Traditional Baklava Recipe

Sweet, buttery and flaky baklava is a crowd pleaser and an all time favorite dessert. Learn how to make the best baklava recipe that is rich and nut loaded with just few ingredients. And I am going to tell you why this recipe is the best in a few.

If you are depending on store-bought baklava to satisfy your baklava cravings then don't. Making homemade baklava is easier than you think, do not be afraid about dealing with phyllo dough. With some tips and tricks this recipe is going to be your go to party dessert.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why its a must-try
• 📝 Ingredients
• 🥄 Instructions
• 👍 Amira's Tips
• 🧺 Storage
• ⌛ Make Ahead
• 📣 Related Recipes
• Traditional Baklava Recipe
• 👩‍🏫 My Personal Experience

❤️ Why its a must-try

• Homemade Baklava is easy to make a looks elegant on any holiday table.
• A crowd pleaser and to be honest I still haven't met a person who do not like it.
• This is one of the most iconic Mediterranean desserts you'll ever put in your mouth! It's traditionally served on holidays, especially Ramadan.

I've grown up eating baklava on a regular basis specially in gatherings during feasts and in Ramadan. Everyone I knew used to divide phyllo sheets in half like what we did in this phyllo meat pie here, and then stuff the nut mixture just in the middle.

This time we are going to make it bakery style, tall rich butter and filled to the brim with goodness. Everyone will think you just got it from a high end Greek restaurant.

📝 Ingredients

Note: This is an overview of the ingredients. You'll find the full measurements and instructions in the recipe card (printable) at the bottom of the page.

📋 Ingredient Notes

• Light olive oil and ghee: I started using this combo recently to lighten up my phyllo recipe a notch. You can use all butter, ghee or oil.
• Walnuts and pistachios: love using a mixture of equal amounts of these but it is really up to you. You can limit your nut to just one or use your favorite mixture. In Egypt though, it is common to add raisins to this mixture in homemade baklava, but I came to like it without the raisins more.
• Cinnamon: for a little flavor to the nut mixture.
• Phyllo dough: the main ingredient for making any sort of baklava, or make your own sheets if you would like to.
• Simple syrup: not pictured above, made as usual with sugar, water, lemon juice and honey and flavored with your favorite baklava flavoring.

🥄 Instructions

Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.

1. In the food processor add a pound of nuts with some cinnamon and honey or simple syrup. This is my sister's tip and it is optional but it makes the filling less likely to fall out of your baklava.
2. Melt ghee and pour oil over, then layer 2 sheets of phyllo dough and brush with the fat mixture paying more attention to the edges. Continue layering couple of sheets and brushing until you are done with 10 sheets. Spread about 1 cup of the mixture on top of the first 10 sheets.
3. Layer 5 sheets on top brushing in between the sheets. Then spread some nut mixture. Continue to do so until you are left with the last 10 sheets for the top part. Spread the remaining amount of nut mixture then layer those 10 sheets as the final section brushing in between as well.
4. With a sharp knife cut the phyllo into diamond shape or squares and bake. Pour cooled syrup over.

👍 Amira's Tips

• As I told you in the ground beef phyllo pie, do not freak out when using phyllo dough. Just cover it and pay more attention to the edges when you are brushing with the fat.
• If your phyllo got torn, it is ok and no one will ever notice. I like to keep the top layer, the one I put on top torn-free and that's it.. any other layer does not really matter.
• Use a baking sheet large enough to include your phyllo sheet without the need to cut the edges so it fits. This make making baklava even easier.
• You can make the syrup a couple of days before the baklava so you are sure that you have a cooled syrup ready to go.
• If you want to transfer the baklava to a nice looking serving platter after baking then do not cut the baklava all the way through. This way and after baking you can use tow spatulas to transfer the whole thing to the serving platter.
• I love adding honey to simple syrup as I noticed it prevents it from forming crystals and gives a unique desirable taste to my syrup as well.

🧺 Storage

Refrigerate or Countertop: Place leftover baklava in an airtight container in layers separated by parchment paper and refrigerate, or keep on your counter, for up to 2 weeks.

Freeze: Baked baklava freezes very well for up to 4 months. Place baklava pieces in an airtight container separated by parchment paper and freeze. Thaw overnight in your fridge or for a couple of hours at room temperature on your counter.

Unbaked baklava freezes well too. After assembly, place baklava in freezer for 3-4 hours until frozen hard. Wrap with plastic wrap then a freezer bag or container large enough to hold it. Freeze for up to 4 months.

Reheat: Unwrap frozen baklava and place in a prepared baking sheet. Let it thaw then bake as directed.

⌛ Make Ahead

As mentioned above in the storage section baklava is freezer friendly baked or unbaked. Can keep in freezer for up to 4 months.

📣 Related Recipes

• Basbousa is a traditional Egyptian dessert made from semolina flour, coconut, yogurt and soaked in simple syrup. It’s delicious and easy to make!
• Baklava Cheesecake is a delicious fusion dessert that combines the flavors of classic baklava with creamy cheesecake.
• Baklava Rolls are the perfect portioned treat for any occasion. The delicious blend of sweet, nutty and crunchy makes these rolls irresistible!

If you like this recipe do not forget to give it a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ star rating and attach a photo of your finished dish. It is always a pleasure of mine to see your photos and check your own take of the recipe. Thank you.

What’s new? Check out Amira's Pantry Store on Amazon where you'll find all kinds of nostalgic goodness!  Thanks so much for being a part of Amira's Pantry!

👩‍🏫 My Personal Experience

This is the best baklava recipe I've ever made, and since I've done it I did not go back to the old way. By dividing the sheets into 4 or 5 sections, stuffing and layering nuts in between these sections you get a much better, taller and crisper baklava. A bakery style baklava indeed that everyone will think you just got it from a high end Greek restaurant.

Homemade Baklava is way better than the store bought ones. Why you ask? well first of all it is fresh and you can feel it in the crunch of the phyllo layer. Second: it is filled to the brim with your favorite nut mixture, my favorite is walnuts and pistachios. Third: the syrup, which makes all the difference. To be honest there are several baklava out there that is too sweet, and this comes from a sweet tooth Mediterranean girl, so imagine how sweet they can get. Plus you can flavor the syrup of your baklava however you want. Vanilla, cinnamon, rose water, orange blossom water...etc. Add to all the above that making your own baklava is cheaper and so easy.
By easy, I mean it does not require any baking skills. No complicated steps, just layering, brushing and more layering of phyllo sheets. It does require some work but oh it is so worth it.