[3][4] It is traditionally eaten on Dita e Verës, an Albanian pagan holiday celebrated on 14 March.

[4][6]It consists of butter, sugar, eggs, and cornflour.

It is traditionally kneaded in a copper bowl, which is supposed to improve the texture of the dough.

[1][2][6] The dough must be kneaded vigorously, which is why the men of the house are often involved in the ballokume preparation.

[1][2][7] Tradition holds that the name comes from a 16-century Ottoman ruler of Elbasan who, after having tasted a small cake made from corn flour cooked in a wood fire, exclaimed: “Është ba si llokume!” (“It’s as good as a lokum!“), the word ballokume resulting by contracting this sentence.