s usually dusted with powdered sugar and perfect with a cup of coffee or tea, but equally good as a standalone dessert.

Žu Žu Kocke

Žu Žu Kocke or Žu Žu Pogačice is are small, bite-sized savory pastries that somewhat resemble a mini-version of gibanica. They are usually formed into small, round, or cube-like shapes, hence the name “Kocke” which means cubes in Serbian. The pastries are light and airy and are usually served plain but they can also be stuffed with feta cheese or a variety of different sweet fillings.

Uštipci

This list of the best Serbian pastries couldn’t be complete without ustipci, one of the most versatile pastries you can find in Serbia. Ustipci are a delicious pastry, deep-fried, crispy on the outside and soft as a pillow on the inside. It’s made plain and it’s left up to you to decide how you want to have it; you can have it plain as a snack or maybe alongside some feta cheese for breakfast, or even topped with some chocolate sauce and powdered sugar and served as a dessert.

Piroshki

Originally from Russia, piroshki are a delightful pastry that has found home in the Balkans (and evidently, Serbia is no exception). In its essence, piroshki are soft, fluffy pastries stuffed with a variety of sweet or savory fillings, including (but not limited to) minced meat, sautéed onions, mashed potatoes, or even a sweet burst of fruit jam. It’s like a culinary lucky dip – you never know what you’re going to get, but it’s always a pleasant surprise.

Gomboce

Last but not least, we conclude this list of Serbian pastries with one of the most authentic and unusual inventions of Serbian cuisine. Gomboce, also fondly known as knedle sa šljivama (plum dumplings), is a Serbian pastry that made of a soft, pillowy dough from potatoes, flour, eggs, and a pinch of salt. A sweetened whole, pitted plum is in the middle of the pastry with the dough wrapped around the plum, it’s one of the most traditional Serbian desserts.

How did you like our list of pastries in Serbia? Did you ever try any of them? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below.

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