Baklava Purses

I grew up eating baklava, a rich, sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with a syrupy honey. I remember the sweet crunchy treat as something I looked forward to every holiday. My grandmother would gladly make it upon request but because it was so time consuming it was mostly made for holidays and special occasions. We are excited to have a quick and easy version of this traditional dessert.

Place the almonds, walnuts, apricots, bread crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt in a food processor.

Run the machine until the mixture is very finely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and the honey and stir to combine.

On a dry work surface place 1 sheet of phyllo. Using a pastry brush and the remaining melted butter, lightly cover the entire sheet of phyllo with melted butter. Cover the first sheet with a second sheet of phyllo and brush with melted butter. Continue until there is a stack of 6 sheets of phyllo. Cut the stacked phyllo rectangle into 12 equal pieces (Cut lengthwise into 4 pieces and widthwise into 3 pieces.)

Gently press each cut piece of phyllo into the mini-muffin tin cups.

Press 1 tablespoon of the nut mixture into each of the phyllo cups.

Gather the ends of each of the phyllo squares and twist to make a purse shape. Continue shaping the remaining purses in the other mini-muffin tin.

Bake until the edges of the phyllo are golden, about 20 to 25 minutes. Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it.

Baklava Purses

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We especially love the syrup made with orange blossom extract, available in Middle Eastern grocery stores, although vanilla extract works as well.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 24 pieces 1x

Ingredients

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Baklava

• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup walnuts
• 1/4 cup chopped dried apricots
• 1/4 cup plain bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
• Pinch of salt
• 1 stick butter, melted, divided
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 12 sheets phyllo dough

Honey Syrup

• 1/2 C water
• 1/2 C sugar
• 1/4 C honey
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract or orange blossom extract

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Instructions

1. Special equipment: 2 mini-muffin tins
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
3. Place the almonds, walnuts, apricots, bread crumbs, sugar, cinnamon, ground cloves, and salt in a food processor.
4. Run the machine until the mixture is very finely chopped. Transfer the mixture to a small bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of the melted butter and the honey and stir to combine.
5. On a dry work surface place 1 sheet of phyllo. Using a pastry brush and the remaining melted butter, lightly cover the entire sheet of phyllo with melted butter. Cover the first sheet with a second sheet of phyllo and brush with melted butter. Continue until there is a stack of 6 sheets of phyllo. Cut the stacked phyllo rectangle into 12 equal pieces (Cut lengthwise into 4 pieces and widthwise into 3 pieces.)
6. Gently press each cut piece of phyllo into the mini-muffin tin cups.
7. Press 1 tablespoon of the nut mixture into each of the phyllo cups.
8. Gather the ends of each of the phyllo squares and twist to make a purse shape. Continue shaping the remaining purses in the other mini-muffin tin.
9. Bake until the edges of the phyllo are golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.
10. Make sauce while baklava is baking. Boil sugar and water until sugar is melted. Add vanilla and honey. Simmer for about 20 minutes. Remove baklava from oven and immediately spoon sauce over it.
11. Let cool. Serve in cupcake papers. This freezes well. Leave it uncovered as it gets soggy if it is wrapped up.

Notes

Adapted From | Giada De Laurentiis