Iranian Sweets Fit for a Cleric or King

Haj Khalifeh Ali Rahbar SweetsTraditional Iranian sweets are unique but very delicious.

These special pastries take many different forms. Some are topped with whipped cream, glazed fruit, saffron, pistachios or walnuts. Others are more like a cookie made with rice, chickpeas, walnuts or figs. Still others are made with oval-shaped sweet dough, deep-fried and covered with a syrup made with honey or powdered sugar.

One of the most famous bakeries in Iran is located in the central city of Yazd. Sweets are both made and sold in this bakery called "Haj Khalifeh Ali Rahbar." Recently New York Times columnist Elaine Sciolino described the Haj Khalifeh Ali Rahbar and why she keeps going back to sample more of its delicious delicacies.

She says, "The best seller is Qottab, an almond-shaped, almond-infused cookie with a crispy shell rolled in powdered sugar. Tasters test every batch for texture, aroma and taste; the recipes are secret."

If you ever get to Yazd, be sure to stop in to sample the mouth-watering goodness of these special sweets.

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