Easy Baklava with a Simple Filling and Walnuts

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The Easy Baklava with a Simple Filling and Walnuts is made up of crispy layers of phyllo dough, butter, crushed nuts, and sweet honey syrup. The show-stopping and scrumptious recipe makes the perfect nutty dessert! This easy recipe is great for special occasions, celebrations, or a family dinner as it’s an irresistible crowd pleaser.

baklava-in-a-baking-tray-with-walnut-pieces-on-top

I decided to put together this delicious and easy baklava recipe for you to have a taste of those exotic flavors right in your own home. If it’s your first time trying out a recipe like this, you shouldn’t worry about it turning out wrong, there are many different ways to make baklava and this foolproof recipe is a great place to start.

While I do have a baklava recipe that uses pre-made dough of phyllo sheets, this classic baklava recipe is special: you get to master the art of the baklava one hundred percent! That means no shortcuts, nothing that’s already been done for you.

But don’t worry: this recipe is so much easier than it tastes! It’s such a unique dessert and you will surely impress your friends and family as you put this on your table.

I’ve heard that some people eat hot baklava, not letting it cool down too much. The version of baklava I prefer is served at room temperature so that the sweet phyllo layers of homemade dough crisp in your mouth evenly. Once that first top layer crunches, you know the rest of the baklava is going to be delicious! Don’t hesitate to make this baklava recipe!

Table of Contents

Key Ingredients for Homemade Baklava

baklava ingredients sour cream, baking soda, eggs, sugar, flour, walnuts, and butter.

Flour: This is used to make the base of the dough. You’ll mix it up with

Unsalted butter: This is mixed with flour to make a crumbly, buttery mix.

Sour cream: Added for softness

Baking soda: Helps to make the dough fluffy.

Sugar: Sweetens the dough.

Egg yolks: Pulls together the dough, making it nice and soft.

Key Ingredients to make the filling?

Walnuts: You can’t have a homemade baklava without the nuts!

Sugar: Naturally makes the nutty mixture nice and sweet.

Egg whites: They are combined with the sugar to make a sugar syrup. Then, you’ll add in the walnuts.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How To Make Baklava with a Simple Filling and Walnuts

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

In a bowl, combine flour and baking soda with softened, unsalted butter. Incorporate well together until butter forms into small crumbs.

Step 2: Add sour cream and sugar

To the butter and flour, add sour cream and sugar. Mix until well combined.

baklava-dough-ingredients-in-a-glass-bowl

Step 3: Add in egg yolks

Add in egg yolks. Mix and toss the dough together until all is well incorporated. The dough will become soft and gentle.

Step 4: Divide then refrigerate the dough

Divide the dough into 3 equal parts. Shape each part into a round disk-like shape. Wrap each with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Step 5: Start preparing the filling

Meanwhile, prepare the filling by beating together egg whites and sugar.

Step 6: Prepare the cup nut mixture

Grind the walnuts using a food processor to pulse them. Stir the walnuts into the eggs and sugar.

Step 7: Prepare the oven and baking dish

Preheat oven to 350F then butter up an oven-safe baking pan, 8 X 12 inch ( If it is glass or ceramic, you don’t need to butter it up).

Step 8: Add the bottom layer of the dough

Take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll it out gently for it to fit and cover the entire pan. (Use flour for the dough so it does not stick to your surface). Carefully transfer one rolled-out dough into your pan.

Step 9: Spread filling on the dough

Take half of the nut mixture and spread it over the dough in the pan.

Step 10: Continue to assemble the Baklava

Add another rolled-out dough and spread the rest of the nut mixer over the dough. Cover it with the third rolled-out dough.

Step 11: Cut the dough

Use a very sharp knife to cut the dough into diamond shapes.

Step 12: Prepare the egg wash

Whisk 1 egg yolk and use a pastry brush to add on the top of the baklava. Add a nut to each piece.

unbaked-baklava-in-a-baking-tray-with-walnut-pieces-on-top

Step 13: Bake the baklava

Put in the oven for 45 minutes or until the top is a golden brown color.

Step 14: Cool, Serve and enjoy

After taking the baklava out of the oven, cool it down completely before trying to take it out from the bottom of the pan. Serve cold or at room temperature and enjoy every bite of the best baklava recipe!

Expert Tips

For best results, cut the baklava before you bake it. That’s because it’ll be much harder to slice clean pieces after it’s been baked as the flaky pastry won’t cut evenly.
You can use any choice of your favorite nuts such as chopped walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, or a combination of nuts.
Continue to watch the oven, especially toward the end as the baklava can burn very fast.

How to Store leftover Baklava

Baklava is the perfect make-ahead dessert. It can wait for 24 hours before being enjoyed and stays perfectly crunchy!
You can store completely cooled leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. Cover the pieces in a cling film to stay extra crispy. Store out of the fridge for 2-3 days or in the fridge for up to 7 days. After that, it can start to dry up.
To freeze, wrap the baklava tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to eat it again, thaw it overnight in the fridge and enjoy the next day.

Recipe FAQs

What’s baklava made of?

Baklava uses simple main ingredients and an easy layering process making the whole thing a delicious and fulfilling project worth the time and effort. The best baklava is made of soft dough layers and a walnut filling, along with a simple egg wash on top that shines as this dessert bakes.

Why does baklava taste so good?

This Middle Eastern traditional dessert tastes amazing because of the nut filling. Walnut baklava has sweetness and nuttiness in it that makes it the perfect dessert. Your first attempt can taste so delicious, you’ll be making it over and over and soon it’ll be your favorite thing to make. It’s definitely one of my favorite desserts!

What is Baklava?

Baklava is a sweet dessert that in my book, I’d describe as perfect. It’s created with layers of phyllo pastry, sweet honey syrup, and nuts. It’s the perfect treat to enjoy with coffee or tea after a long day (or in the middle of one!).

The delectable dessert comes from the Middle East but you’ll find a Greek baklava Recipe so the exact origins are not clear. I’ve had delicious variations of baklava while traveling internationally, from the Turkish Baklava recipe, pistachio baklava, baklava with a chocolate filling, and some versions with a simple sweet syrup.

How do you cut the baklava into diamond shapes?

Cut the baklava into 4 equal triangles. Then each triangle in half forms 8 triangles in total. From one wedge at a time, make two straight cuts, 1 inch apart, parallel to the other side of the triangle. Make two more cuts, parallel to the opposite side of the same triangle, creating a diamond pattern. Repeat the process in the remaining 7 wedges.

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Enjoy More tasty dessert recipes:

These Gluten-Free Dried Fruit Bars with Nuts and Dates on The Go are sweet, crunchy, chewy, and delicious.
Try the Sugarless Dough Rogaliki (rugelach) with coffee or as the ultimate party dessert. They’re easy-to-make, easier-to-devour cookies that are flaky, buttery, and absolutely delicious.
These Russian Vatrushka Buns with Sweet Cheese Filling are a favorite bite-size yummy Slavic dessert.
The Peach and Brie Puff Pastry Tarts perfectly combine sweet and savory, crunchy and smooth in one simple bite.

Other recipes made with Walnuts

If you tried this Easy Baklava with a Simple Filling and Walnuts or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!