## 🥮 Baklava: A Timeless Middle Eastern Delight

Baklava is a rich, sweet pastry that has delighted taste buds for centuries across the Middle East, Eastern Mediterranean, and Balkan regions. Believed to have originated in the kitchens of the Ottoman Empire, this exquisite dessert layers paper-thin phyllo dough with nuts and bathes them in a luscious honey syrup. Beyond its irresistible taste, baklava stands as a culinary emblem of hospitality, celebration, and shared tradition.

![How to Make Perfect Baklava: A Classic Recipe](/cdimages/v1752158536/how-to-make-perfect-baklava-a-classic-recipe_lptdez.webp)

## ✨ Why Baklava is a Culinary Treasure

Baklava’s allure lies in its intricate contrast of textures and flavors: crisp, buttery layers meet crunchy, spiced nuts, all brought together by a syrup that adds fragrant sweetness. It’s often made for weddings, religious feasts, and holidays—passing down a rich cultural narrative through each bite.

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## 📝 Ingredients

### For the Baklava
- **Phyllo dough** (16–20 sheets), thawed if frozen  
- **2–3 cups chopped nuts** (traditionally walnuts, pistachios, or almonds, or a mix)  
- **1 teaspoon ground cinnamon** (optional: add ground cloves or cardamom for variation)  
- **1 cup (225g) unsalted butter**, melted  

### For the Syrup
- **1 cup (200g) granulated sugar**  
- **1/2 cup (120ml) water**  
- **1/2 cup (170g) honey**  
- **1 tablespoon lemon juice**  
- **1 cinnamon stick or 2–3 whole cloves** (optional, for extra aroma)  

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## 👩‍🍳 How to Make Baklava: A Step-by-Step Recipe

### 1️⃣ Prepare the Nut Filling
- In a bowl, combine chopped nuts with cinnamon (and other optional spices).
- Mix well and set aside.

### 2️⃣ Assemble the Baklava Layers
- Preheat your oven to **350°F (175°C)**.
- Brush the bottom and sides of a **9x13-inch (23x33cm)** baking dish generously with melted butter.
- Place a sheet of phyllo in the dish, brush with melted butter. Repeat until you’ve layered **8 sheets**, each brushed well.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of the nut mixture over the phyllo.
- Continue layering: add **4–5 more phyllo sheets**, each brushed with butter, then another layer of nuts. Repeat until all nuts are used.
- Finish with **8–10 layers of phyllo**, brushing each with butter

![Brushing phyllo dough with butter](/cdimages/v1752158354/brush-phyllo-dough-butter_axhtii.webp).

### 3️⃣ Cut Before Baking
- Using a sharp knife, cut the unbaked baklava into diamonds or squares, slicing all the way through.

### 4️⃣ Bake
- Bake for **45–50 minutes**, until the top is golden and crisp.

### 5️⃣ Prepare the Syrup
- While baklava bakes, combine sugar, water, honey, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick in a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for **10 minutes** until slightly thickened.
- Remove from heat, discard spices, and let cool slightly.

### 6️⃣ Soak and Rest
- Pour warm syrup evenly over hot baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven.
- Allow to cool completely at room temperature. For best flavor and texture, let rest **several hours or overnight**.

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## 🍵 Serving Baklava
Baklava is best enjoyed with strong coffee or tea. Its rich sweetness means small portions satisfy. It keeps well for up to a week at room temperature, often tasting even better the next day.

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## 💡 Tips & Considerations
- **Keep phyllo covered** with a damp towel to prevent drying.  
- **Adjust sweetness** by altering sugar or honey in the syrup.  
- **Use your favorite nuts**—pistachios give bright color, walnuts add hearty texture.

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## ⚡️ TL;DR
Baklava is a classic Middle Eastern pastry made of layers of phyllo, chopped nuts, and sweetened with a honey-lemon syrup. Crisp, rich, and festive, it’s a dessert that ties together tradition and indulgence beautifully.

How to Make Perfect Baklava: A Classic Recipe Explained

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How to Make Perfect Baklava: A Classic Recipe Explained