Baklava

Total Time

Prep: 30 min. Bake: 40 min.

Makes

4 dozen

Updated: Feb. 12, 2024
Baklava is a traditional Middle Eastern pastry made with flaky phyllo dough, chopped nuts and sweet honey. This dessert is very rich, so one pan goes a long way. —Judy Losecco, Buffalo, New York

Ingredients

  • 1-1/2 pounds finely chopped walnuts
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 pound butter, melted, divided
  • 2 packages (16 ounces each, 14x9-inch sheet size) frozen phyllo dough, thawed
  • SYRUP:
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups water
  • 1 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon grated lemon or orange zest

Directions

  1. In a small bowl, combine walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves; set aside. Brush a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with some butter. Unroll 1 package phyllo dough; cut stack into a 10-1/2x9-in. rectangle. Repeat with remaining phyllo. Discard scraps.
  2. 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 sheets from drying out.)
  3. 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° until golden brown, 40-45 minutes.
  4. In a large saucepan, bring syrup ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Strain syrup, discarding zest; cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava.

Nutrition Facts

1 baklava triangle: 271 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 21mg cholesterol, 162mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 1g fiber), 5g protein.