End every iftar on a sweet note with these delicious treats.
Magnolia Bakery
The Ramadan-themed cupcakes at Magnolia Bakery outlets come in classic vanilla or chocolate flavours, topped with vanilla buttercream icing and edible Arabian designs. Available at all Magnolia Bakery outlets. Dh17 per cupcake. Visit www.magnoliabakery.com
Edo Cafe
Edo Cafe, a Japanese cafe in City Walk, has taken mochi – traditional sticky rice cakes – to a new level with their desserts, with cream-filled dough and an ice cream centre in raspberry, mango and white chocolate. Special mochi cream gift boxes available. Tip: the mochi can be kept for about four hours without melting. Dh12 per mochi cream; Dh108 for a box of 9; Dh144 for a box of 12.
Call 04 344 0833
Pie Face Bakery
The palm-sized honey date and nut pies at Pie face Bakery have just the right amount of sweet. At Marina Walk, Dubai (04 5531084); Al Wasl Road, Dubai (04 3434895) and in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi (02 5651006). Dh75 for 16 pies; Dh140 for 32. Party platters of 64, 128 and 256 are also available. Visit www.facebook.com/PieFaceME
Candylicious
Candylicious has unique, spun sweets featuring Ramadan motifs in all-natural karak chai and rose flavours (from Dh25). There are iftar hampers on offer, too: the Chocolate Moonshine box with chocolate fudge cigars (from Dh95); and the Ramadan Lantern hamper filled with madeleine mini stars (from Dh100).
The Dubai Mall, 04 330 8700; Yas Mall, 02 565 0064.
SugarMoo
This delivery-only dessert shop has a special holy-month menu: nutty mahalabiya in a jar (Dh25/jar); saffron mousse rice pudding in a jar (Dh25/jar); kunafa cheesecake (Dh30/piece); fun-coated date bombs (Dh55/9 pieces per box); and pistachio lemon cake (Dh150/8-inch cake). SugarMoo will deliver to your home, office or iftar gathering. Call 800 78 427.
Cocosia
The home-grown artisan chocolate shop has created a special line of dates and chocolates for Ramadan. The handmade chocolates are designed by the Cocosia team with Ramadan images and messages. The dates come filled with a variety of nuts and fruits. To add your own personal touch, Cocosia will also design bespoke assortments of chocolates or dates. Call 04 395 0977.
Yogurtland
The self-serve frozen yogurt shop Yogurtland has a new addition to its menu – the Vanilla Date Shake blends medjool dates, vanilla from Madagascar and a touch of molasses. And, of course, the yogurt is topped with fresh dates. Available at Yogurtland in The Dubai Mall from iftar to 3am and in Boxpark from iftar to 1am. Price by weight. Visit www.facebook.com/YogurtlandDubai.
Molten Me
Dig into Molten Me’s three new flavours of lava cakes: a chocolate base with halawa centre; lemon with panna cotta; and white chocolate saffron. Dh20 per jar. Molten Me is on Muroor Road in Abu Dhabi (02 443 5542) and on Al Wasl Road in Jumeirah, Dubai (04 343 1310).
Roberto Cavalli Chocolates
Have you tried Roberto Cavalli’s new line of chocolates yet? They come individually wrapped or in giraffe- or zebra-print boxes. Flavours include sesame gianduja cream and salt, coconut and vanilla, crunchy almond praline, peanut, mint, cinnamon, and chilli pepper. Prices start at Dh45 for a box of four. Also available loose at Dh325 for 500g. Cavalli Caffe is at The Beach, JBR. Call 04 551 9671.
Häagen-Dazs
The popular ice-cream shop has introduced special desserts including the Ramadan Delight (Dh135) – three tiers of different ice-cream flavours with nuts, brownies, Arabian pastries, fruits and melted chocolate; Arabic Sensation (Dh44), warm kunafa in light sugar syrup, filled with pistachios and topped with two scoops of cream and vanilla ice cream; and sorbet refresher (Dh36) in lemon and mint or raspberry and mint. Each refresher is a blend of two scoops of sorbet with sparkling water and crushed ice. Available at all Häagen-Dazs outlets throughout Ramadan.
Yoku Moku
Try Yoku Moku's new collection of its beloved baked and rolled butter cookies, designed especially for Ramadan. Choose from unique gift boxes – Ramadan Kiri or Arabesque – that come adorned with a different Arabian motif. Or opt for one of their special arrangements on a gold or silver tray: both double as table centrepieces. Both boxes and trays cost from Dh110. Visit www.yokumokugulf.com.
Garrett Popcorn Shops
Garrett Popcorn Shops have introduced a special Ramadan flavour: Cardamom CaramelCrisp. Chefs have created the new taste by infusing cardamom into Garrett Popcorn's signature CaramelCrisp flavour. Available only during the holy month at The Dubai Mall and Yas Mall branches. Dh15 for a small bag; Dh130 for a one-gallon tin. Visit garrettpopcornuae.com.
Love Doughnuts
This specialty doughnut shop with two locations in Abu Dhabi has come up with four new doughnuts in honour of Ramadan: a red velvet cheesecake doughnut dipped in white chocolate and tope with hibiscus crumbles; a red velvet doughnut filled with vanilla cream, dipped in white chocolate and drizzled with strawberry sauce; a saffron and custard doughnut and a date and tahini doughnut cup. Dh14 each. Guardian Towers on Muroor Road, 02 446 6240; World Trade Centre Mall, ground level, 02 446 6230.
Dunkin’ Donuts
Stop in at Dunkin' Donuts and grab one (or more) of their special star- and crescent-shaped donuts in honour of Ramadan. Available at all Dunkin' Donuts outlets across the UAE, these blue and white donuts are just Dh5 each. Visit www.dunkindonutsuae.com.
sjohnson@thenational.ae