This Homemade Baklava recipe takes time, but it is SO worth it! It is perfect for family functions, parties, holidays, or for gifting!
I LOVE baklava and have always wanted to make it myself. I finally got up the courage to make it a few days ago with America’s Test Kitchen’s recipe, and I am SO glad that I did. Yes, this homemade pastry is super time-intensive but I would argue that it is well worth the time. It’s such a delicious and impressive dessert that’s perfect anytime of the year and even for holidays like Easter and Christmas!
I love when recipes have a story or some history behind them. When I read and research a recipe’s history or even hear family stories connected to different recipes I get excited. Maybe it’s the former history teacher in me, but either way, the entire process is enjoyable. It makes me feel more connected to what I am creating in my kitchen.
Recipe History:
After making Baklava for the first time I became very interested in the recipe and baklava origin. I found out a couple of things about Baklava that made me love it even more. Did you know that it was once believed to be a rich person’s dessert? In fact, according to The Kitchen Project, there is still a saying in Turkey today that is commonly used by people who say, “I am not rich enough to eat baklava every day.” It’s got to be good if the saying is going strong many years later!
The other fun thing that I learned is that Baklava is believed to be able to aid in the romance department. The spices are considered to be an aphrodisiac. Now knowing the history of this delicious pastry, I feel kind of fancy when I make it and I think it can turn any occasion into a special occasion!
Common Baklava Questions:
What is baklava?
Baklava is a sweet pastry made of layers of filo or phyllo. Are you now wondering what phyllo is now? It is thin layers of dough. This rich dessert is filled with nuts and dripping with either honey or syrup or both!
What is the nationality of baklava?
Like many ancient recipes, it is hard to pinpoint the exact origin of this recipe for baklava because many nations have a claim to their own version of baklava. Having said that, many agree that baklava originates from ancient Greece.
How to Make Baklava?
- For the syrup mix the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Stir it until the sugar dissolves. Next, you will transfer it to a separate bowl and let it cool.
- For the nut filling, you will first finely crush the almonds and the walnuts and combine them together. Save 1 tablespoon for the garnish. Add the spices into the nuts.
- To put the Baklava together get ready to repeat and repeat again. Be sure to brush your baking dish with melted butter first. Then, unwrap and unfold phyllo on a large cutting board. Carefully smooth with your hands to flatten. Using your pan as a guide, cut sheets crosswise leaving you with two evenly sized stacks of phyllo. Cover them with plastic wrap and then a damp kitchen towel to keep them from drying out. Place one phyllo sheet on the bottom of the pan and brush it with butter. Repeat this with 7 more phyllo sheets.
- Next, spread a portion of the nut mixture over the phyllo and dab with butter. Repeat with 5 more phyllo sheets. Layer with another cup of nuts, 6 phyllo sheets, and remaining nuts. You will finish with 8-10 sheets. Brush each layer with melted butter except for the last layer. Using your hands, compress the layers to push out air pockets.
- Right before baking, top with melted butter and cut diamond shaped cuts into the Baklava with a sharp knife. Bake for about 1.5 hours or until the top is golden brown. Then, pour the syrup over the baklava as soon as it is pulled from the oven. Let it cool to room temperature and then enjoy this decadent dessert!
How do you keep it from getting soggy?
3 things will prevent the Baklava from getting soggy.
- Make sure that the syrup is cooled completely before it is poured over the hot baklava.
- Keep the baklava at room temperature after you have covered it with a tea towel or piece of cheesecloth.
- Cover it after it has cooled completely.
Should I cover baklava?
Yes, you should definitely cover the baklava after it has cooled completely. Use a tea towel or piece of cheesecloth to cover it.
Cook’s Note – Baklava Recipe:
- A straight-sided traditional metal baking pan works best for making baklava; the straight sides give the Baklava nicely shaped edges.
- Make sure that the phyllo is fully thawed before use; leave it in the refrigerator overnight or on the countertop for four to five hours. When assembling, use the nicest, most intact phyllo sheets for the bottom and top layers; use sheets with tears or ones that are smaller than the size of the pan in the middle layers, where their imperfections will go unnoticed.
- Leftover can be kept in loosely covered at room temperature for up to 5 days.
ONE YEAR AGO: Coconut Cupcakes
TWO YEARS AGO: Coconut Cream Cake
THREE YEARS AGO: Gingered Carrot Puree
Baklava
Ingredients
FOR THE SUGAR SYRUP:
- 1 ¼ cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup water
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 3 large strips lemon zest removed in large strips with vegetable peeler
- 1 medium cinnamon stick
- 5 whole cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
FOR THE NUT FILLING:
- 8 ounces blanched slivered almonds
- 4 ounces walnuts
- 1 ¼ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoons ground cloves
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon table salt
EVERYTHING ELSE:
- 1 cup unsalted butter melted
- 1 pound frozen phyllo thawed
Instructions
MAKE THE SUGAR SYRUP:
- Combine syrup ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a full boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to ensure that sugar dissolves. Transfer to 2-cup measuring cup and set aside to cool while making and baking baklava; when syrup is cool, discard spices and lemon zest. (Cooled syrup can be refrigerated in an airtight container up to 4 days.)
MAKE THE NUT FILLING:
- Pulse almonds in a food processor until very finely chopped, about twenty 1-second pulses; transfer to a medium bowl. Pulse walnuts in food processor until very finely chopped, about fifteen 1-second pulses; transfer to bowl with almonds and toss to combine. Measure out 1 tablespoon nuts and set aside for garnish. Add cinnamon, cloves, sugar, and salt; toss well to combine.
ASSEMBLE:
- Brush 13 x 9-inch traditional (not nonstick) baking pan with butter. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Unwrap and unfold phyllo on large cutting board; carefully smooth with hands to flatten. Using the baking pan as a guide, cut sheets crosswise with chef’s knife, yielding two roughly evenly sized stacks of phyllo (one may be narrower than other). Cover with plastic wrap, then damp kitchen towel to prevent drying.
- Place one phyllo sheet (from the wider stack) in bottom of baking pan and brush until completely coated with butter. Repeat with 7 more phyllo sheets (from the wider stack), brushing each with butter.
- Evenly distribute about 1 cup nuts over phyllo. Cover nuts with phyllo sheet (from the narrower stack) and dab with melted butter (phyllo will slip if butter is brushed on). Repeat with 5 more phyllo sheets (from the narrower stack), staggering sheets slightly if necessary to cover nuts, and brushing each with butter. Repeat layering with additional 1 cup nuts, 6 sheets phyllo, and remaining 1 cup nuts. Finish with 8 to 10 sheets phyllo (from the wider stack), using nicest and most intact sheets for uppermost layers and brushing each except final sheet with butter.
- Use palms of hands to compress layers, working from the center outward to press out any air pockets. Spoon 4 tablespoons of melted butter on the top layer and brush to cover all surfaces. Use a bread knife or any other serrated knife with a pointed tip in a gentle sawing motion to cut the baklava into diamonds, rotating the pan as necessary to complete the cuts. (Cut on the bias into eighths on both diagonals.)
BAKE AND FINISH:
- Bake until golden and crisped, about 1.5 hours, rotating the baking pan halfway through baking. The top should be golden brown. Immediately after removing the baklava from the oven, pour cooled syrup over cut lines until about 2 tablespoons remain (syrup will sizzle when it hits hot pan); drizzle remaining syrup over the surface. Garnish center of each piece with a pinch of reserved ground nuts. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack, about 3 hours, then cover with foil and let stand at least 8 hours before serving. (Once cooled, baklava can be served, but flavor and texture improve if left to stand at least 8 hours. Baklava can be wrapped tightly in foil and kept at room temperature up to 10 days.)
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post first appeared on Food Folks and Fun on October 4, 2011. I have since updated the pictures. Some of the originals are below.
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Nellie Tracy
Definitely worth the time and effort for something this delicious!
Bee
Ahhhh Baklava! Makes me think of my grandmother. This recipe is a little different than hers. Can’t wait to try it!