baklava
As the official dessert maker in a Greek restaurant, I've made more baklava than I can even begin to count! It's not a difficult dessert to make, but it does take some time and patience. As a variation, you can mix a cup of chocolate chips into the nut mixture that goes between the layers of phyllo. Then, after the syrup is poured over and allowed to cool, melted semi-sweet chocolate can be drizzled all over the top in a decorative pattern. Baklava makes a great gift at Christmas. In Middle Eastern bakeries, they will serve each piece of baklava in a cupcake liner.
Blue Ribbon Recipe
What a great baklava recipe! With just the right amount of butter and honey, this is an indulgent delight. The mix of walnuts and cinnamon is a wonderful blend of spice and nuttiness between the buttery, crisp layers of phyllo dough. A sweet honey syrup is drizzled on top and soaks into every layer.
Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, melted
- 1 pound walnuts or pistachios, chopped
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 package phyllo dough
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon rose or orange blossom water (optional)
How To Make baklava
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Step 1Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of a 9x13-inch pan. -
Step 2Mix chopped nuts with cinnamon. Set aside.
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Step 3Unroll phyllo dough. Cover phyllo with a dampened cloth to keep from drying out as you work. Place one sheet of dough in the pan and butter thoroughly. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered.
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Step 4Sprinkle 2 - 3 tablespoons of nut mixture on top.
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Step 5Top with two sheets of dough, butter, and nuts, layering as you go. The top layer should be about 6 - 8 sheets deep. Don't forget to butter the top layer!
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Step 6Using 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 and make diagonal cuts.
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Step 7Bake for about 50 minutes until the baklava is golden and crisp.
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Step 8Make the sauce while the baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until the sugar is melted. Add honey and lemon juice. Simmer for about 20 minutes. If using, add rose water or orange blossom water now.
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Step 9Remove the baklava from the oven and pour syrup over it as evenly as possible.
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Step 10Let cool.
- Last Step: Don't forget to share! Post a picture of your finished recipe here and on your favorite social network. Don't forget to tag Just A Pinch and include #justapinchrecipes!
