Description
A festive and delightful Pistachio Baklava Christmas Tree recipe perfect for holiday celebrations.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups (250 g) pistachios, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup (50 g) sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
- 1 tbsp orange blossom water or rose water (optional)
- 1 package phyllo dough (12–14 sheets)
- 1 cup (225 g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup (250 ml) water
- 1 1/2 cups (300 g) sugar
- 1/2 cup (170 g) honey
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp orange zest (optional)
- 1 stick cinnamon (optional)
Instructions
- Make the Syrup: In a saucepan, combine water, sugar, honey, lemon juice, cinnamon stick, and orange zest. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Cool completely.
- Prepare the Pistachio Filling: Mix chopped pistachios, sugar, cinnamon, and orange blossom water. Set aside.
- Assemble the Baklava Triangles: Preheat oven to 170°C / 340°F. Lay out phyllo sheets, keeping them covered with a damp towel. Place 3 sheets together, brushing melted butter between each layer. Cut into long strips (about 10–12 cm wide). Add 1–2 tablespoons of pistachio filling at one end, fold into a triangle, and continue folding like a flag. Brush the outside with butter. Repeat until you have 12–18 triangles.
- Create the Christmas Tree Shape: On a baking tray, arrange large triangles at the bottom, medium triangles in the middle, and smallest triangles at the top. Optionally add a small square or star-shaped pastry for the tree topper. Brush again with melted butter.
- Bake: Bake for 35–40 minutes until deep golden and crisp. Remove from oven and immediately pour cold syrup evenly over the hot baklava. Allow 2–3 hours to soak and set (or overnight for best flavor).
- Garnish & Serve: Sprinkle crushed pistachios on each triangle and drizzle extra syrup if desired. Serve at room temperature.
Notes
- Perfect for holiday tables, gifting, or dessert platters.
- For best flavor, allow the baklava to soak overnight.
- Keep phyllo dough covered to prevent it from drying out while assembling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 4g
- Cholesterol: 15mg