These unique SoCal desserts will make you the holiday party MVP

Have you been looking for the perfect dessert to bring to your holiday gatherings, something that'll have everyone talking? Or are you in charge of desserts this year but just don’t feel like cooking? Maybe you’re looking for a last minute gift for the foodie in your life?

Here’s our guide to desserts you’ll love — and that you might not have tried yet.

Indian sweets

Sweets are boxed in a decorative box at SUKHADIA'S restaurant in Artesia, Ca. on October 19, 2012. (Photo by Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)

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Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times via Getty Imag

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Los Angeles Times

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When you walk into an Indian specialty store, you’ll be hit with the warm smells of spice and ghee. And typically tucked away in a corner, you’ll find a glass display of mithai (me-thai) or sweets. Sold by the pound, these sweets are typically packaged in beautiful red, gold or silver boxes. Tie a bow and you have the perfect present to bring to a holiday party. We recommend getting boondi laddoo (boo-n-dhee luh-doo) – a bright orange confection of gram flour pearls and sugar syrup or besan laddoo (bay-sahn luh-doo), sweet balls of roasted chickpea flour, ghee and sugar.

Barfi (BAR-fee) is another popular type of mithai, with a fudge-like texture made from thickened, reduced milk (khoa) and sugar.

Where to get:

• India Sweets & Spices, 9409 Venice Blvd., Culver City
• All Indian Sweets & Snacks, 20916 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance
• Baba Sweets, 21318 Saticoy St., Canoga Park
• Jay Bharat, 18701 Pioneer Blvd., Artesia

Persian treats

Persian cookie display at Flor de Cafe or Shahreza Bakery in Glendale.

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Yusra Farzan

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LAist

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At specialty Persian bakeries, desserts are sold in two categories: tar (wet) and khoshk (dry). You can buy wet desserts by the piece, or by the pound for dry varieties like noon berenji (noon bay-ren-ji). Noon berenji or rice bread is a small cookie that looks and feels like a shortbread, but is made with rice flour and cardamom. Khoshk (koh-sh-kh) treats like noon nokhochi (noon no-kh-chee) and naan-e gerdooi (noon-eh gay-doey) are great options for gluten free guests as they are made with chickpea flour and walnuts, respectively. Nazook (na-ZOO-k) is a pastry stuffed with walnuts — and it looks like an empanada, so it’ll definitely be a conversation starter.

For tar treats, we recommend Persian love cake – a moist cake with rose and pistachio — or rolette (ro-leth), a sponge cake filled with different creams. We tried the mocha one and can see it being the perfect treat with an espresso at the end of a meal.

Where to get:

• Flor de Cafe or Shahreza Bakery, 537 E. Colorado St., Glendale
• Rex Bakery, 1659 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles
• Palace Bakery, 24751 Alicia Pkwy. D, Laguna Hills

Palestinian desserts

The Dubai chocolate bar at Knafeh Queens.

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Courtesy Fatma Muhammad

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Knafeh (kuh-NAAH-fuh) is the crown jewel of Palestinian desserts as Fatma Muhammad, owner of Knafeh Queens told Austin Cross on LAist’s Morning Edition. Soft, sweet and salty cheese is sandwiched between shredded phyllo dough and then baked. Still warm out of the oven, the knafeh is flipped from the pan and onto a tray. This tradition is typically saved for important guests, Muhammad said, adding that it’s a way to honor them and share a piece of Palestinian culture. For the holidays, Muhammad has a smores knafeh — taking the traditional dessert and giving it an American twist with a marshmallow and chocolate filling.

Muhammad also makes the viral Dubai chocolate, which is a pink and gold decorated bar filled with pistachio and phyllo dough.

Where to get:

• Knafeh Queens, online and ships nationally
• Mrs. Knafeh, 505 N. Figueroa St., Los Angeles
• Jerusalem Roastery, 12531 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove