How to Make Baklava

If you've never had baklava before, it is a layered dessert of phyllo dough that gets brushed with butter and has really fine chopped up nuts in the center. At the end of all the layers syrup is poured over the baklava and the nut layer becomes gooey in the middle. It is also a very sweet dessert.

The first time I tried baklava was at a farmer's market in Nebraska. I thought it was the best thing ever and I have been wanting to make it for a LONG time now.

Phyllo Dough

The hardest part of this recipe is making the phyllo dough, which I didn't do because I am not a pastry chef by any means. I just like to bake and try new food out. If you're a trained pastry chef then by all means make your own phyllo dough or just go to the store and buy some frozen phyllo dough. It has to be defrosted first before you use it. Leave it sit on the counter for awhile.

The phyllo dough gets brushed with layers upon layers of butter but that also helps the dough cook and get super crispy on the outside and edges!

Nut Layer

Chop all the nuts by hand if you have the time or patience to do so. If not use a food processor process the nuts into small pieces. Both will get the job done!

How to Make Baklava

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Place the nuts into a food processor and pulse them until they are about half the size. If you don’t have a food processor chop the nuts with a good knife on a cutting board. 

Add the nuts, cinnamon, and allspice to a medium bowl and mix together, set aside

Melt the butter in the microwave for 1 minute. 

Use a pastry brush to brush butter onto the bottom and sides of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Line the dough up with the length of the pan and feel free to cut off any excess at the end, usually, there’s an extra inch or so that can be removed.

Add two sheets of phyllo dough to the buttered pan, and use the pastry brush to brush melted butter over the entire surface area of the dough

Evenly sprinkle the top of the buttered phyllo dough with  the nut mixture. 4 tablespoons all over the dough. 

Lay another two sheets on top and brush with butter and then add nuts again. Repeat the dough, butter, nuts layers until you have used up one roll of phyllo dough. 

Using a really sharp knife, cut 4 rows down the length of the pan and then cut diagonally all the way down and across the pan for a traditional baklava prep. You may also cut into squares.

Bake for 50 minutes until baklava is golden and crisp on top.

With 30 minutes left to bake, begin making the syrup by adding the water and sugar to a small pot and bringing to a boil over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved.

Add the vanilla and honey and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately pour the sauce over the entire pan, let set and cool.

Other Dessert Recipes

Lemon Meringue Pie For Two

Microwave Chocolate Mug Cake

Strawberry Poke Cake

Joanna Gaines French Silk Pie

*If you make this recipe please comment and rate the recipe below to let everyone know how it is, or tag me on Instagram!

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