🌟 Almond-Walnut Baklava Recipe 🌟
If you’re craving a taste of the Mediterranean, our Almond-Walnut Baklava recipe is a divine dessert that promises to transport your taste buds to a world of rich flavors and tantalizing textures. Crafted with love and precision, this baklava is an indulgent treat that marries the sweetness of honey with the crunch of almonds and walnuts, encased in layers of buttery phyllo pastry.
🕒 Total Time: Variable (Approximately 1 hour for baking)
🍽️ Servings: 1 (but easily scalable for a crowd)
Ingredients:
| Quantity | Ingredient |
|---|---|
| 2 cups | Sugar |
| 1 1/2 cups | Water |
| 1 unit | Cinnamon stick |
| 3 units | Cloves |
| 1/2 cup | Honey |
| 1 cup | Brandy |
| 1 3/4 cups | Walnuts, toasted and chopped |
| 1 3/4 cups | Almonds, toasted and chopped |
| 2 units | Phyllo pastry sheets |
| 1/2 cup | Unsalted butter |
| 2 units | Whole cloves |
| 1/2 cup | Breadcrumbs |
| – | Ground cinnamon |
Instructions:
-
Prepare the Syrup:
- In a saucepan, combine sugar, water, cinnamon stick, cloves, and honey.
- Stir over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
- Increase the heat and boil gently until the mixture reduces to 2 1/2 cups, approximately 10 minutes.
- Strain the syrup into a bowl and mix in the brandy.
- Allow the syrup to cool completely.
-
Nut Filling:
- Toast the almonds and walnuts, then finely chop them in a food processor.
- Transfer the nuts to a large bowl.
- Mix in ground cinnamon and breadcrumbs.
-
Prepare the Phyllo Pastry:
- Butter the bottom and sides of a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish.
- Unroll the stacked phyllo sheets, press folds to smooth, and cut crosswise in half.
- Place a phyllo sheet in the bottom of the prepared dish, brushing it with melted butter.
- Repeat the process with 12 more sheets, sprinkling 3/4 cup of the nut mixture over every four layers.
- Top the final layer with 18 more sheets, ensuring each one is generously brushed with butter.
- Cut the baklava lengthwise into thirds and make 8 diagonal cuts.
- Place a whole clove on top of each section.
- Lightly sprinkle water over the top.
- Bake at 350 degrees in the center of the oven until the pastry is golden brown, approximately 1 hour.
-
Finishing Touch:
- Gradually pour the cooled syrup over the hot baklava.
- Allow the baklava to cool completely, letting the syrup infuse its sweetness into every layer.
This Almond-Walnut Baklava is a labor of love that will leave you and your guests in awe. The combination of crunchy nuts, buttery phyllo, and the aromatic syrup creates a dessert that’s not only visually stunning but a true celebration of flavors. Serve it at your next gathering or save it for a special occasion – either way, it’s bound to be a showstopper! 💖🍰
