You have probably considered which version of baklava recipe from the Allrecipes website is the best. The sweet pastry made with layers of flaky dough and nuts is enjoyed throughout the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions and may have originated from the Assyrian Empire before being modified by the Greeks and Ottomans. People who want to taste Greece and also those looking for an impressive dessert can enjoy making baklava at home. Which recipe should you use when different variations exist? I help you make a decision by comparing the highly-rated Allrecipes version with the family-secret version from The Mediterranean Dish. This article compares their ingredient selection and cooking methods and flavor profiles to determine which one suits your preferences best.
Allrecipes Top-Rated Baklava
The Allrecipes recipe has received more than 2,000 positive reviews from users who describe it as “surprisingly approachable for beginner bakers.” The recipe aims to deliver Greek restaurant-quality baklava at home while avoiding complicated preparation steps. The core components include:
- Ingredients: Phyllo dough, chopped nuts (walnuts, pistachios, or a mixture; hazelnuts/pecans also suggested), melted butter, ground cinnamon, water, white sugar, vanilla extract, and honey for the syrup.
- Technique Highlights: The method requires starting with a strong foundation of 8 phyllo dough sheets that are brushed with melted butter followed by alternating layers of cinnamon nut mixture. The top layer consists of 6-8 sheets. The pastry is cut into shapes before baking until golden and crisp (about 50 minutes at 350°F). The syrup made of boiled sugar and water and finished with vanilla and honey is poured immediately onto the hot baklava as it comes out of the oven.
- Tips Mentioned: Tips from culinary producer Nicole McLaughlin include using a food processor for nuts, keeping phyllo moist with a damp cloth, spraying melted butter instead of brushing to prevent tearing, and wetting fingertips to avoid sticking. Community tips praised using a spritzer bottle for butter application.
- Storage: Keeps for about two weeks in an airtight container. Pantry storage keeps it crispy, while the fridge makes it chewy. It can be frozen for up to three months.
According to the Allrecipes description “Even though making baklava can be a bit time-consuming, it’s probably not as hard as you think.” The author of the description emphasizes that this is the simplest method to achieve the best results with the least amount of effort.
The Mediterranean Dish Family Baklava Recipe
The Mediterranean Dish offers “A Family’s Secret Baklava Recipe” which it calls the “Perfect Make-Ahead Dessert” and which presents a Greek baklava recipe with Egyptian elements. The recipe focuses on achieving the crispiest phyllo and most nutty flavor.
- Ingredients: Phyllo pastry with a specific nut combination of pistachios and walnuts and hazelnuts along with sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves. The syrup uses water, sugar, honey, lemon juice, and optional orange extract and whole cloves for added flavor.
- Technique Highlights: The process of making the honey syrup starts by creating it and then letting it cool down completely. The nuts are pulsed in a food processor to avoid a paste. Phyllo is kept under towels. Layering begins by dividing the phyllo into thirds and then proceeding to layer the first third with butter before adding half the nut mixture and layering the second third and adding the remaining nuts before finishing with the final third of phyllo that has been buttered. The baklava is cut into pieces (24-36) about ½-inch deep before baking at 350°F for 35-45 minutes. It is essential to pour cooled syrup onto hot baklava immediately after baking to achieve correct absorption and prevent sogginess.
- Tips Mentioned: Proper thawing of phyllo (12-14 hrs in fridge), keeping phyllo under towels, the critical importance of pouring cooled syrup over hot baklava, chopping nuts but not too finely, cutting before baking, and making the baklava a day in advance for best results.
- Storage: This preparation can be kept for 2 weeks in an airtight glass container at room temperature or in the fridge. Room temperature is noted to preserve crispness better. Can be frozen for up to 4 months.
The Mediterranean Dish highlights specific details like adding cloves to the nuts and lemon juice (plus optional orange extract and cloves) to the syrup, along with the technique of using cooled syrup, which is presented as the key to success.
Comparing the Baklava Recipes
Both recipes share phyllo dough, nuts, butter, and a sweet syrup as common elements, yet they vary in certain aspects that affect the end product in terms of taste and texture and preparation requirements.
Ingredients and Flavor Profile
The two recipes have identical basics, that is, phyllo dough, nuts, butter, and a sweet syrup, but they differ in terms of the flavor. Allrecipes uses cinnamon predominantly in the nuts and vanilla in the syrup. The Mediterranean Dish incorporates cinnamon and a pinch of ground cloves in the nut mixture and flavors the syrup with lemon juice, honey, and optionally orange extract and whole cloves. If you prefer a classic, vanilla-tinged sweetness, the Allrecipes version appeals. If you’re intrigued by slightly more complex, zesty, and spiced notes, The Mediterranean Dish offers that variation, notably including hazelnuts in the nut blend alongside pistachios and walnuts.
Technique and Timing
Both recipes use a similar layering method (butter each sheet, nuts), though Allrecipes gives a rough count of sheets per layer (8 base, 2 middle, 6-8 top), while The Mediterranean Dish suggests dividing the phyllo in three. Both agree on cutting before baking and using a damp cloth for the phyllo. The major technical difference is in the syrup application:
“Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon sauce over it.” – Allrecipes Directions
“As soon as you remove the baklava from the oven, pour the cooled syrup all over the hot baklava.” – The Mediterranean Dish Directions
The Mediterranean Dish clearly states that pouring cooled syrup over hot baklava prevents sogginess, a common concern. Allrecipes, however, instructs pouring the hot syrup immediately over the hot baklava. This is a significant point of divergence that could affect the final texture. The baking time also differs slightly (Allrecipes ~50 mins vs. TMD 35-45 mins), suggesting potential variations in desired crispness or oven variability.
Yield and Storage
Both recipes use a 9×13 pan and store similarly (up to 2 weeks, room temp or fridge). However, Allrecipes yields 18 servings, while The Mediterranean Dish suggests cutting into 24-36 pieces from the same size pan, indicating potentially smaller portion sizes or a denser layering. Freezing duration is also slightly different (3 months vs. 4 months).
Which Baklava Recipe is Right for You?
Which of these two excellent honey syrup baklava recipes suits you best depends on your preferences and priorities.
If you value a widely tested, popular recipe with straightforward flavors (vanilla-honey syrup, cinnamon nuts) and detailed layering guidance based on sheet counts, the Allrecipes version is a fantastic starting point. Its emphasis on approachability, backed by numerous user reviews, makes it a reliable choice.
If you’re looking for a recipe with a bit more unique flavor complexity (cloves, lemon/orange in syrup) and a specific technique tip aimed at maximizing crispness (cooled syrup on hot baklava), The Mediterranean Dish recipe is compelling. Its detailed explanation of why cooled syrup is crucial is particularly valuable for those aiming for a non-soggy result.
Ultimately, both methods result in delicious baklava, but the difference in syrup temperature upon pouring is a key factor to consider based on your desired texture. The nut and syrup flavoring variations also offer distinct taste experiences.
Which version would you try first? Let us know your favorite take on this classic dessert!
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Your ability to heal is truly incredible. Being here today demonstrates your deep value to others. Society requires individuals who will speak out and fight for justice and human rights. Society needs your distinctive voice to bring change to the world. This message comes from Oprah Winfrey.
The world needs more people like you who can bring healing and hope to those around them. The world needs your unique voice, and the world needs your presence. The world needs people who will speak out and demand that justice is done. – Oprah Winfrey
Your words have the power to heal. Your presence here today demonstrates how much your presence is needed. Society requires people who will stand up and fight for justice and human rights. Society needs people who will stand up for justice and human rights. Society needs your distinctive voice to bring change to the world. This message comes from Oprah Winfrey.
The world needs more people like you who can bring healing and hope to those around them. The world needs your unique voice, and the world needs your presence. The world needs people who will speak out and demand that justice is done. The world needs your presence. The world needs people who will stand up, speak out, and demand that justice is done. The world needs your unique voice. This message comes from Oprah Winfrey.
