Heavenly Old Fashioned Baklava Recipe: Sweet Heritage Treat

Sweet memories of my grandmother’s kitchen dance around this old fashioned baklava recipe that connects generations through delicate layers of nutty goodness.

Crisp phyllo pastry whispers stories from mediterranean traditions.

Delicate honey syrup promises a symphony of textures and flavors waiting to unfold.

Nuanced spices like cinnamon and clove weave magic into each golden-brown triangle.

Crafting this dessert requires patience and love, transforming simple ingredients into a masterpiece.

Butter-brushed sheets create flaky, crisp edges that crackle with each heavenly bite.

You’ll fall in love with this authentic treat that brings warmth and nostalgia to your table.

Why Old Fashioned Baklava Is a Timeless Treat

• Craft a Sweet Masterpiece: Dive into the world of traditional baklava with this simple yet spectacular recipe that transforms basic ingredients into a mouthwatering dessert.
• Create Layered Perfection: Build stunning diamond-shaped pastry layers that showcase your baking skills, making each slice a work of culinary art.
• Impress Your Guests: Serve a dessert that looks complex but comes together with straightforward steps, surprising everyone with your kitchen prowess.
• Cultural Connection: Enjoy a classic Mediterranean treat that brings rich family traditions and generations of flavor right to your dining table.

Ingredients for Old Fashioned Baklava

• Filo Pastry Dough: Delicate and thin sheets that create the signature flaky layers of baklava.
• Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and helps create a golden, crisp texture when brushed between pastry layers.

• Walnuts: Adds a rich, earthy flavor and crunchy texture to the baklava.
• Ground Cinnamon: Brings a warm, aromatic spice that complements the nutty flavor.

• Granulated Sugar: Creates the sweet base for the syrup.
• Honey: Adds a deep, floral sweetness and helps bind the pastry layers.
• Lemon Juice: Provides a subtle brightness and helps balance the sweetness.
• Water: Helps dissolve the sugar and create the syrup consistency.

How to Make Old Fashioned Baklava

Step 1: Prepare Baking Workspace

Set up a clean work surface. Carefully unroll filo sheets and trim to fit a 13 x 9 inch baking dish. Cover sheets with a slightly damp kitchen towel to prevent drying out.

Step 2: Create Sweet Syrup

• Sugar
• Honey
• Water
• Lemon juice

Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes without stirring. Remove from heat and let cool completely.

Step 3: Prepare Nut Filling

Use a food processor to finely chop walnuts. Transfer to a mixing bowl and blend with ground cinnamon.

Step 4: Layer Pastry Base

Brush the baking dish with melted butter. Begin layering filo sheets, brushing each sheet with butter between layers. After every few layers, sprinkle the walnut-cinnamon mixture.

Step 5: Create Layered Structure

Continue alternating between buttered filo sheets and nut mixture. Aim for about 15-20 total layers, ensuring even distribution of nuts.

Step 6: Shape and Decorate

Brush the top layer generously with butter. Using a sharp knife, cut the pastry into diamond-shaped pieces by slicing diagonally across the surface.

Step 7: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat oven to 325°F. Bake baklava for approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes until the top turns a beautiful golden brown.

Step 8: Add Final Touch

Immediately after removing from the oven, drizzle the cooled honey syrup evenly over the hot pastry. Allow baklava to cool completely at room temperature.

Step 9: Serve and Enjoy

Cut into individual diamond-shaped pieces and serve. This classic dessert is perfect for sharing with friends and family.

Tips for Perfect Old Fashioned Baklava

• Protect delicate filo sheets by covering them with a damp towel to prevent drying out during preparation. Chop walnuts finely in a food processor for a smooth, consistent texture that distributes evenly throughout the pastry layers. Brush each filo sheet generously with melted butter to create those signature crispy, golden layers that make baklava irresistible. Take time to slice the baklava into diamond shapes before baking for traditional presentation and easier serving. Allow the pastry to cool completely after drizzling with honey syrup, which helps the baklava absorb the sweet liquid and develop maximum flavor.

Variations to Customize Old Fashioned Baklava

• Nutty Paradise: Replace walnuts with a blend of pistachios, almonds, and pecans for a rich, complex flavor profile that elevates the traditional recipe.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Incorporate orange zest and cardamom into the syrup for a bright, aromatic twist that adds depth to the classic baklava.
• Chocolate Lovers' Dream: Layer dark chocolate shavings between filo sheets and drizzle with a chocolate-infused honey syrup for an indulgent dessert experience.
• Tropical Escape: Use macadamia nuts and add a splash of coconut extract to the syrup, creating a Hawaiian-inspired version of the traditional pastry.

Suggested Pairings for Old Fashioned Baklava

• Pair Sweet Greek Wine: Complement the rich, honey-sweetened baklava with a traditional Greek dessert wine like Vinsanto, which echoes the pastry's nutty and sweet profile.
• Create Coffee Companion: Serve alongside strong Turkish coffee or Greek espresso, allowing the bold, robust coffee to balance the baklava's intense sweetness and cut through its buttery layers.
• Match Herbal Tea Experience: Select a light chamomile or mint tea to cleanse the palate between bites, providing a refreshing contrast to the dense, sugary pastry and helping digest the rich dessert.
• Enhance Dessert Harmony: Consider adding a small scoop of vanilla bean ice cream on the side, which will provide a cool, creamy texture that beautifully complements the crunchy, syrupy baklava.

Best Storage Methods for Old Fashioned Baklava

• Seal baklava in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Keep layers separated with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
• Place baklava in a covered container at room temperature for 2-3 days. Avoid direct sunlight and keep in a cool, dry spot to maintain crispness.
• Wrap individual pieces or entire pan tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
• Warm individual pieces in a preheated oven at 300°F for 5-7 minutes. Avoid microwave reheating to prevent soggy pastry. Serve slightly warm for best texture and flavor.

FAQs on Old Fashioned Baklava

• Is baklava difficult to make at home?

Baklava requires patience and precision, but with careful handling of delicate filo sheets and methodical layering, home cooks can successfully create this sweet dessert.

• Why do I need to keep filo dough covered with a damp towel?

Filo pastry dries out quickly, so the damp towel prevents sheets from becoming brittle and breaking during preparation, ensuring smooth layering.

• Can I substitute walnuts with another nut?

Almonds or pistachios work perfectly as alternatives, maintaining the traditional nutty texture and flavor profile of baklava while offering slight variations in taste.

• How do I prevent my baklava from becoming soggy?

Ensure you brush each filo sheet thoroughly with melted butter and bake at the correct temperature to create crisp layers that absorb syrup without becoming mushy.

Old Fashioned Baklava Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.7 from 11 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Layers of golden phyllo pastry embrace sweet walnut filling in this classic Middle Eastern Old Fashioned Baklava recipe. Honey-drenched, crisp, and richly traditional, this dessert invites you to savor generations of delectable culinary heritage.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Ingredients:

• 4 cups walnuts, chopped finely
• 1 16 ounces (454 grams) package filo pastry dough, thawed
• 13 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Spice and Flavoring:

• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Syrup and Sweeteners:

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup pure honey
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 3/4 cup water

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Trim filo pastry sheets to fit a 13 x 9 inch baking dish, covering with a damp towel to prevent drying.
2. Thoroughly grease the baking dish with melted butter.
3. Create honey syrup by combining sugar, lemon juice, water, and honey in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
4. Reduce heat and simmer for 4 minutes without stirring, then remove from heat and allow to cool completely.
5. Preheat oven to 325°F.
6. Pulse walnuts in a food processor until finely chopped, then mix with ground cinnamon in a separate bowl.
7. Layer 10 filo sheets into the baking dish, brushing each sheet generously with melted butter.
8. Spread an even layer of walnut-cinnamon mixture over the buttered filo sheets.
9. Continue alternating 5 filo sheets and walnut mixture, ensuring each filo layer is brushed with butter.
10. Top the final layer with 10 buttered filo sheets, ensuring the top is evenly coated with melted butter.
11. Using a sharp knife, slice the unbaked pastry into diamond-shaped pieces.
12. Bake uncovered for 85 minutes, or until the pastry turns golden brown and crisp.
13. Immediately after removing from the oven, evenly drizzle the cooled honey syrup over the entire pastry.
14. Allow baklava to cool completely at room temperature before serving to ensure syrup absorption.

Notes

• Protect delicate filo sheets by keeping them covered with a damp towel to prevent drying out during preparation.
• Chop walnuts finely in a food processor for a consistent texture that ensures even distribution throughout layers.
• Create crisp layers by generously brushing each filo sheet with melted butter, which helps achieve that signature flaky, golden-brown crust.
• Make ahead and store baklava at room temperature in an airtight container for up to a week, allowing flavors to develop and intensify over time.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 85 minutes
• Category: Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 371
• Sugar: 21 g
• Sodium: 40 mg
• Fat: 26 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 32 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 16 mg