Qatayef diyakini bermula dari zaman [[Fatimiyah]].<ref>[https://eng-archive.aawsat.com/theaawsat/lifestyle-culture/the-ramadan-experience-in-egypt The Ramadan Experience in Egypt]</ref> Beberapa orang meyakini bahwa Qatayef telah dibuat sejak Dinasti Fatimiyah. Namun, sejarahnya bermula pada [[Kekhalifahan Abbasiyah]], 566-653 M.<ref>{{cite web |last1=life |first1=style |title=The sweet history of Qatayef |url=http://en.royanews.tv/news/14238/2018-05-14 |website=Roya news |accessdate=26 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=1 |first1=2 |title=In Gaza, Qatayef tradition thrives during Ramadan |url=https://gulfnews.com/news/mena/palestine/in-gaza-qatayef-tradition-thrives-during-ramadan-1.2044327 |website=GULF NEWS |accessdate=26 August 2018}}</ref> Qatayef disebutkan dalam buku masak Arab aabd kesepuluh dari [[Kekhalifahan AbbaisyahAbbasiyah]] karya Ibn Sayyar al-Warraq yang disebut ''Kitab al-Ṭabīḫ'' ({{lang-ar|'''كتاب الطبيخ'''}}, ''The Book of Dishes'').<ref>{{cite book |last1=al-Warrāq |first1=Ibn Sayyār |last2=Nasrallah |first2=Nawal |title=Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens: Ibn Sayyār Al-Warrāq's Tenth-century Baghdadi Cookbook |date=Nov 26, 2007 |publisher=BRILL |page=422 |url=https://books.google.com.kw/books?redir_esc=y&id=dUC-e-l3XM8C&q=chapter+102#v=onepage&q=making%20crepes%20with%20sugar%20Almonds%20walnuts%20and%20pine%20nuts&f=false |accessdate=30 August 2018}}</ref> Buku tersebut kemudian diterjemahkan oleh Nawal Nasrallah, dan diberi judul Tawarikh Dapur Khalifah.<ref>{{cite web |last1=al-Warrāq |first1=Ibn Sayyār |last2=Nasrallah |first2=Nawal |title=Annals of the Caliphs' Kitchens: Ibn Sayyār Al-Warrāq's Tenth-century Baghdadi Cookbook |url=https://books.google.com.kw/books/about/Annals_of_the_Caliphs_Kitchens.html?id=dUC-e-l3XM8C&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y |website=books |accessdate=30 August 2018}}</ref> Qatayef biasanya disajikan oleh gerai-gerai pinggir jalan serta rumah-rumah tangga di [[Syam]] dan [[Mesir]]. Hidangan tersebut biasnaya disajikan memakai keju [[Akkawi]] sebagai isian.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=A5HkylcAkxoC&pg=PA48&dq=kunafa+egypt#v=onepage&q=kunafa%20egypt&f=false Sadat, Jehan (2002). A Woman of Egypt. Simon & Schuster. p. 48.]</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2unDlVK_AzEC&pg=PA290&dq=kunafa+egypt#v=onepage&q=kunafa%20egypt&f=false|title=The Pure and Powerful: Studies in Contemporary Muslim Society|last=Abu-Zahra|first=Nadia|date=1999|publisher=Ithaca Press|isbn=9780863722691|language=en}}</ref>
