Prune Baklava
Our baklava with prunes is irresistibly sweet, rich flavoured and will make everyone fall in love with it after first bite. With this step by step recipe, you can make it from scratch, impress your loved ones and prove that making phyllo dough and baklava at home is and not as hard as it might seem!
Ingredients:
Phyllo dough:
4 cups / 500g all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
1 cup /260 ml warm milk
1 large egg
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 cup / 100g unsalted butter (melted)
Ingredients:
Filling:
2 1/2 cups / 600g prunes
1 cup / 250g ground walnuts
1 cup / 200 ml water
2 tbsp / 30g sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon (optional)
Ingredients:
Syrup:
3 1/3 cups / 800ml water
3 cups / 600g sugar
2 lemon slices
Directions:
Phyllo dough: Combine all ingredients in a big bowl and knead into a smooth dough. Divide into 8 equal balls, cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 1,5 to 2 hours.
In the meantime prepare let’s prepare syrup and prune filling!
Combine 2 1/2 cups prunes, 1 cup water, 2 tbsp sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1 tsp cinnamon in a large cooking pot. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes or until prunes soften. You can use hand blender to make prune mixture even smoother but that is totally optional.
Syrup: Combine 3 1/3 cups water, 3 cups sugar and 2 lemon slices into a large cooking pot. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until sugar melts. Syrup should be fully cooled by the time baklava is done.
Once our dough is well rested, dust work surface and one dough ball with flour (or cornstarch). Roll out into a circle, about 14 inches in diameter. Repeat the process with remaining dough balls.
Directions Cont:
Brush bottom and sides of 14 inch baking pan with melted unsalted butter. Lay a sheet of phyllo dough in the bottom of the pan and brush with butter. Repeat 2 more times creating a layer of 3 phyllo sheets.
Sprinkle half of ground walnuts mixture, followed by half of prune mixture evenly over the phyllo.
Top with 2 more phyllo sheets brushed with butter.
Spread the rest of the walnuts and prune mixture evenly.
Top with 3 remaining phyllo sheets brushed with butter.
Using a very sharp knife, cut the baklava into 2 inch wide strips. Cut into the same width strips running diagonally to the first cuts in order to get diamond pattern.
Bake at 355 degrees Fahrenheit for about 35 minutes.
Right when the baklava is removed from the oven, immediately pour sugar syrup all over. Let the syrup soak into the baklava for few hours before serving.
*Feel free to use store bought phyllo dough instead of making it from scratch. This prune baklava will be delicious either way!