Better Than Churros: How to Make Tulumba — The Golden Turkish Dessert That’s Addictively Sweet

It’s likely that every country has its own easy dessert recipe that can be used when you’re too lazy to make something exquisite. In Türkiye, everyone is obsessed with tulumba, which is some sort of doughnut covered with the sweetest syrup. This dessert is easy to make at home and doesn’t require exotic ingredients — the most authentic Turkish experience is guaranteed.

Here’s what you need:

For the syrup: 300 ml of water (1.5 cups), 450 g of sugar (2.5 cups), 2 lemon slices.

For the dough: 600 ml of water (3 cups), 30 ml of vegetable oil (3 tbsp), 60 g of sugar (3 tbsp), 300 g of flour (2.5 cups), 60 g of cornstarch (0.5 cups), 1 packet of vanilla extract.

For frying: vegetable oil (enough to cover the doughnuts).

Pour 300 ml of water into a saucepan, add 450 g of sugar and 2 lemon slices. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to just below medium, and simmer for exactly 8 minutes. Remove the lemon. Pour the syrup into a bowl and let it cool and thicken slightly.

Pour 600 ml of water and 30 ml of vegetable oil into a skillet or saucepan, add 60 g of sugar and a packet of vanilla extract. Place over medium-high heat.

In a separate bowl, sift 300 g of flour with 60 g of cornstarch. When the water comes to a boil, pour in the dry mixture and quickly knead the dough with a spatula, without taking it off the heat.

Continue stirring and heating until all lumps disappear. Remove from the heat, let it cool, then knead the dough by hand on the counter until it is soft and flexible.

Place the dough into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip. Pipe small strips or “fingers” directly into boiling oil — there should be plenty of oil so the tulumbas float. Fry in portions until golden brown. Immediately place the hot tulumbas into the cooled syrup.

Let them sit in the syrup for 1 minute, then remove and arrange on a serving plate.