This honey baklava is flaky, crisp and tender and I love that it isn’t overly sweet. It’s basically a party in your mouth. I am a huge fan of baklava and this is the BEST baklava recipe I have ever tried. Hands down.
You will love the hint of mellow lemony flavor which offsets the sweetness and compliments the cinnamon. It’s truly delicious.
Store-bought baklava has nothing on this and trust me, I’ve been around the block when shopping for baklava. This baklava recipe is well loved wherever it goes and it is definitely a reader and family favorite!
Baklava is usually served at room temperature, and is often garnished with ground nuts.
How to Make the Best Baklava (See Video Below):
You will need 1 (16 oz) package of phyllo (fillo) dough*; thawed according to package instructions *Fillo dough should be paper thin – even thinner than paper. Each package has 2 rolls with a total of 40 sheets. Do not use thick sheets of fillo dough for this recipe.
Also, don’t skimp on the butter or any part of the syrup (lemon juice, water and honey) since the recipe needs it to moisten and soften the sheets. Otherwise the baklava layers can end up dry and won’t stay together easily.
The chocolate is optional but a nice touch to fancy up a tray of baklava.
How to Assemble Baklava:
Preheat Oven to 325˚F.
1. Pulse walnuts about 10 times in a food processor until coarsely ground/ finely chopped. In a medium bowl, stir together: 4 cups finely chopped walnuts and 1 tsp cinnamon
2. Place 10 phyllo sheets into baking pan one at a time, brushing each sheet with butter once it’s in the pan before adding the next (i.e. place phyllo sheet into pan, brush the top with butter, place next phyllo sheet in pan, butter the top, etc. etc.).
Keep remaining phyllo covered with a damp towel at all times. Spread about 1/5 of nut mixture (about 3/4 cup) over phyllo dough.
3. Add 5 buttered sheets of phyllo, then another layer of nuts. Repeat x 4. Finish off with 10 layers of buttered phyllo sheets. Brush the very top with butter.
Here’s the order: 10 buttered phyllo sheets, 3/4 cup nut mixture, 5 buttered phyllo sheets, 3/4 cup nut mixture, 5 buttered phyllo sheets, 3/4 cup nut mixture, 5 buttered phyllo sheets, 3/4 cup nut mixture, 5 buttered phyllo sheets, 3/4 cup nut mixture 10 buttered phyllo sheets and butter the top.
4. Cut pastry into 1 1/2″ wide strips, then cut diagonally to form diamond shapes. Bake at 325˚F for 1 hour and 15 min or until tops are golden brown
5. Remove from oven and immediately spoon the cooled syrup evenly over the hot baklava (you’ll hear it sizzle). This will ensure that it stays crisp rather than soggy. Let baklava cool completely, uncovered and at room temperature
Tip: For best results, let baklava sit 4-6 hours or overnight at room temperature for the syrup to penetrate and soften the layers. Garnish baklava with finely chopped nuts or drizzle with melted chocolate. Store at room temp, covered with a tea towel for 1 to 2 weeks.
So many juicy layers of flavor! This is hands down, our favorite baklava. Check out the glowing reviews below and add the ingredients to your grocery list.
Absurd Show While Getting Baklava at Nusr-Et NYC
FAQ
What is the correct way to eat baklava?
Should I warm up baklava?
Should baklava be served at room temperature?
How do you make baklava a day before cooking?
Alton Brown has a nice trick where you put one teaspoon of rose water and 1/4 cup of water in a spritz bottle and then use it to mist the nut layers before starting with the next phyllo layers. Finally, baklava is best after it sits for a while, so it’s perfectly fine to make it a day before you plan to serve it.
Should baklava be cooled before serving?
If the pastry is still hot, it will help it to sink down in. Let baklava cool completely, uncovered and at room temperature for a minimum of 4 hours, but maximum of 12 before serving. After honey topping has set, top with a light sprinkle of fleur de sel, which is totally optional.
How do you make baklava with a knife?
Cut and bake. Using a very sharp knife, cut the baklava on the diagonal. Place pan in the oven and bake it for 45 minutes. Prepare syrup. Combine sugar, water, and honey in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Re-cut and pour syrup over all. Run your knife through the baklava to ensure the pieces are cut all the way through. What Is Baklava?
What makes a good baklava?
Cinnamon and nutmeg – My favorite thing (ok ONE of my favorite things) about good baklava is the warm flavors. The combination of cinnamon and nutmeg five the sugary spiced nut mixture the best flavor. Sugar – Although the sweet syrup is sweet from the honey, we do need a little sugar as well. White granulated sugar works best here.