Jolly Christmas Baklava Recipe: A Holiday Sweet Delight

Sweet layers of tradition weave through this Christmas baklava, creating a dessert that speaks volumes about holiday warmth.

Generations of bakers have perfected the delicate art of crafting baklava with crisp phyllo and rich nutty fillings.

Honey and butter mingle in each gossamer-thin sheet, promising a truly decadent experience.

Nuts are carefully toasted and ground, releasing their deep, aromatic essence into the dessert.

Delicate pastry transforms into a golden masterpiece that will become the star of your holiday table.

The combination of crisp layers and sweet syrup captures the essence of festive celebration.

This recipe invites you to create a dessert that connects you to centuries of culinary heritage.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Calories: 366 kcal

Servings: 12

Christmas Baklava Ingredient Checklist

• Phyllo Dough: Delicate, paper-thin pastry that creates crispy, flaky layers essential for authentic baklava texture.
• Butter: Provides richness and helps achieve golden, crisp layers while adding depth of flavor.

• Walnuts, Pistachios: Crunchy nuts that deliver robust, earthy flavor and traditional Middle Eastern baklava character.
• Sugar: Sweetens the nut mixture and helps create caramelization during baking.
• Cinnamon: Warm spice that adds aromatic depth and complementary holiday warmth.
• Cloves: Intense, fragrant spice that brings complex, slightly peppery undertones.

• Water: Creates the liquid base for dissolving sugars and blending flavors.
• Sugar: Provides fundamental sweetness for the syrup.
• Honey: Adds natural sweetness and contributes to glossy, sticky texture.
• Orange Peel: Introduces bright, citrusy notes that elevate the overall flavor profile.
• Vanilla Extract: Rounds out sweetness with smooth, comforting undertones.
• Cinnamon Stick: Infuses additional warm, spicy essence into the syrup.

Tools to Layer and Bake Christmas Baklava

• Baking Dish (9×13-inch): Essential for layering and baking the baklava evenly.
• Pastry Brush: Perfect for generously coating each phyllo sheet with melted butter.
• Sharp Knife: Needed to cut precise diamond or square shapes before baking.
• Large Mixing Bowl: Great for combining chopped nuts, sugar, and spices.
• Saucepan: Necessary for preparing the sweet syrup with honey and spices.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Critical for accurate ingredient proportions.

Assemble Christmas Baklava with Spice and Sweetness

• Warm Up the Oven

Crank your oven to a toasty 175C (350F). Lovingly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with a generous butter massage.

• Create Nutty

Toss chopped nuts with sugar, cinnamon, and cloves in a mixing bowl. This will be your flavor-packed treasure.

• Build Delicate Layers

Start your phyllo masterpiece by gently laying down sheets, brushing each with melted butter. Create a delicate dance of dough and nuts, alternating layers until you’ve used all your ingredients. Finish with a crowning layer of buttery phyllo sheets.

• Slice With Precision

Grab a sharp knife and carve your baklava into beautiful diamond or square shapes. Think of yourself as a pastry sculptor.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Slide your creation into the oven and let it transform for 40-50 minutes. Watch for a gorgeous golden-brown color that signals deliciousness.

• Craft Heavenly Syrup

While baking, simmer water, sugar, honey, and spices into a luxurious liquid. Let it bubble and blend, then stir in vanilla for extra.

• Soak and Rest

The moment your baklava emerges, drench it with warm syrup. Let it rest and absorb all those incredible flavors for several hours or overnight.

• Garnish and Celebrate

Sprinkle with crushed pistachios and optional gold leaf. Your festive masterpiece is ready to dazzle!

Tips That Make Baklava Festive and Flaky

• Always toast nuts before chopping to enhance their rich, deep flavor and add a delightful crunch to your baklava.
• Prepare baklava a day or two in advance, as the flavors intensify and become more complex when allowed to rest and absorb the sweet syrup.
• Swap traditional phyllo dough with gluten-free phyllo or use layers of rice paper for a celiac-friendly version that doesn't compromise on taste.
• Replace butter with olive oil or coconut oil for a dairy-free alternative that maintains the recipe's traditional layered texture and golden crispiness.
• Experiment with different spice combinations like cardamom, orange zest, or a hint of rose water to create your unique holiday twist on this classic dessert.

Serve Baklava During the Holidays or Anytime

• Festive Holiday Plating: Arrange baklava pieces on a decorative Christmas-themed platter with sprigs of fresh mint or rosemary for elegant seasonal presentation.
• Dessert Wine Pairing: Complement the sweet, nutty baklava with a glass of dessert wine like Moscato or a rich Port to enhance the holiday flavor experience.
• Coffee Companion: Serve alongside small espresso cups or traditional Turkish coffee to balance the sweetness and provide a warm, cozy after-dinner ritual.
• Gifting Delight: Package individual pieces in clear cellophane bags tied with festive ribbons as homemade edible gifts for family and friends during Christmas celebrations.

Store Baklava in a Cool Spot for Crunchy Layers

• Allow baklava to reach room temperature completely before storing, preventing moisture buildup and maintaining crispy texture.
• Store layers separated by parchment paper in a sealed container, keeping each piece pristine and preventing sticking.
• Keeps fresh for 7-10 days when refrigerated, maintaining delicate layers and preventing syrup from spoiling quickly.
• Wrap individual pieces or entire tray tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, lasting up to 3 months without losing quality – perfect for make-ahead holiday preparations.

FAQs

• Is baklava a traditional Christmas dessert?

While baklava isn’t exclusively a Christmas dessert, this version with holiday spices like cinnamon and cloves makes it perfect for festive celebrations. It’s a delicious treat popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cultures during special occasions.

• How difficult is it to make baklava at home?

Baklava requires some patience and technique, but it’s not overly complicated. The key is handling phyllo dough carefully, brushing each layer with butter, and ensuring even layering. With practice, home cooks can master this beautiful dessert.

• Can I prepare baklava in advance?

Absolutely! Baklava actually improves with time. After adding syrup, let it sit for at least 4 hours or overnight. This allows the pastry to absorb the sweet syrup fully, enhancing its flavor and texture. It stays fresh for several days at room temperature.

• Why is my phyllo dough tearing?

Phyllo dough is delicate and can dry out quickly. Keep unused sheets covered with a damp towel while working. Gently brush each sheet with melted butter using soft, light strokes to prevent tearing. Work slowly and carefully for best results.

Festive Christmas Baklava Recipe

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4.6 from 21 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Irresistible Christmas baklava blends rich Mediterranean traditions with holiday warmth. Nutty layers of phyllo pastry and sweet honey syrup create a festive dessert for special celebrations. Guests will savor these delicate, flaky treats.

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Ingredients

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• 1 package (16 oz / 450 g) phyllo dough, thawed
• 2 cups (200 g) mixed nuts (walnuts, pistachios, and almonds), finely chopped
• 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup (240 ml) water
• 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
• ¾ cup (180 ml) honey
• ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 3 whole cloves
• 1 orange peel (zest, removed in large strips)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Chopped pistachios or walnuts
• Edible gold leaf (optional, for a festive touch)

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Instructions

1. Oven Preparation: Preheat the oven to 175C (350F) and thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter for optimal pastry release.
2. Spice Blend: Combine chopped nuts with sugar, ground cinnamon, and clove spices in a mixing bowl, creating an aromatic base for the baklava’s distinctive flavor profile.
3. Layering Technique: Methodically stack phyllo sheets into the buttered dish, brushing each translucent layer with melted butter to guarantee a crisp, golden exterior and ensure structural integrity.
4. Assembly and Seasoning: Alternate buttered phyllo sheets with the spiced nut mixture, building layers that will create a rich, textured pastry with each carefully placed ingredient.
5. Precision Cutting: Score the assembled pastry into elegant diamond or square shapes using a sharp knife, creating channels that will allow syrup to penetrate deeply into the baklava’s core.
6. Baking and Syrup Creation: Bake the pastry for 40-50 minutes until golden and crisp, simultaneously preparing a luxurious syrup by simmering water, sugar, honey, cinnamon stick, cloves, and orange peel in a saucepan.
7. Finishing Touches: Remove the syrup from heat, stir in vanilla extract, and immediately pour over the freshly baked baklava, ensuring complete and even saturation.
8. Resting and Flavor Development: Allow the baklava to rest at room temperature for a minimum of 4 hours or overnight, enabling complete syrup absorption and flavor melding.
9. Presentation: Garnish with finely chopped pistachios and optional edible gold leaf, creating a festive and elegant dessert ready to be served at room temperature.

Notes

• Butter Technique: Brush phyllo sheets generously and consistently with melted butter to achieve a crisp, flaky texture that enhances the overall pastry quality.
• Cutting Precision: Score the baklava before baking to create clean, geometric shapes that allow syrup to penetrate evenly throughout the pastry layers.
• Syrup Absorption: Let the baklava rest for at least 4 hours or overnight to ensure complete syrup absorption, which intensifies the flavor and softens the pastry.
• Temperature Control: Maintain a consistent oven temperature at 175C (350F) to prevent burning and ensure uniform golden-brown coloration of the phyllo layers.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 50 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 350
• Sugar: 20 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 25 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 30 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 30 mg