Apple Rum Baklava Recipes

APPLE-HONEY BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Make the honey syrup: Combine the sugar, honey, orange zest, orange juice and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a rapid simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Reduce the heat and slowly simmer until thick enough to coat a spoon, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Let cool slightly. Remove the orange zest and reserve for the filling. Refrigerate the syrup until cold, at least 1 hour.
• Make the baklava: Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat the oven to 375˚ F. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the apples and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the honey, cinnamon, salt and cloves; cook until the skillet is dry and the apples are sticky, 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
• Pulse the nuts in a food processor until finely chopped; transfer to a large bowl. Finely chop the reserved orange zest and add to the nuts. Add the apples and 1/4 cup breadcrumbs and stir to combine.
• Melt the remaining 1 3/4 sticks butter in a saucepan over low heat. Brush the bottom and sides of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with some of the melted butter. Unroll the phyllo dough onto a flat surface and cover with a damp towel. Lay 1 sheet of dough in the baking dish and lightly brush with some of the butter. (If there is a little excess phyllo just fold it over and brush lightly with more butter. If the sheet hangs out of the dish, trim to fit.) Sprinkle with some of the remaining 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs. Repeat the layering 5 more times (phyllo, butter, breadcrumbs). Scatter one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture on top.
• Layer 4 more sheets of phyllo on top, brushing with butter in between each; top with another one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture. Repeat this layering 2 more times (4 sheets of buttered phyllo, then one-quarter of the apple-nut mixture). Layer the remaining 6 sheets of phyllo on top, lightly brushing with butter in between each.
• Cut the baklava in half crosswise and lengthwise in the pan with a paring knife to make 4 quarters, cutting all the way through. Halve each quarter crosswise to make 8 rectangles. Cut each rectangle into 4 triangles. (You will end up with a total of 32 pieces.)
• Bake the baklava until golden and crisp, about 45 minutes. Remove from the oven; immediately pour the honey syrup over the top. Let the syrup soak in completely while the baklava cools, at least 3 hours.

APPLE BAKLAVA

Steps:

• On a sheetpan lined with parchment paper, lay down 1 sheet of filo and brush with butter. Repeat process with 3 more sheets. Cover remaining sheets with damp towel and set aside. To make filling place the lemon juice and zest, honey, cinnamon, apples, and chopped nuts and gently heat for 3 minutes set aside to cool. Spread 1/3 of mixture onto buttered filo stack. Top apple mixture with another stack of buttered filo. Repeat process until mixture and filo is gone (there should be 3 layers). Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 1 hour. Mix sugar, honey, water and lemon and bring to simmer. Remove lemon rind and pour over baklava. Let soak overnight, cut into squares and serve.

APPLE RUM BAKLAVA

Steps:

• Combine first 6 ingredients in large bowl; mix well.
• Trim 8 sheets phyllo dough to fit 10 x 15-inch baking pan.
• Keep unused phyllo covered with damp cloth. Arrange in baking pan, brushing each sheet generously with melted butter.
• Spread half the apple mixture over phyllo dough.
• Arrange 6 trimmed buttered sheets of phyllo dough over apple mixture.
• Spread with remaining apple mixture.
• Top with 8 buttered sheets phyllo dough.
• Tuck in the buttered phyllo neatly around.
• Cut into squares or diamond using a sharp knife.
• Bake at 350°F for 40 minutes or until golden brown.
• Heat honey in small saucepan.
• Drizzle over hot baklava.