Easy Baklava Recipe

Say hello to an Easy Baklava Recipe that brings all the sweet flavor and flaky texture, you adore in baklava but makes it virtually failproof to create! With just 8 simple ingredients, this recipe creates a generous batch and bakes in mere minutes, ensuring a crowd-pleasing treat that’s bound to satisfy your sweet cravings!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Baklava Recipe

What’s not to love about baklava?! As if the buttery layers of dough weren’t enough to reel you in, this easy baklava recipe is also: 

• Made with just eight simple ingredients. 
• Ready in about 30 minutes. 
• Created on a large sheet pan, making it perfect for feeding a crowd.  
• Great to prep ahead of time.

Ingredients You’ll Need 

Although the flavors are complex, the ingredients needed to create this easy baklava recipe are fairly simple. They include: 

• Phyllo Pastry Sheets – You can find this paper-thin unleavened pastry dough in the refrigerated or freezer section of most grocery stores. Make sure to thaw phyllo before you begin.
• Walnuts – Included in between layers of dough for extra crunch and a classic baklava taste. 
• Sugar – Regular granulated sugar sweetens the nuts and creates a simple syrup. Honey will also work for a sweeter honey syrup.
• Ghee – This is melted and poured over the sheets of phyllo to create a crisp, flaky texture and a rich, drool-worthy taste. 
• Lemon Juice – Included in the simple syrup, the acidity helps break down the sugar molecules, preventing them from clumping. 

Are Phyllo Dough and Puff Pastry the Same? 

While similar, phyllo dough and puff pastry are not quite the same. The primary differences between the two are the methods in which they are prepared and the amount of fat they contain. 

For example, puff pastry is laminated. This means that butter is folded into the dough, creating layers of butter and dough. As a result, puff pastry is extremely thin and has a light, airy texture. 

Meanwhile, phyllo dough is made with oil instead of butter. Instead of being laminated or folded, the dough is brushed with oil before being layered and baked. The end result is a similar flavor with a slightly denser texture. 

How to Make This Easy Baklava Recipe

Get ready to embrace a baklava-filled life! Once you discover the simplicity of this easy baklava recipe, you’ll find yourself whipping it up for every occasion!

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit before you begin.

Get ready to embrace a baklava-filled life! Once you discover the simplicity of this easy baklava recipe, you’ll find yourself whipping it up for every occasion!

1. Create the simple syrup. Heat a large pot over high heat. Add the sugar, and cover it with water. Gently swirl the pot until the sugar is dissolved. Then, bring the mixture to a boil for 5 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice, and cool completely. 
2. Prepare the phyllo. Use a sharp knife to cut the phyllo dough in half lengthwise, creating two long thin phyllo dough stripes. Then, cut each strip into 1-inch sections, and arrange them in a single layer at the bottom of a baking dish. 
3. Create the filling. Add the walnuts and sugar to a food processor. Pulse until the ingredients are finely ground and combined. Sprinkle the mixture over the phyllo dough. 
4. Assemble the baklava layers. Repeat the process, layering phyllo sheets over the nut mixture followed by more sugared walnuts. End with a layer of phyllo. 
5. Cut. Slice 5 vertical cuts into the top of the dough followed by 8 diagonal cuts. 
6. Coat. Pour the melted ghee (or melted butter) over the dough, ensuring it coats it completely and sinks into all the slits. 
7. Bake. Place the easy baklava recipe in the center rack of the oven, and back until it is flaky and golden brown. Be careful not to burn! 
8. Coat. Pour the cooled simple syrup over the baked baklava, and enjoy! 

Tips for the Best Results 

Desserts don’t get much more straightforward than this easy baklava recipe. However, to guarantee you have success every single time you bake, we’ve got a few extra tips and tricks!

• Thaw the Dough. Be sure to let your phyllo dough thaw completely before you begin to bake. Otherwise, it is likely to crack and become soggy. To do so, simply place it in the fridge overnight. 
• Keep the Phyllo Moist. While you don’t want your dough to be wet, you also don’t want it to be so dry that it breaks. For the best results, keep your dough covered with a damp paper towel while you work. 
• Don’t Overbake. Phyllo is delicate and bakes quickly. So, be sure to keep a close eye on it in the oven, and remove it as soon as it turns golden brown. 

Flavor Variations

While our easy baklava recipe stays true to traditional flavors, don’t hesitate to embark on your own flavor adventure! Experiment and discover new ways to make this delicious dessert! Here are some of our favorite variations to inspire your culinary creativity:

• Using Different Nuts. We use walnuts for this recipe, but pistachios taste great, too! 
• Rosewater. Enhance the Middle Eastern influence by adding a drop or two of rose water to the simple syrup to create a lightly floral flavor. 
• Chocolate. Sprinkle chocolate chips in between the layers of dough. Or, drizzle chocolate syrup on top of your baklava for an extra decadent taste. 
• Spices. Add ground cinnamon or ground cloves to the baklava layers for extra warmth.
• Honey. Mix honey and lemon juice for a sweeter taste.

Common Questions About This Easy Baklava Recipe

More Baklava-Inspired Recipes

• Baklava Puff Pastry Cinnamon Rolls
• Baklava French Toast
• Baklava Cinnamon Rolls 
• Easy Baklava Granola

Easy Baklava Recipe

4.47 from 13 votes

Author: Food Dolls

Servings: 16 servings

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 35 minutes mins

Total: 45 minutes mins

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This Easy Baklava Recipe takes all the sweet flavor and flaky texture of baklava you know and love and makes it virtually failproof to create!

Ingredients  

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For the Simple Syrup:

• ▢ 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
• ▢ ¾ cup water
• ▢ 1 teaspoon lemon juice

For the Easy Baklava Recipe:

• ▢ 1 pound Athens phyllo dough
• ▢ 2 1/2 cups walnuts
• ▢ 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 9 ounces ghee melted

Instructions 

• Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Heat a large pot over high heat. Add the sugar and submerge it with water. Gently swirl the mixture around until the sugar is dissolved. Bring the mixture to a boil, and let it boil for 5 minutes. Whisk in the lemon juice. Set the mixture aside to cool completely.
  1 ½ cups granulated sugar, ¾ cup water, 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• Using a sharp knife, slice the phyllo dough in half lengthwise to create two long pieces. Cut each piece into 1-inch sections, and arrange them in a single layer at the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
  1 pound Athens phyllo dough
• In a food processor, add the walnuts and sugar. Pulse until the mixture is well combined and finely ground. Sprinkle a layer over the phyllo dough.
  2 1/2 cups walnuts, 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• Repeat the process, adding another layer of phyllo dough followed by more of the nut mixture. Top the dish with the remaining phyllo.
• Slice 5 cuts vertically into the top of the dough followed by 8 diagonal slices.
• Pour the melted ghee over the dish, coating the dough completely and ensuring it gets into the crevices of the slits.
  9 ounces ghee
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Be careful not to burn!
• Remove from the oven, and pour the cooled simple syrup on top of the baklava. Enjoy right away!
• Store at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Equipment

1 Large Pot

1 9×13 Baking Dish

1 Food processor

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Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 416kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 8g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 138mg | Potassium: 86mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 3IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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