Turkish Quince Dessert (Ayva Tatlısı)

Nov 3, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Dessert Custards puddings creams Easy

Quince is poached slowly until rosy and tender, baked briefly to caramelize, then chilled and served with kaymak or clotted cream and walnuts. Makes 6 servings in about 4 hr 45 min.

Prep 15 min

Cook 90 min

Cooling 3 hr

Total 4 hr 45 min

Servings 6

Diet Gluten free

Ingredients

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servings

2 lb (900 g)quince, 3 medium, rinsed and rubbed clean of fuzz, halved and cored
1 cup (200 g)granulated sugar
2 cups (450 ml)water
1 tbsp (15 ml)lemon juice
½ tsp (1 g)whole cloves
½ cup (120 g)clotted cream or mascarpone, very cold
⅓ cup (40 g)walnuts, coarsely chopped

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Instructions

Place the quince cut side down in a wide pot. Add the sugar, water, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, cloves and any saved seeds in a muslin bag if you like.
Bring to a boil, lower the heat, cover and simmer gently 50 to 60 minutes, turning once, until the fruit is tender and deep pink.
Heat the oven to 350 F (175 C). Place the fruit cut side up in a baking dish with 1/2 cup (120 ml) of the syrup and bake 20 to 25 minutes until the tops caramelize.
Cool to room temperature, pour some of the remaining syrup around, then chill at least 3 hours or overnight.
Serve cold, each portion topped with a spoonful of cream and chopped walnuts.

Tips

Rub the fuzz off the skins and cut with a sharp, heavy knife; raw quince is very hard.
Leaving the seeds in the cooking liquid gives color and pectin.
Reduce extra syrup in a pan for a thicker glaze.
Good with turkish tea.

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Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make turkish quince dessert (ayva tatlısı)?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 1 hour 30 minutes of cooking, plus 3 hours to chill. The recipe makes 6 servings.

How should I store turkish quince dessert (ayva tatlısı)?

Refrigerate in syrup up to 5 days.

Can I make turkish quince dessert (ayva tatlısı) ahead?

Yes. It needs time to chill and set, so it is a good one to make the day before you serve it.

Ayva tatlısı is a Turkish winter dessert of quince cooked in sugar syrup, served with thick clotted cream. Serve it with turkish tea.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 6 servings this recipe makes.

345 Calories / serving

13.3g Fat

58.0g Carbs

2.6g Protein

52.4g Sugar

Whole recipe (6 servings): ~2070 cal · 80g fat · 348g carbs · 16g protein · 314g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.