Qatayef is a seasonal stuffed pancake closely tied to Ramadan.
This Arab dessert is made by pouring a yeast- or flour-based batter onto a hot surface, cooking it on one side, and then filling and folding it. Common fillings include walnuts, almonds, pistachios, sweet cheese, or cream. The folded pancakes may be served fresh, baked, or fried and finished with sugar syrup or honey.
Qatayef appears in markets and bakeries across Egypt and the Levant especially during Ramadan. It is commonly eaten after iftar, the evening meal that breaks the daily fast, and sometimes at suhoor. Its seasonal prominence reflects both its festive role and the practicality of producing large quantities for Ramadan gatherings.
The dessert has a much older history than its modern Ramadan association. It was recorded in the Abbasid-era cookbook Kitab al-Ṭabīḫ, compiled in the tenth century. The name is sometimes confused with knafeh, but qatayef is specifically the pancake-like batter and its filled forms.