When it comes to desserts, baklava is a favorite throughout the Middle East and Europe. This delectable dessert is quite tasty and not terribly difficult to make. There are many varieties of the classic dessert and all of them have their own unique flavors and combinations. From a classic Greek recipe to Turkish delights, no matter how you make it, baklava is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
It is important to mention that when you are shopping for your ingredients you may not be sure about what exactly you are looking for in the grocery store. Orange blossom water is often used in these desserts. It can be found in most grocery stores as well as almost any Middle Eastern market. When it comes to the phyllo dough, choose the thinnest variety that you can find. With that being said, let’s look at 14 time-honored baklava recipes to get you started.
1. Easy Baklava
What you need:
- 2 sixteen oz packages of thawed phyllo dough
- 2 lbs of walnuts
- 2 tbsp of orange blossom water
- 2 ⅓ sticks of melted butter
For the syrup:
- 3 cups of sugar
- 2 cups of water
- 2 tbsp of orange blossom water
To make:
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grind the walnuts in a food processor. Add in the orange blossom water and the sugar. Mix and set aside. Grease a pan with cooking spray. Separate the phyllo dough and then place it into the baking dish one at a time. Each sheet needs to be brushed with butter as you sit them in the pan. After the sheets are in the pan, spread the nuts over the top. Place another layer of phyllo dough on top and then spread more nuts over them. Continue to layer in this manner.
Cut into 2 inch by 3 inch rectangles. Bake at 325 degrees until the top turns a golden brown, about 45 minutes. While baking, prepare the syrup by mixing the sugar and water together in a pan. Bring to a boil and let boil for about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and add in the orange blossom water. Stir and allow to cool. Remove baklava from oven and pour syrup over it. Allow to cool for several hours and then serve.