RP
RecipePoolDiscover your next favorite recipe
  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About
Search
Browse
IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion

Main Navigation

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • About

Browse Faster

IngredientsCuisineDietMethodOccasion
Follow RecipePool on Pinterest
RecipePool

1,784+ tested recipes

Thoughtfully tested recipes, seasonal inspiration, and cooking guides to help you make something delicious every day.

Get weekly recipe inspiration

Explore

  • Recipes
  • Collections
  • Roundups
  • Seasonal
  • Products
  • Meal Plans
  • Guides
  • Ingredients

Browse By

  • Cuisine
  • Diet
  • Method
  • Occasion

Company

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Policy
  • Recipe Testing
  • Privacy
  • Terms

© 2026 RecipePool. All rights reserved.

HomeSearchCollectionsSaved
  1. Home
  2. Recipes
  3. Baklava
Close-up of traditional Turkish baklava with pistachios on a white plate, emphasizing texture.

Flaky phyllo layers with pistachios and honey syrup

Baklava

Baklava

1h 15mMedium

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

45 min

Total Time

1 hr 15 min

Servings

15

30 pieces

Difficulty

Medium

Cost

Premium

$$$

Be the first to rate this recipe
Share

Baklava

Flaky phyllo layers with pistachios and honey syrup

Shatteringly crisp layers of buttered phyllo pastry enclosing fragrant chopped pistachios, soaked in a honey and orange blossom syrup. The king of Middle Eastern sweets.

30m

Prep Time

45m

Cook Time

75m

Total Time

15

Servings

Medium

Difficulty

Premium $$$

Cost

Mediterranean CuisineDessertVegetarian
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen

May 18, 2023(Updated April 13, 2026)

Baklava is a labor of love with an extraordinary reward—dozens of tissue-thin phyllo layers turn golden and crispy around a spiced nut filling, then soak up just enough syrup to become sweet and sticky.

Why This Recipe Works

Brushing every layer with butter ensures each one crisps independently. Pouring cold syrup over hot baklava lets it absorb evenly without becoming soggy.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb phyllo dough, thawed
  • 2 cups pistachios, finely chopped
  • 1 cup butter, melted
  • 1 cup sugar and 3/4 cup water (for syrup)
  • 2 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp orange blossom or rosewater

Instructions

  1. 1

    Make syrup: boil sugar and water 5 minutes, add honey and orange blossom water. Cool completely.

  2. 2

    Brush a 9x13 pan with butter. Layer 10 phyllo sheets, brushing each with melted butter.

  3. 3

    Spread 1 cup pistachios. Add 5 more buttered phyllo sheets, another cup of pistachios, then 10 final buttered sheets on top.

  4. 4

    Cut into diamond shapes with a sharp knife before baking. Bake at 325°F for 40-45 minutes until golden.

  5. 5

    Pour cold syrup slowly and evenly over the hot baklava. Let rest at least 4 hours before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Ways to Serve This Dish

  • 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

Substitutions

PistachiosWalnuts or almonds

Equally traditional in different regions

Orange blossom waterRosewater

Different but equally traditional floral note

DepthPantry

Test Kitchen Pick

Olive Oil

Helpful Pantry Staple

Why the olive oil matters

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.

  • Useful in dressings, sauces, and finishing
  • Improves flavor without changing the recipe structure

A good bottle of olive oil is one of the safest pantry upgrades for Mediterranean and Italian cooking.

Shop olive oil for this recipe

Tips & Storage

Pro Tips

  • Cut before baking—the layers will shatter if you try to cut after.

  • Low oven temperature (325°F) ensures the layers cook through without burning.

Storage

Store at room temperature covered for up to 2 weeks. Do not refrigerate.

Reheating

Baklava is served at room temperature. No reheating needed.

Nutrition Facts

Per serving (25mg) · 15 servings

Calories260
LowModerateHigh

A moderate-calorie serving · based on a 2,000 cal daily diet

Protein4g
Carbohydrates16g
Fat28g
Fiber180mg
Sugar1g
Sodium16g

Nutritional values are approximate and may vary based on specific ingredients and preparation methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my baklava soggy?
The syrup was warm, or you used too much. Cold syrup on hot baklava is essential.
Can I use walnuts?
Absolutely. Walnuts, almonds, or a mix are all traditional depending on the region.

Explore More

More Mediterranean RecipesMore DessertVegetarian RecipesOven RecipesBaking Recipes
Sarah Chen

About Sarah Chen

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.

View all recipes →

Some product links on this page may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate RecipePool earns from qualifying purchases.

Related Recipes

Delicious basbousa slices topped with almonds, perfect for dessert lovers.

Basbousa

40 min

Pink Turkish delight lokum pieces dusted in powdered sugar with pistachios

Turkish Delight Lokum

310 min

Ma'amoul cookies dusted with powdered sugar on a tray

Ma'amoul Cookies

65 min

Maqluba upside-down rice dish with lamb and eggplant

Maqluba

80 min

Grand platter of Jordanian mansaf with lamb, rice, and flatbread

Mansaf

150 min

Golden knafeh cheese pastry with orange syrup and pistachios

Knafeh

55 min

You Might Also Like

Delicious basbousa slices topped with almonds, perfect for dessert lovers.
Vegetarian
Easy

Mediterranean

Basbousa

40 min8 servings
View Recipe

Basbousa

40 min•Easy
Pink Turkish delight lokum pieces dusted in powdered sugar with pistachios
VeganGluten-Free
Medium

Mediterranean

Turkish Delight Lokum

5h 10m12 servings
View Recipe

Turkish Delight Lokum

5h 10m•Medium
Ma'amoul cookies dusted with powdered sugar on a tray
Vegetarian
Medium

Mediterranean

Ma'amoul Cookies

1h 5m12 servings
View Recipe

Ma'amoul Cookies

1h 5m•Medium
Maqluba upside-down rice dish with lamb and eggplant
Gluten-FreeDairy-Free
Medium

Mediterranean

Maqluba

1h 20m6 servings
View Recipe

Maqluba

1h 20m•Medium
Grand platter of Jordanian mansaf with lamb, rice, and flatbread
Gluten-Free
Hard

Mediterranean

Mansaf

2h 30m8 servings
View Recipe

Mansaf

2h 30m•Hard
Golden knafeh cheese pastry with orange syrup and pistachios
Vegetarian
Medium

Mediterranean

Knafeh

55 min8 servings
View Recipe

Knafeh

55 min•Medium
See more Mediterranean recipes →