Walnut and Pistachio Baklava

Name: Walnut and Pistachio Baklava
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 1 h 40 min
Yield: 24 serving(s)
Ingredients: 3/4 c. plus 3 tablespoons sugar; 1 tsp. honey; 2 tsp. fresh orange juice; 1 1/2 c. shelled, raw pistachios; 1 1/2 c. walnut halves; 1 tsp. ground cinnamon; 1/2 tsp. kosher salt; 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted, plus more for the pan; 18 sheets phyllo dough

By Samantha SeneviratneUpdated: Jul 28, 2021

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preview for This Walnut-Pistachio Baklava Is A Sticky Dream

Yields:

24 serving(s)

Prep Time:

15 mins

Total Time:

1 hr 40 mins

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Sticky and rich, baklava is a dessert made of layered sheets of phyllo dough, nuts, spices, sugar and/or honey. It’s served all over the Middle East, Turkey, and Greece. This version uses walnuts and pistachios but feel free to use whichever nuts you like the most.

Don’t be intimidated by phyllo dough. As long as you keep the sheets covered while you work, to keep them moist enough to work with, not much can go wrong. Little tears disappear once the dish is layered together.

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Directions

1. Step 1In a small saucepan, bring 3/4 cup of the sugar and ¾ cup water to a simmer and cook until the sugar is dissolved and thickened slightly, about 2 minutes. Let cool completely then stir in honey and orange juice.
2. Step 2Preheat oven to 350°F. In a food processor, pulse pistachios, walnuts, cinnamon, salt and the remaining 3 tablespoons sugar until the nuts are very finely ground. They must be very finely ground for the baklava layers to stay together
3. Step 3Unroll the stack of phyllo on a work surface and trim to a 8-inch square. Immediately cover the stack with a layer of plastic wrap and a dishtowel to keep the plastic in place. Keep the phyllo covered while you work, lifting the plastic and towel only to grab one sheet at a time. Brush an 8-inch square baking pan with butter and line with parchment, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides. Brush the parchment with butter. Lay 1 sheet of phyllo on the bottom. Brush sheet lightly with butter and add another sheet. Repeat this process with 4 more sheets. Top evenly with 1/3 of the nut mixture and drizzle with 1 tablespoon butter. Add 4 more sheets of phyllo layered with butter. Top with the another 1/3 of the nut mixture and another tablespoon of butter. Add 4 more sheets of phyllo layered with butter. Top with the remaining nut mixture and another tablespoon of butter. Finish with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo layered with butter
4. Step 4Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into 24 pieces. Be careful not to cut the parchment on the bottom. Bake until golden brown and crisp, 35 to 40 minutes. Pour the cool syrup all over the warm baklava. Let cool completely at room temperature, then cover with plastic wrap and let stand overnight. Use the parchment to transfer the baklava to a cutting board and recut into pieces before serving.
5. Step 5Baklava will keep, tightly wrapped in the refrigerator, for about a week.