Jalebi

A fried sweet made by piping fermented batter in spirals into hot oil, then soaking the crisp coils in sugar syrup.

Jalebi: Bright orange crisp jalebi spirals glistening with syrup piled on a plate
  • Cakes, cookies, pastries and baked goods
  • Egypt, Maghreb, Middle East

Also called: Jalebee, Jilapi, Jilebi, zalabia, zulbia

The batter is usually made from flour and yogurt or a starter and left to ferment, which gives it a light tang. It is piped through a cloth or squeeze bottle into hot oil in loops and spirals, fried until crisp, then dipped in warm syrup flavored with saffron, cardamom or rose water.

Jalebi is bright orange or yellow, crunchy outside and syrupy inside. It is popular in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and related sweets called zalabia or zulbia are made in the Middle East and North Africa. It is best eaten fresh and warm.

Bake it at VanillaGoods

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Sources

Written by VanillaGoods in our own words from these sources. Last reviewed October 15, 2026.

  1. Guidance Note No. 14/2020: Safety and Quality of Traditional Milk Products, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)