Every Croatian child knows this question. By the time we grow up, we have asked it countless times.

We open the fridge, peek into the pantry, and lift lids that have no business being lifted before finally appealing to Mama or Baka.

They know because they baked nešto slatko: a yoghurt cake, jam-filled kiflice, or a tray of poppy seed squares hiding in the still-warm oven.

For some of us, the daily craving for sweetness is quenched with a quick one-bowl cake. For others, it becomes a lifelong pursuit that extends from eating sweets to making them. Before long our kitchens produce festive trays, celebration cakes, and the kind of desserts that still make us wonder how Baka ever managed it all.

The 50 recipes in this cookbook tell a larger story. Desserts in Croatian homes are never baked just to satisfy a sweet tooth.

They are how we welcome guests, celebrate milestones, remember those who came before us, and turn ordinary days into small celebrations. Over time, they become part of the invisible map of childhood, guiding us back to people, places, and moments we thought we had forgotten.

Other cookbooks by this author

• Croatian Classics: 100 Savoury Dishes to Delight Your Family
• Croatian Desserts: 50 Authentic Recipes to Make at Home
• Croatian Savoury Baking: 50 Traditional Recipes for Bread, Burek, Pies and Pastries