Maple Walnut Baklava

Any Baklava is good baklava, but sometimes I love to play around with the flavours. This Maple Walnut Baklava is always a big hit!

Originally published September 28, 2011. Updated on 6/11/2021

So... this weekend is the start of October. Yikes. That realization sent us into a stress frenzy recently - we still have a TON of exterior work to get done before the weather gets too cold/snowy!

For me, the start of October still means that Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Canadian Thanksgiving falls on October 10th this year.

We usually try to celebrate both Thanksgivings, with different menus. This year... I'm not so sure I can pull everything together in time. That sucks 🙁

I always look forward to the variety of Canadian dishes we serve for the October Thanksgiving. Tourtiere, Maple Butter tarts... Mmmm.

This year, I had been looking forward to a new favorite: Maple Walnut Baklava. Kind of a Canadian-Greek crossbreed, and SO tasty.

Sigh.

Anyway, baklava is actually quite easy to make, despite what you may have heard.

Just make sure your filo/phyllo dough has thawed properly, and it should work up quickly for you!

Enjoy!

PS: Oh, and if weird - but tasty! - Baklava is your thing, be sure to check out my Jalapeno Beer Peanut Baklava, and also my Baklava Cheesecake recipe!

How to Make Maple Walnut Baklava

The full recipe follows - at the end of the post - but here is a pictorial overview!

Prepare the Pastry

Preheat your oven, and generously grease the bottoms and sides of a 9 x 13 inch pan.

Carefully unroll - fully and properly thawed - phyllo dough. Use a knife to slice the whole stack in half to make two stacks of 9 x 13″ sheets.

Cover with a lightly damp cloth to prevent phyllo from drying out as you work – it’s finicky, fragile stuff!

Lay two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of prepared pan. Use a pastry brush to apply a thorough coating of melted butter.

Layer with two more sheets.

Repeat twice more, for a total of 8 sheets.

Sprinkle about ¼ cup of the walnuts evenly across the top.

Layer with two more sheets, butter, and ¼ cup (50 ml) walnuts.

Continue this pattern of two sheets, butter, nuts until you have about 6 sheets left.

Layer two sheets, spread with butter, lay down two more sheets, spread with butter, and top with a final two sheets.

Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes, whatever size you’d like them. Be sure not to cut all the way to the bottom – cut to about ¼ – ½” from the bottom.

Bake for 45-55 minutes, until crisp and golden brown.

Prepare the Syrup

In the meantime, make the maple syrup soak:

In a small/medium saucepan, combine water, sugar, and maple syrup.

Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes.

Finish the Maple Walnut Baklava

When baklava has finished baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the maple sauce evenly over the top.

Let cool completely before cutting all the way through to the bottom, using the precut lines.

A Note on the Nuts

* You can substitute whatever nuts you like. I like the classic combination of walnuts with maple, but any nuts will work.

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5 from 1 vote

Maple Walnut Baklava

Any Baklava is good baklava, but sometimes I love to play around with the flavours. This Maple Walnut Baklava is always a big hit!

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time55 minutes mins

Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Canadian, Greek, Middle Eastern

Servings: 30 9x13" Pan of Baklava

Calories: 239kcal

Author: Marie Porter

Equipment

• 9 x 13 Baking Dish

Ingredients

• 1 package Phyllo Sheets (1 lb) thawed
• 1 cup Butter melted
• 1 lb Finely Chopped Walnuts *
• 1 cup Water
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar
• ½ cup Maple Syrup

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Generously grease the bottoms and sides of a 9 x 13 inch pan.
• Carefully unroll phyllo dough. Use a knife to slice the whole stack in half to make two stacks of 9 x 13″ sheets. Cover with a damp cloth to prevent phyllo from drying out as you work – it’s finicky, fragile stuff!
• Lay two sheets of phyllo in bottom of prepared pan. Use a pastry brush to apply a thorough coating of melted butter. Layer with two more sheets. Repeat twice more, for a total of 8 sheets.
• Sprinkle ¼ cup (50 ml) of the walnuts evenly across the top. Layer with two more sheets, butter, and ¼ cup (50 ml) walnuts.
• Continue this pattern of two sheets, butter, nuts until you have about 6 sheets left. Layer two sheets, spread with butter, lay down two more sheets, spread with butter, and top with a final two sheets.
• Use a sharp serrated knife to cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes, whatever size you’d like them. Be sure not to cut all the way to the bottom – cut to about ¼ – ½” from the bottom.
• Bake for 45-55 minutes, until crisp and golden brown. In the meantime, make the sauce.
• In a small/medium saucepan, combine water, sugar, and maple syrup. Bring to a boil, then simmer on medium-low for 20 minutes.
• When baklava has finished baking, remove from oven and immediately pour the maple sauce evenly over the top.
• Let cool completely before cutting all the way through to the bottom, using the precut lines.

Notes

* You can substitute whatever nuts you like. I like the classic combination of walnuts with maple, but any nuts will work.

Nutrition

Calories: 239kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 128mg | Potassium: 92mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 192IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

Any Baklava is good baklava, but sometimes I love to play around with the flavours. This Maple Walnut Baklava is always a big hit!

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