Dive into the delectable world of baklava, a rich and indulgent pastry that has captivated taste buds for centuries. Originating in the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire, this layered dessert features crispy filo dough enveloping a sweet, nutty filling, often made with finely chopped walnuts or pistachios. Drenched in a fragrant syrup infused with honey, lemon, and spices, each bite of baklava offers a symphony of textures and flavors, leaving you craving more. In this article, we present a collection of baklava recipes that cater to diverse preferences and skill levels. From traditional Turkish baklava to innovative variations like chocolate baklava and gluten-free baklava, these recipes provide a culinary journey that will transport you to the heart of this iconic dessert. Get ready to embark on a delightful adventure as we explore the secrets behind creating the perfect baklava.
Here are our top 5 tried and tested recipes!
BAKLAVA
Many ethnic festivals are held in my city throughout the year. One in May is the Greek Hellenic Festival. My family enjoys baklava-a traditional walnut strudel. The recipe uses phyllo dough, which is not difficult to work with. Just have your ingredients ready to go and follow the directions on the package. The results are scrumptious and well worth the effort. -Judy Losecco, Buffalo, New York
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 1h10m
Yield 4 dozen.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves; set aside. Brush a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with some of the butter. Unroll 1 package phyllo dough; cut stack into a 10-1/2x9-in. rectangle. Repeat with remaining phyllo. Discard scraps., Line bottom of prepared pan with 2 sheets of phyllo dough (sheets will overlap slightly). Brush with butter. Repeat layers 14 times. (Keep dough covered with a damp towel until ready to use to prevent it from drying out.) , Spread with 2 cups walnut mixture. Top with 5 layers of phyllo dough, brushing with butter between each sheet. Spread with remaining walnut mixture. Top with 1 layer of phyllo dough; brush with butter. Repeat 14 times. Cut into 2-1/2-in. squares; cut each square in half diagonally. Brush remaining butter over top. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown., In a large saucepan, bring syrup ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and discard zest; cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 271 calories, Fat 16g fat (5g saturated fat), Cholesterol 21mg cholesterol, Sodium 162mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate (17g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 5g protein.
BAKLAVA
Provided by Michael Symon : Food Network
Categories dessert
Time 7h30m
Yield about 40 pieces
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Position a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 350 degrees F. Combine the nuts, cinnamon and ground crackers in a bowl.
- Brush a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with some of the butter. Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the dish, brushing each piece with butter before adding the next (keep the remaining dough covered with a damp towel). Sprinkle a quarter of the nut mixture over the dough. Layer 4 pieces of phyllo on top, brushing each with butter before adding the next; sprinkle with another quarter of the nut mixture. Add 4 more phyllo pieces on top, brushing each with butter, then add another quarter of the nut mixture, 4 more pieces of phyllo with butter, and the remaining nuts.
- Layer the remaining 10 pieces of phyllo on top of the nuts, brushing each with butter; brush the top piece with extra butter. Cut into the baklava to make strips, about 1 1/2 inches wide. Then make diagonal slices, about 1 1/2 inches apart, to create a diamond pattern. Bake until golden, about 1 hour.
- Meanwhile, make the syrup: Bring the sugar, honey and 1 1/2 cups water to a boil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook, 10 to 15 minutes. Add the lemon juice and boil 2 more minutes, then let cool slightly.
- Pour the syrup over the warm baklava; let soak, uncovered, at least 6 hours or overnight. Garnish with nuts.
MIRACLE BAKLAVA
Always asked to bring baklava to special occasions, I created this lighter version to help everyone cut back on calories and fat. The layers of phyllo dough make it very flaky. Try it...you'll like it!
Provided by Taste of Home
Categories Desserts
Time 2h5m
Yield 30 servings.
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Spritz a 13x9-in. baking pan with butter-flavored spray. Unroll phyllo sheets. Place one sheet of phyllo in pan; spritz with butter-flavored spray and brush to coat evenly. Repeat seven times, spritzing and brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap to avoid drying out.), Sprinkle 1/4 cup crumb mixture over phyllo in pan. Layer with two sheets of phyllo, spritzing and brushing with butter-flavored spray between each. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crumb mixture; repeat 11 times. Top with one phyllo sheet; spritz and brush with butter-flavored spray. Repeat seven more times, spritzing and brushing each layer., Cut into 15 squares; cut each square in half diagonally. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown., Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the sugar, water, honey and lemon zest to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 154 calories, Fat 4g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 1mg cholesterol, Sodium 154mg sodium, Carbohydrate 30g carbohydrate, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 2g protein.
EASY BAKLAVA
This is simple and easy. Serve it in cupcake papers. It freezes well, too.
Provided by ARVILLALAR
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Time 2h
Yield 36
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Toss together cinnamon and nuts. Unroll phyllo and cut whole stack in half to fit the dish. Cover phyllo with a damp cloth while assembling the baklava, to keep it from drying out.
- Place two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish. Brush generously with butter. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture on top. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ending with about 6 sheets of phyllo. Using a sharp knife, cut baklava (all the way through to the bottom of the dish) into four long rows, then (nine times) diagonally to make 36 diamond shapes.
- Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and crisp, about 50 minutes.
- While baklava is baking, combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir in honey, vanilla and lemon or orange zest; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the syrup over it. Let cool completely before serving. Store uncovered.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 201.2 calories, Carbohydrate 17.8 g, Cholesterol 13.6 mg, Fat 14.1 g, Fiber 1.1 g, Protein 2.9 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 97.1 mg, Sugar 9.8 g
GREEK BAKLAVA
A Greek favorite that makes everyone think you are a master chef and is sooo easy to make!! I taught a Greek friend how to make apple pie and she taught me this fabulous recipe. The phyllo dough for this recipe is found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Add a little lemon zest to the sugar sauce, if desired.
Provided by NEONWILLIE
Categories World Cuisine Recipes European Greek
Yield 18
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F(175 degrees C). Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13 inch pan.
- Chop nuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside. Unroll phyllo dough. Cut whole stack in half to fit pan. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place two sheets of dough in pan, butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered. Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top. Top with two sheets of dough, butter, nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep.
- Using a sharp knife cut into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan. You may cut into 4 long rows the make diagonal cuts. Bake for about 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp.
- Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes.
- Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 393.1 calories, Carbohydrate 37.5 g, Cholesterol 27.1 mg, Fat 25.9 g, Fiber 3.1 g, Protein 6.1 g, SaturatedFat 9 g, Sodium 196.4 mg, Sugar 19.9 g
Tips:
- Use the best quality phyllo dough you can find. This will make a big difference in the final product.
- Be sure to brush each layer of phyllo dough with melted butter. This will help to create a crispy, flaky crust.
- Don't overfill the baklava with nuts. Too much filling will make it difficult to cut and serve.
- Baklava can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. It can also be frozen for up to 2 months.
Conclusion:
Baklava is a delicious and versatile dessert that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. It's perfect for special occasions or everyday snacks. With a little practice, you can easily make baklava at home. So next time you're looking for a sweet treat, give this recipe a try!
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