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Christmas Baklava

Christmas Baklava

Crafting the perfect Christmas Baklava involves layering thin sheets of phyllo dough with a spiced nut mixture, then soaking the baked pastry in a homemade sweet syrup.

  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves about 20 1x

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 package phyllo dough, thawed
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 cups mixed nuts (walnuts, pistachios, almonds), finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup water
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Zest of one orange

Instructions

  • Prepare the Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  • Layer Phyllo Dough: Place one sheet of phyllo dough in the dish, brush lightly with melted butter. Repeat with half of the phyllo sheets, applying butter to each. Keep remaining sheets under a damp towel.
  • Add Nut Mixture: Combine the chopped nuts and cinnamon, then sprinkle evenly over the layered phyllo.
  • Top Layers: Continue layering and buttering the rest of the phyllo sheets over the nuts.
  • Cut into Diamonds: Use a sharp knife to cut the pastry into diamond shapes.
  • Bake: Place in the oven and bake for about 50 minutes, or until golden and crisp.
  • Make Syrup: While baklava bakes, boil water, sugar, honey, vanilla extract, and orange zest in a saucepan for 10 minutes. Let cool slightly.
  • Soak the Baklava: Pour the warm syrup over the hot baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven. Allow to absorb, uncovered, for several hours or overnight.
  • Serve: Offer the baklava at room temperature, garnished with additional chopped nuts if desired.
  • Author: Amanda
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes