Turkish Delight Recipe (Lokum)
Turkish delight, also known as lokum, is a classic Turkish candy that’s soft and so delicious. Learn how to make Turkish delight at home using a handful of ingredients. I’ve included variations and several tips to make these perfectly every time.
Servings: 16
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cup water
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 6 drops red food coloring
Topping
- 3 tbsp cornstarch
- 3 tbsp powdered sugar
Instructions
- Brush the bottom and sides of a 9x9 baking pan a bit of oil. Then line it with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a 4 quart saucepan place the water, sugar and cornstarch. Place the saucepan over medium high heat. Once it comes to a simmer, lower the heat to medium and stir constantly until it’s thickened and has the consistency of gel. The mixture will be thick, but still pourable.
- Add drops the food coloring and stir to combine. If you like it darker, add more food coloring. Cook for another 10 minutes and then turn the heat off.
- Pour the mixture into the prepared baking pan and let it sit at room temperature for 4 hours or until solid.
- Mix the powdered sugar with some cornstarch and sprinkle half of it on a clean surface such as a cutting board. Gently flip the solid lokum onto the board and top it with more cornstarch and powdered sugar mixture. Using a large knife, slice the lokum vertically and horizontally into 1 inch cubes.
- Toss in the cornstarch and powdered sugar mix again and plate.
Video
Notes
- It takes at least 4 hours for the Turkish delight mixture to set. If you have the time, let it sit at room temperature overnight. Don’t refrigerate or freeze it because it would release moisture.
- Store the Turkish delight in an airtight container with parchment paper between each layer. Keep them at room temperature and don’t refrigerate. Turkish delight keeps for up to 2 weeks in a cool dry place.
Nutrition
Calories: 175kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 0.02g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.001g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.002g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001g | Sodium: 4mg | Potassium: 1mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 37g | Calcium: 2mg | Iron: 0.1mg