Martha Stewart’s Walnut-and-Honey Baklava Is the Perfect Treat on a Winter Afternoon

Personally, I love a good baklava. With flavors that blend the buttery richness with nutty sweetness, there’s so much to celebrate about the dish. This dessert is so beloved by many that it has seen many variations. From an almond and tahini cake that offers the flavors of baklava without all the work, to inventive baklava breakfast parfaits that offer a savory start to a morning, there are so many options to making the delicious pastry. But if you’re looking for the authentic, original flavors and textures of this dessert, you’re going to have to go for the real thing.

While baklava is often a dessert enjoyed on holidays and special occasions, Martha Stewart has shared a recipe that makes the process seem rather approachable and ideal for just about any time that the craving kicks in.

After preheating an oven to 375°F, throw fresh walnuts, cinnamon, and sugar in a food processor. You want to pulse it until it is finely ground, but still has a bit of texture. Meanwhile, water and sugar will go in a saucepan to be heated until thickened and blended with honey. 

As that mixture cools, start to build your baklava by adding a sheet of phyllo dough to a greased cake pan. Each layer of phyllo dough will be brushed with butter (until you get to seven layers) and then you’ll add the nut mixture. You will be repeating the process until you are done — much as you might when layering a lasagna. Then, the baklava is baked for 35-40 minutes before being drizzled with the honey syrup and scored into equal sized wedges.

And voilà! A complicated recipe boiled down to a handful of ingredients and just a few steps.

Watch the video below and check out the full recipe for Martha Stewart’s Walnut and Honey Baklava here.