This recipe is late–I wanted to post it closer to the holidays but that just didn’t happen.
My sister and Mom promised to teach me how to make this Lebanese traditional dessert over the holidays. It ended up being my sister and my Grandma that taught me–and it was so fun to make. I have been wanting to learn how to make this for years & finally sat down and learned. I have a feeling this will become a yearly tradition!
Baklava has always been a must have at the holidays in our family but REALLY I could eat it any time during the year!
My Mom and sisters always make multiple batches for family, friends & co-workers. It is a HUGE hit! If you want instant friends–this is your answer! 
People love, love this stuff. I am not saying it is healthy for you, but it is so delicious.
You will need a nice space to make baklava–here is what our set up looked like. Make sure to put something down on the table in case you spill any of the sugar mixture—sticky stuff! Things you will need include a big pastry brush like the one below, fillo dough and a 14×18 inch baking sheet.
A little bit of hard work and this is your final product!
Please ask questions if you have any about the process of making baklava–it can be a little time consuming and tricky but well worth it. I hope you love it and I hope it becomes a family favorite.
- 2 lbs fillo dough (18-20 sheets per lb.)
- 1 ½ lbs unsalted butter, melted
- For the Syrup:
- 3 cups sugar
- 1 ½ cups water
- 1 tsp rosewater
- 1 lemon, juiced
- For the filling:
- 1 lb ground walnuts
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp rosewater
- Preheat over at 350.
- Mix sugar, water and rosewater. Boil together and add lemon juice. Set aside.
- Mix ground nuts, sugar, cinnamon and rosewater together in food processor, set aside.
- Brush 14×18 inch baking tray with melted butter. Place pastry sheet (1 piece of fillo dough) on bottom of pan and brush with butter. Repeat until you have piled up half of the fillo dough, each one brushed with butter. Distribute the nut mixture.
- Add second half of fillo dough on top of nut mixture, brushing each sheet with butter.
- With a sharp knife, cut the uncooked tray in diamond shapes, starting lengthwise, about 1 ½ inches wide, then cut diagonally about 1 ½ inches.
- Place the pan in the middle rack of the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes (the baklava should be golden brown).
- Remove from oven and immediately pour syrup very slowly over the Baklava. Let cool, re-cut and put in small cupcake tins.
Source: My lovely Grandma
Lets get cooking!
Julia
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I have not prepared baklava in a long time. Yours looks & sounds absolutely delicious!
I hope you don’t mind if I reblog your link on my reblog tastings page?
petit4chocolatier recently posted..Dark Espresso Roast Coffee Chocolate Cupcakes with a Silky Smooth Promise
It is one of our family favorites. It does take some time to make but in the end it is so worth it. If you ever make it and have questions let me know!
I love baklava and I have to plan ahead who I’m going to give it to once I’ve had a few pieces or I’d eat the entire tray I don’t have a big pastry brush like that though. That’s going on my birthday wish list.
This looks SO good!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef recently posted..Noosa
I don’t have my own big pastry brush either-now that I know how to make it I need one. My sister got hers online! This stuff is dangerous–I always end up eating more than planned.
Did you make the fill pastry or is it store bought?
Because making it takes a lot if work ! Just wanted to know..,thanks!
I bought the fillo dough at the store–they sell all kinds of brands. It is funny because my Grandma said that her Mom used to make her own fillo dough and it took forever, but that is how they did it growing up. Even my Grandma buys it from the store now!
If you look at one of the pictures on this post you will see the brand that we used, but any brand will do!
Ohhhh my goodness. Jon and his mom LOVE baklava. I’m going to have to save this recipe for a rainy day and treat them.
Leah recently posted..DIY Glittered Candles
Good! I hope you get to make it sometime soon and they love it. Let me know if you have questions as sometimes it can be confusing.