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Baklava, baklava, baklava! It’s such an amazingly perfect dessert, but it’s often time-consuming to make. I’m so nuts (pun intended!) about baklava that I made a simpler, rolled variation that you can make much quicker.

Baklava rolls on a plate

Hands down, this will be the easiest rolled baklava recipe you will come across. It’s flaky, chewy, nutty, and so yummy. Just to give you a fair warning, you might have trouble observing a diet with this one. The first time I made this recipe, I was hoping to share it with friends, but it was gone too quickly and too soon. More so, it combines all my favorite things about cooking — a helpful shortcut, a small ingredient list, and no skimping on the sugar.

Where Did Baklava Originate?

This scrumptious dessert is not only seeped in honey but also history. The earliest records of baklava recipes date back to early as the 8th century B.C. Today, many ethnic groups make baklava and have variations of the dessert. From the Greeks to the Turks, every chef has their style of baklava and that makes the eating all the greater. Variety is the spice of life, right?

What Baklava is Made of

If you have had baklava before, you know it is as decadent as it gets. To make it, you alternate layers of phyllo dough with chopped walnuts, cinnamon, sugar, and butter or ghee. After you bake your baklava, you will drench it with melted honey and let it soak in all the sweetness for several hours. 

Different Varieties of Baklava

There are so many different types of baklava out there. Some chefs use ground pistachio instead of walnuts, while others use almonds. Some people also like to bake their baklava like cakes. Others like a spicier nut mixture packed with ground cloves and cinnamon. For this recipe, you will use my rolling method to skip some of the manual labor. When I created this easier version, I didn’t realize how dangerous it was going to be to have baklava on the table so fast!

How to Make this Rolled Baklava Recipe

Preparing this rolled baklava recipe takes just 20 minutes of prep time – almost a quarter less total time than traditional baklava! 

  • Chop the Nuts: Use a food processor to chop the nuts into tiny pieces. 
  • Make the Filling: In a medium bowl, toss the chopped nuts with confectioner’s sugar and cinnamon. In a small bowl, melt the butter. 
  • Prepare the Sheets of Phyllo Dough: On a large cutting board, lay out the phyllo one sheet at a time, brushing each with melted butter. 
  • Assemble the Rolled Baklava: Sprinkle the nut mixture onto the buttered sheets and roll up the phyllo into a tight roll. Place the baklava log into a baking pan and repeat the rolling process until you run out of ingredients. 
  • Brush the Rolled Baklava: Brush the rolled baklava with melted butter. 
  • Bake the Rolled Baklava: Pop the baking dish in the oven at 375°F for 25 minutes.
  • Soak the Rolled Baklava: In a saucepan, combine the sugar and water and boil it on low for 10 minutes. Optionally, add a few cinnamon sticks in while the syrup comes together. Add in the honey and stir to combine. Pour the sweet mixture over the baking tray and let it soak at room temperature for 3 hours. 
  • Slice the Baklava: Slice the baklava into bite-sized pieces and decorate each piece with a clove if you wish. 

Hot Tip: To make the syrup more citrusy, add a couple of tablespoons of fresh lemon juice or orange blossom water to the mix. 

2 photos side by side one with pastry dough rolled out and the sugar mixture being spread on it and one with the pastry rolled up into a roll
2 photos side by side one with raw Rolled Baklava in a baking pan covered in butter and one with cooked rolled baklava

Tips for Making this Rolled Baklava Recipe

If you’re used to making traditional baklava, this rolled variation has some slight differences. These tips will help you nail the process. 

  • Use a food processor to chop the nuts. Use a food processor to chop your walnuts and save yourself a battle with a knife. You will need to pulse them about 10 times to get them to the correct coarseness.
  • Be swift with the phyllo. Work with your phyllo dough as quickly as possible to prevent it from drying out. The longer it sits at room temperature, the more prone it is to be too difficult to work with and roll. 
  • Roll the phyllo as tightly as possible. Roll your rolls are tight as possible to ensure that you have even and smooth layers on the inside.
  • Soak the baklava while it’s still hot. Pour the honey and sugar mixture on your baklava rolls while they are still hot. This will help them to soak up the mixture much better.
  • Slice the baklava at an angle. Cut your baklava pieces at an angle with a sharp knife. I like to use a bread knife in a light, sawing motion to make sure all the pretty layers stay intact.
  • Let the baklava rest at room temperature. You must let your baklava rest at room temperature for at least 3 hours uncovered. If you can, overnight works best.

How to Keep Baklava from Getting Soggy

Keep your baklava from getting soggy by covering it lightly with a paper towel. You can store it in the fridge or at room temperature once you have given it enough time to soak up the honey and sugar mixture. Whatever you do, don’t keep it sealed in a warm place – otherwise, the honey will melt and cause the delicate phyllo to become limp. 

Freezing this Rolled Baklava Recipe

Freeze your baklava in an airtight container for up to 3 months. If you have to layer your pieces, make sure to place a piece of wax paper between them to prevent sticking. When you are ready to eat, allow the baklava to thaw in the refrigerator overnight.

FAQ

How do you make crunchy baklava?

The key to getting crunchy baklava is to allow it to rest at room temperature for at least 3 hours while it’s soaking in the sweet, honey mixture. This will allow the baklava to absorb all the sugary goodness, while also exposing it to enough air to stay crunchy and slightly crispy.

What’s the difference between the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern baklava?

Mediterranean baklava tends to have more layering, with many thin pieces of phyllo alternated with a sweet nut mixture. On the other hand, baklava in the Middle East tends to have a thicker pastry layer on the bottom that’s stuffed with a sweet nut mixture and topped with another thick layer of pastry.

How do you know when baklava is done?

You’ll know your baklava is done baking when the top of the phyllo is crispy and golden brown. When it comes to the soaking, it takes at least 3 hours for the syrup to penetrate through all the phyllo and nuts. That said, it’s best to let baklava rest overnight.

Why is your baklava hard?

Your baklava likely came out hard if you didn’t soak it while it was fresh out of the oven. The hot baklava makes the syrup melt, creating that perfectly tender texture you’re looking for.

How do you keep phyllo dough crispy for baklava?

The key to keeping the phyllo sheets crispy is working with them quickly once you take them out of the fridge. The longer it sits at room temperature, the more it dries out, loses its texture, and is impossible to crisp up in the oven.

Other Nutty Sweet Treats to Try 

Recipe

Baklava rolls on a plate

Easiest Rolled Baklava Recipe

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Servings
12 Servings
Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 25 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin
This easy rolled baklava recipe features a shortcut that cuts down the amount of time it takes to make this luscious treat. Crazy easy and so decadent!

Ingredients

US Units – Metric

Instructions

  • In a food processor, chop the walnuts into tiny pieces.
    Walnuts on a plate, a measuring cup of powdered sugar, and 1/2 a teaspoon of cinnamon
  • Place the chopped walnuts in a bowl with confectioners' sugar and cinnamon and toss to combine. In a separate bowl, melt the butter.
    One bowl with melted butter, and a bowl with walnut, cinnamon, and powdered sugar mixture, filo dough between the 2 bowls
  • Lay out one filo sheet at the time, brushing it with melted butter, until you have a total of three stacked buttered sheets.
    A bowl of melted butter with a pastry brush in it and a sheet of filo dough laid out next to the bowl
  • Spread 1/3 cup of the walnut mixture evenly onto the stack of buttered sheets. Roll the sheet up into a tight roll and set it on a baking dish. Repeat the process until you run out of ingredients.
    2 photos side by side one with pastry dough rolled out and the sugar mixture being spread on it and one with the pastry rolled up into a roll
  • Brush the rolled baklava with melted butter. Bake it at 375°F for 25 minutes.
    2 photos side by side one with raw Rolled Baklava in a baking pan covered in butter and one with cooked rolled baklava
  • In a small pot, combine the sugar and water and cook it on low heat for about 10 minutes. Add the honey and stir until it's melted. Pour the mixture over the rolled baklava and allow the baklava to rest for at least 3 hours.
    A baking pan filled with rolled baklava
  • Slice the baklava rolls into your preferred size. Enjoy!
    Baklava rolls on a plate
Nutrition Facts
Easiest Rolled Baklava Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 347 Calories from Fat 207
% Daily Value*
Fat 23g35%
Saturated Fat 8g40%
Cholesterol 27mg9%
Sodium 98mg4%
Potassium 93mg3%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 33g37%
Protein 3g6%
Vitamin A 312IU6%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 25mg3%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Posted February 5, 2020

About Author

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Natalya Drozhzhin

Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.