Nowruz Sweets: Traditional Persian New Year Desserts to Serve
Nowruz — the Persian New Year — is the sweetest celebration of the year. From baklava and knaffa to gata and Persian tea cookies, here's what to serve and how to order ahead for the holiday.
What is Nowruz?
Nowruz — meaning 'new day' — is the Persian New Year, celebrated at the spring equinox (around March 20–21) by Persian communities and across Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Balkans. It marks the arrival of spring and the renewal of the year, and it's the most important celebration in Persian culture.
Food is central to Nowruz. The *haft-sin* table is set with seven items beginning with the Persian letter 'sin' — including *samanu* (sweet wheat pudding), *sib* (apples), and *sir* (garlic) — and alongside it sit the sweets that make the holiday feel like a holiday.
Traditional Nowruz sweets
The sweets of Nowruz are the sweets of celebration: baklava layered with pistachio and walnut, knaffa warm and molten, gata cut into rounds for tea, and delicate Persian cookies scented with rose and cardamom. Many are syrup-soaked and nut-filled — built to share, built to last through days of visiting.
At Ganash Bakery, our Nowruz table centers on golden baklava (hand-layered with over 40 sheets of phyllo and drenched in honey-citrus syrup), mascarpone knaffa with rose-water syrup and crushed pistachio, and traditional gata — the sweet, flaky pastry that pairs with every cup of tea during the holiday.
How to serve Persian New Year desserts
Nowruz sweets are served alongside hot black tea — often with a sugar cube or a saffron rock held in the mouth for the first sip — throughout the visiting days that follow the equinox. Arrange baklava and knaffa on a platter with extra pistachio, set out gata and cookies in bowls, and let guests graze.
Knaffa should be served warm; everything else is fine at room temperature. The point is abundance — a full table signals a prosperous year ahead.
Ordering Nowruz sweets in Richmond Hill
Nowruz is our busiest time of year. We bake baklava, knaffa, and gata fresh for the holiday, but demand is high — order one to two weeks ahead to guarantee what you want. You can order online for in-store pickup, or visit us at 372 Highway 7 Rd East, Richmond Hill.
We also cater Nowruz gatherings across Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan — see our holiday and seasonal catering page for bespoke platters.
Frequently Asked
What sweets are traditional for Nowruz?
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Traditional Nowruz sweets include baklava with pistachio and honey, knaffa (knafeh) served warm, gata, and Persian cookies scented with rose and cardamom. They're served alongside hot tea throughout the visiting days of the Persian New Year.
When is Nowruz celebrated?
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Nowruz falls on the spring equinox, around March 20–21, and is celebrated by Persian communities and across Central Asia and the Caucasus. It marks the Persian New Year and the arrival of spring.
Where can I buy Nowruz sweets in Richmond Hill?
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Ganash Bakery at 372 Highway 7 Rd East, Richmond Hill bakes baklava, knaffa, and gata fresh for Nowruz. Order one to two weeks ahead of the holiday, either online for pickup or in store.
Do you cater Nowruz gatherings?
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Yes. Ganash Bakery caters Nowruz and other Persian celebrations across Richmond Hill, Markham, and Vaughan with bespoke dessert platters. Visit the holiday and seasonal catering page to request a proposal.
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