This Golden Star Baklava is a traditional dessert crafted with precision and love, offering a rich, sweet experience with each bite. Made with layers of thin pastry (jufki), melted butter mixed with oil, and a generous amount of crushed walnuts, this baklava is baked to a golden perfection and soaked in a delicately cooked sugar syrup. Each layer is crisped to perfection, contrasting beautifully with the soft, sweet filling, creating a decadent and indulgent treat.
Why You’ll Love This:
Baklava is celebrated for its delightful texture and depth of flavor. The combination of crispy, buttery pastry with the rich, nutty filling offers a satisfying crunch followed by a melt-in-your-mouth sweetness. The syrup, gently poured over the cooked baklava, perfectly complements the dry texture of the nuts and pastry, making the dessert moist and rich. It’s a luxurious treat that’s both satisfying and aromatic.
Perfect Occasion:
Baklava is a versatile dessert ideal for numerous occasions. It shines during festive celebrations, such as weddings, Eid, Christmas, or any large gathering. It’s also perfect for gifting, thanks to its rich and luxurious nature. Serve this baklava at a family dinner as a grand finale to your meal, or present it at cultural festivals to delight guests with something sweet and traditional.
Decoration Tips:
To enhance the visual appeal of this baklava, sprinkle the top with finely chopped pistachios or a dusting of ground cinnamon before serving. These additions not only add color and texture but also complement the flavor profile of the dessert. For an extra touch of elegance, place each piece in a cupcake liner and arrange on a decorative platter.
Ingredients:
- 1 kg of walnuts, finely crushed
- 1 kg of phyllo dough
- 250 g of butter
- 200 ml of oil
- 1 kg of sugar
- Water (enough to cover the sugar by 1 cm in a saucepan)
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees Celsius (392 degrees Fahrenheit).
- Melt the butter and mix it with the oil. Use this mixture to grease each layer of phyllo dough as you lay them in the baking dish.
- Start by layering three sheets of phyllo at the bottom of a greased baking dish, each sheet brushed with the butter-oil mixture.
- After the base layer, add two sheets at a time, sprinkling a layer of crushed walnuts between each double layer of dough.
- Finish with three sheets on top, ensuring the top layer is also brushed with the butter-oil mixture.
- Before baking, cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes.
- Bake at 200 degrees Celsius until the top layer is golden brown, then reduce the temperature to 150 degrees Celsius and bake for an additional 30 minutes.
- For the syrup, combine the sugar with enough water to cover it by 1 cm in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for exactly 20 minutes.
- Allow the baked baklava to cool for about 10 minutes after removing it from the oven. Gradually pour half of the syrup over the warm baklava, let it absorb, then pour the remaining syrup.
- Let the baklava sit for several hours or overnight to fully soak up the syrup before serving.
Enjoy this Golden Star Baklava, a true delight that brings a touch of sweetness and joy to any table!
