This decadent pastry is made of layers of phyllo dough, toasted walnuts and hazelnuts, and creamy chocolate, and is sweetened with a delicious cinnamon honey syrup. The perfect dessert for any special occasion!
Have you seen the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding?" I probably didn't watch it until it was about 10 years old {don't ask me why!}, but once I saw it I instantly fell in love. It's sweet. And funny. And definitely romantic. Did I mention funny? I love the family dynamic and how the characters interact.
This weekend just happens to be the premier of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2," and my Sunday Supper friends and I are celebrating by sharing big fat Greek recipes! How fun is that?! I'm super excited to be sharing one of my most favorite Greek recipes with you...BAKLAVA! And not just any baklava, CHOCOLATE baklava!
Baklava is a sweet pastry made of layers of phyllo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with syrup or honey. My version is made with both walnuts and hazelnuts, layers of creamy chocolate spread, and is sweetened with a cinnamon honey syrup. It's delicious and decadent but not overly sweet. There's the perfect amount of crispiness to the phyllo and crunchiness from the nuts. If you ask me, it's amazing.
Although the baklava takes a little time to put together, I promise it's not hard. It's very easy to make, just a bit time consuming. Trust me on this one, you can do it!
Be sure to scroll down after the recipe and check out all of the amazing Greek recipes my #SundaySupper friends have made for you!
For now, let's make some baklava. Opa!
Chocolate Baklava
Author: Sarah Bates | The Chef Next Door
Serves 15
Print this recipe
Ingredients:
1 cup chocolate spread {such as Hershey's Chocolate Spread}
1 1/3 cups chopped toasted walnuts
2/3 cups chopped toasted hazelnuts
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
20 sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed
1 stick unsalted butter, melted
3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup water
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add the chocolate spread to a small bowl and microwave on high for 30 seconds, or until melted. Combine the walnuts, hazelnuts, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl.
Lightly coat a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Working with 1 sheet of phyllo at a time, place a sheet lengthwise in the bottom of the prepared pan, then lightly brush with butter. Repeat procedure with 4 more phyllo sheets and butter. Drizzle about 1/3 cup of the melted chocolate spread over the phyllo, then sprinkle evenly with about 1/2 cup of the nut mixture. Repeat this procedure twice with phyllo, butter, chocolate spread, and nut mixture. Top the last layer of nut mixture with the remaining 5 sheets of phyllo, each buttered, and press gently into the pan.
Using a sharp knife, make 3 horizontal cuts and 5 vertical cuts to form 15 squares. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden brown on top.
While the baklava is cooking, make the syrup. Combine the honey, water, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until the honey dissolves. Increase the heat to medium and cook, without stirring, until a thermometer registers 230 degrees (should take about 10 minutes). Remove from the heat and cover.
Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately pour the honey mixture over the top. Allow it to cool completely before serving. Leftovers can be kept covered at room temperature.
Bon Appétit!
Sunday Supper Greek Recipes!
Greek Appetizers:
- Greek Salad (Horiatiki Salata) by Angels Home Sweet Homestead
- Greek-Style Sliders with Feta Aioli by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Mushroom, Kalamata Olive and Feta Stuffed Phyllo with Whipped Feta Dip by Pook’s Pantry
- Rosemary and Olive Grissini by What Smells So Good?
- Socca Pizza with Spinach, Roasted Tomatoes, Kalamata Olives, and Feta by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Spanakopita Bites by My Imperfect Kitchen
- Tiropitas (Greek Cheese Triangles ) by Moore or Less Cooking
- Tyropita Appetizer Bites by The Freshman Cook
Greek Soups:
- Avgolemono Chicken Zoodle Soup by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Quick and Easy Greek Avgolemono Soup by Confessions of a Cooking Diva
- Shrimp Avgolemono with Spinach by Monica’s Table
- Vegetarian Magiritsa (Greek Easter Soup) by Palatable Pastime
Greek Breakfast:
- Baklava French Toast with Cinnamon Honey Syrup by A Mind Full Mom
Greek Main Dishes:
- Brizola (Greek-style Pork Chops) by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Chicken Greek Salad Flatbread by Family Foodie
- Greek Chirashi Sushi by NinjaBaker
- Greek Breakfast Wraps by Brunch-n-Bites
- Greek Meatball Salad by Magnolia Days
- Gyro Meatballs with Lemon Rice by Casa de Crews
- Kotopita (Greek Chicken Pie) by Curious Cuisiniere
- Mediterranean Meatball Gyros Sandwich by Life Tastes Good
- Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Roasted Vegetables by Food Lust People Love
- Souvlaki Chicken Wraps with Homemade Tzatziki by The Crumby Cupcake
- Youvetsi (Greek beef or lamb and orzo stew) by Caroline’s Cooking
Greek Side Dishes:
- Greek-style rice salad by Pine Needles In My Salad
- Greek Zucchini Fritters by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Homemade Tzatziki Sauce by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Spanakorizo by Feeding Big and More
Greek Desserts:
- Chocolate Baklava by The Chef Next Door
- Greek Lemon Cake by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Greek Spice Cake by Our Good Life
- Greek Walnut Cake by Pies and Plots
- Greek Wedding Cookies - Kourabiethes/Kourabiedes by La Bella Vita Cucina
- Loukoumades - Greek Donuts by The TipToe Fairy
- Loukoumades (Greek honey fritters) by The Redhead Baker
Greek Beverages:
- Ouzito: The Greek Mojito by Hardly A Goddess
Plus Baked Shrimp with Feta plus More Greek Cuisine from Sunday Supper Movement!
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
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