My Greek Baklava recipe combines spiced walnuts and pistachios layered between delicate crisp phyllo pastry sheets soaked with fragrant honey syrup. Learn how to make Greek Baklava, the perfect make-ahead dessert to serve on special occasions or during the holidays.
The Best Baklava Recipe
Baklava was my dad’s favorite Greek dessert. He told me stories about growing up in Athens, where he helped his mom make this delicious dessert in their very small kitchen. Dad would help with the nut layer which was made with a sprinkle of orange zest.
Grandma never let him brush melted butter over the flaky sheets of phyllo dough, although he would try to grab the small pastry brush from her hands. Grandma always cut diamond shapes on the crisp and golden-brown top layer which was soaked with a sweet honey syrup made with orange blossom water, orange peel and a cinnamon stick.
Although we never got her recipe, I am sharing with you my easy baklava recipe with step by step photos. The process is easier than you think and the end result is absolutely delicious.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Holiday Favorite: The simplicity and decadence of flaky phyllo pastry, small pieces of crunchy nuts and fragrant honey makes this classic baklava recipe perfect for any holiday.
- Make Ahead: Baklava can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks, and will keep in the freezer for 2 months!
- Flavor: This easy Greek baklava recipe is absolutely delicious! Buttery layers of phyllo pastry, cinnamon scented nut layers and sweet warm honey! Yes please!
What Is Baklava Made Of?
Baklava is a rich and sweet dessert made with layers of phyllo dough, chopped nuts and honey syrup.
Is Baklava Greek or Middle Eastern?
The origins of Baklava have been the cause of debates for many years. Desserts that resemble Baklava date as far back as the Roman empire. European countries like Greece, Hungary, Turkey and Middle Eastern countries like Lebanon and Iran also have versions of this sweet and simple dessert.
Greek Baklava seems to favor walnuts as the nut of choice for the filling. The sweet syrup is made with honey infused with cinnamon.
Turkish Baklava also known as Pistachio Baklava or Fistikli Baklava, is filled with pistachios. The syrup is made with a combination of sugar, water and lemon juice.
What Is The Difference Between Greek Baklava and Lebanese Baklava?
The main difference between Greek Baklava recipes and Lebanese Baklava is the ingredients used to make the syrup. Greek Baklava syrup is made mainly with honey spiced with a bit of cinnamon and lemon juice.
Lebanese Baklava syrup is made with a combination of sugar, water, rose water and sometimes orange blossoms water. Both countries use walnuts as their preferred nut.
What Kind of Nuts Are In a Traditional Baklava Recipe?
Traditional Greek Baklava is made with walnuts. Turkish Baklava is made with pistachio nuts.
Baklava Recipe Ingredients
For specific ingredients and their quantities, check the printable recipe card below.
- Phyllo Dough: Phyllo or Filo is sold frozen in the dessert section of the supermarket right next to frozen pies and puff pastry.
- Butter: For best results, use unsalted butter.
- Nuts: I use a combination of chopped walnuts and pistachios although the classic recipe is usually made only with walnuts.
- Ground Cinnamon: I love the warmth this spice adds to the nuts.
- Sugar: I use granulated sugar.
- Honey: Any type of honey will work. Use your favorite kind.
- Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is best!
How To Make Baklava From Scratch?
These are the highlights of how to make baklava. For detailed instructions, check the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Make sure you thaw out the package of phyllo overnight, before making this recipe
- Make the honey syrup: In a saucepan over medium-high heat combine the syrup ingredients and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat and continue cooking without stirring. Remove from the heat and cool completely. You can cool the honey syrup while the baklava bakes.
- Chop the nuts: The quick and easy way to chop the nuts is in the food processor although, you can cut them with a knife. Mix the nuts and cinnamon.
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 325ºF
- Assemble the baklava: Please check the step by step instruction on how to layer the pastry and nuts below.
- Score: With the tip of a very sharp knife, cut only a few of the top layers of phyllo. This makes cutting the baked dessert much easier!
- Bake: Bake until golden brown.
- Pour Syrup Over Baklava: The syrup should be at room temperature, not hot.
- Cool: Let the homemade Baklava soak up all the spiced sweet syrup.
How To Assemble Baklava?
Don’t stress out about the layering and filling of this simple Greek dessert. If you miss a pastry sheet or add one too many, is not the end of the world! No one will know unless you tell!
- Layer One: 10 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup walnut mixture;
- Layer Two: 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- Layer Three: 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- Layer Four: 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- Layer Five: 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- Layer 6: 10 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet and on top of the final sheet.
Can I Make Baklava Without Nuts?
Yes. Although not traditional, I’ve seen recipes that use chopped apricots or coconut.
Can I Use Only One Type Of Nut To Make Baklava?
Absolutely! Authentic Greek Baklava is usually made with just chopped walnuts however, I love pistachios so I combined the two in this recipe. You can also use just pistachios if you wish!
Working with Phyllo Dough
Phyllo Dough Tips and Tricks
- Phyllo dough should be thawed out in the refrigerator overnight. It’s best to keep it in it’s original package until ready to use.
- Some 16-ounces boxes of Phyllo dough come with 18 large sheets of phyllo in one roll while others contain 40 smaller phyllo sheets in two rolls. Both work well, however you may need to cut the larger sheets in half to fit the pan while the smaller sheets may only need a slight trim.
- After removing the phyllo dough from the box, unroll the sheets of pastry, trim as needed and keep the sheets under a damp towel. This will prevent the phyllo from drying out and breaking while you work. Don’t use a towel that is too wet. The pastry sheets tend to stick together with too much moisture.
- Work fast! Brush the sheets with butter without using too much butter. You don’t want to soak them.
- Keep your cool. Yes, phyllo sheets can be finicky but don’t worry! If some sheets tear a bit or some of your layers have wrinkles, no one will know. After they are all baked together and soaked in syrup – not even you will notice.
Why Does My Baklava Fall Apart?
Layering the Baklava the right way is key to prevent this dessert to fall apart. Stacking the right amount of phyllo sheets is key to hold the heaviness of the nuts and the syrup. You don’t want to do fewer layers of nuts either. You can find my assembly guide above or in the recipe card. Follow it and you won’t have a collapsing tower of pastry in your hands.
Why Is My Baklava Soggy?
Most likely, soggy baklava is due to using too much butter between the pastry sheets. Brushing a thin coat of butter is all that is needed.
Pouring hot syrup over the hot-off the oven baked phyllo pastry can also make the dessert soggy.
Why Is My Baklava Dry?
To prevent dry spot, make sure that you brush the butter all over the sheet. Make sure you get the borders too. A thing coat is all you need.
Can I Make Baklava Ahead Of Time?
Absolutely! This is a great make-ahead dessert and one that actually tastes better the next day after the honey syrup had time to soak in.
I keep Baklava over the counter, covered loosely for about a day. After that, I transfer it to an airtight container and store it for up to 2 weeks at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Storing it at room temperature helps on keeping the layers crispy.
Can Baklava Be Frozen?
Yes, you can freeze baked baklava for 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Easy Baklava Recipe Tips and Notes
- Make the syrup before baking the dessert. Give the syrup plenty of time to cool completely.
- Pour the cool syrup over the hot baklava. Don’t pour the syrup while is hot to prevent sogginess.
- Always thaw out the phyllo dough completely in the refrigerator overnight.
Take A Look At These Other Greek Recipes:
- Greek Meatballs (Keftedes)
- Greek Tzatziki
- Greek Spanakopita Recipe
- Chopped Greek Salad
- Greek Lemon Oven Roasted Chicken Thighs
Recipe Adapted From Natasha’s Kitchen
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Easy Baklava Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounces) package phyllo dough, thawed according to package instructions
- 1 1/4 cups butter melted
- 8- ounces walnuts finely chopped
- 8 ounces shelled pistachios finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
FOR THE SYRUP
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 2-inches piece fresh orange peel
Instructions
NOTE ABOUT PHYLLO DOUGH:
- Thaw the phyllo dough according to package instructions. It is best to thaw it out in the refrigerator overnight.
- Remove the box of phyllo from the refrigerator about 10 minutes before you are planning on working with the dough. Keep the box unopened at room temperature on the kitchen counter.
- Some 16-ounces boxes of Phyllo dough come with 18 large sheets of phyllo in one roll while others contain 40 smaller phyllo sheets in two rolls. Both work well, however you may need to cut the larger sheets in half to fit the pan while the smaller sheets may only need a slight trim.
- After removing the phyllo dough from the box, unroll the sheets of pastry, trim as needed and keep the sheets under a damp towel. This will prevent the phyllo from drying out and breaking while you work.
SYRUP AND NUTS:
- In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat combine the sugar, water, honey, lemon juice and orange peel and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to boil without stirring for about 4 additional minutes. Remove from the heat and cool completely. The syrup can cool while the baklava bakes.
- In a food processor chop the walnuts and pistachios by pulsing until coarsely ground (about 10-12 times). You can also do this with a knife, chopping the nuts until they are fine. Place the nuts in a bowl and mix with the cinnamon. Set aside.
BAKLAVA ASSEMBLY:
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
- Brush a 9 x 13 baking dish with some of the melted butter.
- Layer 10 pieces of phyllo in the baking dish, brushing each sheet with butter before adding the next sheet.
- Sprinkle about ¾ cup of the nut mixture evenly over the top of the first 10 sheets of dough.
- Layer 5 pieces of phyllo on top, brushing each with melted butter before adding the next. Sprinkle with about ¾ cup of the nut mixture. Repeat 3 more times (5 phyllo sheets, brushing each sheet with butter and topping with walnut mixture).
- Finish the baklava with a final, top layer of phyllo dough brushed with butter between the layers using the remaining 6-10 sheets of dough. Brush the top sheet of phyllo dough with butter.
- Carefully slice the baklava into 1 1/2-inch wide strips lengthwise, then slice diagonally to create diamond-shaped baklava. Or just slice squares if you prefer.
- Bake in the 325 degrees F oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes, until the baklava is golden brown. Remove from the oven and immediately drizzle the cooled syrup over the baklava.
- Let the baklava cool completely, uncovered at room temperature for 4-6 hours. The phyllo dough will absorb the syrup during this time. The finished baklava can be store for 1 to 2 weeks at room temperature, covered with just a clean tea towel.
Order of assembly:
- 10 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup walnut mixture;
- 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- 5 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet, then 3/4 cup nut mixture;
- 10 phyllo sheets, brushed with butter between each sheet and on top of the final sheet.
Chef’s Tips
- Always thaw out the puff pastry completely in the refrigerator overnight.
- After removing the phyllo dough from the box, unroll the sheets of pastry, trim as needed and keep the sheets under a damp towel. This will prevent the phyllo from drying out and breaking while you work.
- Make the syrup before baking the dessert. Give the syrup plenty of time to cool completely.
- Pour the cool syrup over the hot baklava. Don’t pour the syrup while hot to prevent sogginess.
Marie Calberry says
This recipe made a good batch of baklava. I didn’t find it too sweet or soggy. One person commented that it did not have enough syrup but others disagree. One layer with the nuts did not stick together well but I think I didn’t have enough butter. An absolute must in reading the directions on how to handle the phyllo. Next time I would ask for help with the separating of the dough and layering. I will make it again
Kathy says
Hi Marie, Thanks for the feedback. I am glad the baklava was well received by all and that you liked it. You are right! Phyllo, although easy to work with, it’s very finicky and you were smart to read all the instructions before jumping in!!Thanks again.
Mina says
The recipe was great easy to follow and make everyone loved it will definitely will remake it again it is going in family favorites so thank you
Mary Wagner says
Great recipe. Not overly sweet or gooey. I grated orange peel into the sauce. And a beginner phylo baker need a helper or two to move that dough quickly. Very good!
Amy says
I made this with honey from my own bees which made it an extra-extra-special dessert for Friendsgiving. I used ground cinnamon in the nut mixture but I simmered the syrup with some whole cloves instead of cinnamon. Separating some of the phyllo sheets out of the package was the only difficult part. I made a little sling from parchment to make it easier to get the whole thing out of the pan and it worked really well. Will definitely make this again for the next holiday.
Kathy says
Hi Amy! Using honey from your own bees gotta be so rewarding! I am glad you loved the Baklava. Thank you.
Sandra Backus says
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John says
I loved Baklava so much.
Zoe Linn says
This is a favorite and your recipe is the best I have made in years. Thank you