Butter Toffee Baklava Recipe

Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. This classic dessert is popular in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisines. Here’s how you can make this delicious treat at home:

Ingredients

For the Baklava:

• 1 package phyllo dough (16 oz), thawed
• 2 cups unsalted butter (4 sticks), melted
• 2 cups chopped Unbound Butter Toffee walnuts
• 1 cup chopped pistachios
• 1 cup chopped almonds
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

For the Syrup:

• 1 cup water
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat and Prepare:

   • Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with some of the melted butter.
     
     

2. Prepare the Nut Filling:

   • In a large bowl, combine the chopped walnuts, pistachios, almonds, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix well and set aside.
     
     

3. Layer the Phyllo Dough:

   • Unroll the phyllo dough and cut it to fit the size of your baking dish.
   • Cover the phyllo with a damp cloth to keep it from drying out while you work.
     
     

4. Assemble the Baklava:

   • Place one sheet of phyllo dough in the bottom of the baking dish and brush it with melted butter. Repeat this process, layering and buttering each sheet, until you have 8 layers.
   • Sprinkle a thin layer of the nut mixture over the buttered phyllo.
   • Continue layering and buttering the phyllo sheets, adding a layer of nuts every 8 layers, until all the nut mixture is used. Finish with at least 8 layers of phyllo on top, each brushed with butter.
   • Use a sharp knife to cut the assembled baklava into diamond or square shapes.
     
     

5. Bake:

   • Bake in the preheated oven for about 45-50 minutes, until the baklava is golden brown and crisp.
     
     

6. Make the Syrup:

   • While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine the water, sugar, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes.
   • Remove from heat, discard the cinnamon stick, and stir in the vanilla extract.
     
     

7. Add the Syrup:

   • Once the baklava is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup evenly over the top. Make sure to cover all the cuts and edges.
   • Allow the baklava to cool completely and absorb the syrup. This can take several hours, so be patient.
     
     

8. Serve:

   • Once the baklava has cooled and the syrup is fully absorbed, remove the pieces from the dish and serve.