Christmas Baklava: A Festive Twist on a Classic Dessert

The holiday season is all about indulgence—delicious treats, rich flavors, and festive desserts. If you’re looking to elevate your holiday dessert game and offer something unique to your guests, look no further than Christmas Baklava. This festive take on the classic Middle Eastern pastry adds a touch of seasonal flavors and spices, making it the perfect treat for your holiday celebrations.

With its flaky, golden layers of filo dough, sweet spiced nut filling, and luscious honey syrup, Christmas Baklava is the kind of dessert that is as delightful to look at as it is to eat. It’s an ideal centerpiece for your dessert table or a thoughtful gift for friends and family.

Here’s how to make this irresistible, festive version of baklava that will leave everyone asking for the recipe!

Why You’ll Love Christmas Baklava

Festive Flavors: Christmas Baklava is spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, adding a seasonal twist that makes it perfect for the holidays.
Perfectly Sweet and Crunchy: The layers of crispy filo dough and sweet nut filling create a perfect balance of textures.
Make Ahead and Easy to Share: This dessert is perfect for preparing ahead of time, and it keeps well, making it a great option for holiday parties, potlucks, or gifting.
Gorgeous Presentation: The intricate layers and golden finish make this baklava look as beautiful as it tastes—ideal for impressing your guests or showing off at a holiday gathering.

Ingredients for Christmas Baklava

For the Baklava:

1 pound filo dough (thawed if frozen)
2 cups mixed nuts (a combination of walnuts, pistachios, and almonds works great, finely chopped)
1 cup unsalted butter (melted, for brushing the filo dough)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 cup granulated sugar

For the Honey Syrup:

1 cup honey
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 cinnamon stick (optional, for an added warm flavor)

How to Make Christmas Baklava

Step 1: Prepare the Nut Filling

Begin by chopping your mixed nuts into small pieces. You can use a food processor for a finer texture, or roughly chop them with a knife for a chunkier bite.
In a bowl, combine the chopped nuts with the ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and ground cloves. This spiced nut mixture will give the baklava its distinctive Christmas flavor. Set the filling aside.

Step 2: Layer the Filo Dough

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish or a similar-sized pan.
Brush the bottom of the baking dish with a little bit of melted butter. Place the first sheet of filo dough in the dish and brush it lightly with more melted butter. Repeat this step, layering and buttering each sheet, until you have about 8 sheets of filo dough stacked on top of each other.
Sprinkle a thin layer of the spiced nut mixture over the filo dough, spreading it out evenly.
Continue layering another 8 sheets of buttered filo dough, followed by more of the nut mixture. Repeat this process until you’ve used up all the nuts. Finish the layering with a final set of 8-10 sheets of buttered filo dough on top.

Step 3: Cut the Baklava

Before baking, use a sharp knife to cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes. It’s important to cut the baklava before baking so that the syrup can seep into the layers after baking. Be sure to cut all the way through the filo dough and the nut filling to ensure each piece is easy to serve.

Step 4: Bake the Baklava

Place the baklava in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the filo dough is golden brown and crispy. Keep an eye on the baklava as it bakes, and rotate the pan halfway through if needed for even browning.

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