
Crispy shredded pastry with stretchy cheese and syrup
Prep Time
20 min
Cook Time
35 min
Total Time
55 min
Servings
8
1 round pan (10-inch)
Difficulty
Medium
Cost
Moderate
$$
Crispy shredded pastry with stretchy cheese and syrup
A spectacular Middle Eastern dessert of crispy, golden shredded pastry hiding a layer of hot, stretchy cheese, all drenched in fragrant orange blossom syrup. Irresistible.
20m
Prep Time
35m
Cook Time
55m
Total Time
8
Servings
Medium
Difficulty
Moderate $$
Cost
(Updated )
Knafeh is the rock star of Middle Eastern desserts—crunchy kadaifi pastry, molten stretchy cheese, and a shower of sweet syrup create a combination of textures and flavors that's utterly addictive.
Make syrup: boil sugar and water for 5 minutes, add orange blossom water, and cool completely.
Pull apart kadaifi pastry and toss with melted butter until evenly coated.
Press half the pastry into a buttered 10-inch round pan. Add cheese in an even layer. Top with remaining pastry, pressing firmly.
Bake at 375°F for 30-35 minutes until the top is deeply golden and crispy.
Immediately flip onto a plate (crispy side up), pour cold syrup over the hot knafeh, and garnish with crushed pistachios. Serve warm.
Serve with crusty artisan bread for dipping
Finish with a drizzle of high-quality extra virgin olive oil
Pair with a simple arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette
Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream
Same product, different names
Best widely available substitute for the stretch
Test Kitchen Pick
Olive Oil
Helpful Pantry Staple
On recipes like this, olive oil is not just a background fat. A better bottle gives you cleaner flavor and a better finish.
This is one of the few pantry upgrades that keeps paying off every time you cook in this lane.
A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.
Shop olive oil for this recipeThe syrup must be cold and the knafeh hot for proper absorption without sogginess.
Soak akkawi cheese in water for several hours, changing water twice, to remove excess salt.
Best eaten warm and fresh. Refrigerate for 2 days.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes to re-melt the cheese.
Per serving (40mg) · 8 servings
A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet
Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.
Sarah Chen is a professional recipe developer and food editor with over a decade of experience in test kitchens and food media. She trained at the Culinary Institute of America before spending six years developing and testing recipes for national food publications, where she honed her ability to translate restaurant techniques into approachable home cooking. At RecipePool, Sarah leads recipe development, ensuring every dish is tested at least three times for clarity, accuracy, and genuine deliciousness. When she is not in the kitchen, she is browsing farmers markets and collecting vintage cookbooks.
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Mediterranean

Mediterranean
Mediterranean

Mediterranean
Mediterranean

Mediterranean