Description
Homemade Baklava is a decadent Middle Eastern dessert made with crispy phyllo layers, spiced nuts, and a sweet honey syrup. Perfect for celebrations, this easy recipe is rich, flaky, and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
For the Baklava:
1 package (16 oz) phyllo dough, thawed
2 cups mixed nuts (walnuts, pistachios, or almonds), finely chopped
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, melted
For the Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cinnamon stick
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Mix chopped nuts and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Unroll phyllo dough, cutting to fit the dish if necessary. Keep unused sheets covered with a damp cloth.
- Layer two sheets of phyllo in the dish, brushing each with butter. Repeat for 8 layers.
- Add a thin layer of nut mixture, then two phyllo sheets (buttered). Repeat layers, finishing with 8 phyllo sheets on top.
- Cut baklava into desired shapes and bake for 50–60 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
- Make the syrup: Boil sugar, water, honey, cinnamon stick, and lemon juice, then simmer for 10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick and stir in vanilla.
- Pour hot syrup over the baked baklava immediately. Let it soak for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Notes
Cover unused phyllo with a damp cloth to prevent drying.
Syrup flavors can be customized with rose water or orange blossom water.
Baklava tastes better the next day after the syrup fully absorbs.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 60 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 24 pieces
- Calories: 320 kcal
