Profile

Ricette di Sicilia

Cibo, cultura e tradizioni siciliane


Traditional Sicilian carob sweets set on a marble board

Sicilian Carob Sweets - A Taste of the Island’s Old-World Charm

Rediscover the traditional Sicilian carob sweets - simple, nostalgic and deeply aromatic. A comforting island classic you can easily make at home.

Author: Vito Costa Published on: January 20, 2016
Categories: Desserts
⏱️
Prep Time
15 minutes
🔥
Cook Time
30 minutes
👥
Serve
Makes 12 pieces
📊
Difficulty
Easy
💰 Low
🗓️ All year
4.7/5

🛒 Ingredients

  • 500 g carob pods
  • 500 g sugar or honey
  • 500 ml water

📊 Nutritional Information

Calories
200 kcal
Protein
1 g
Fat
0 g
Carbohydrates
50 g
Fiber
4 g
Sugars
45 g
Sodium
5 mg

There is something wonderfully nostalgic about Sicilian carob sweets - those glossy little cubes once sold from street stalls and market carts across the island. They belong to a simpler time, when a sweet treat was crafted slowly, patiently, from what the land offered in abundance.

Carob, with its naturally sweet and earthy aroma, gives these sweets their unmistakable character. Simmered gently into a dense syrup and enriched with sugar or honey, it transforms into a dark, velvety confection that feels both rustic and comforting.

Today, these sweets are enjoying a quiet revival. Whether you grew up with their flavour or are discovering them for the first time, making them at home is a delightful way to reconnect with Sicily’s culinary roots - one pot, one scent, one memory at a time.

👨‍🍳 Preparation

  1. 1

    Chop the seeds of the carob pods.

  2. 2

    Combine the resulting carob meal with 500 ml of water in a saucepan and cook over a low heat until reduced by half and thickened into a dense syrup.

  3. 3

    Pass the syrup through a food mill or fine sieve, weigh it, and mix in an equal weight of sugar or honey.

  4. 4

    Cook again over a low heat, stirring continuously, until the mixture becomes caramel-like.

  5. 5

    Pour the mixture onto a lightly oiled marble or metal surface and spread it to a thickness of 7–10 mm.

  6. 6

    When lukewarm, cut into cubes and allow to cool completely.

  7. 7

    Serve the Sicilian carob sweets.

💡 Tips and Variations

Add a pinch of cinnamon to the syrup for a deeper, spiced aroma. For a mellower flavour, replace the sugar entirely with honey.

📦 Storage

  • Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
  • Keep away from direct sunlight.
  • Enjoy within two weeks for the best flavour and texture.

🍷 Pairing

These sweet, earthy carob cubes pair beautifully with a small glass of Grillo or another light Sicilian white wine, which balances the richness with a clean, bright finish.

Thank you for choosing to make these traditional Sicilian carob sweets. May their warm, old-fashioned flavour bring a little piece of the island into your home. Enjoy every bite!

Rate this recipe

Click or tap the stars to rate


Potrebbero interessarti anche: