Baklava Bars

I love Baklava.  It is such a rare treat.  Which is good, because it just feels sinful as you eat it.  The honey is generally dripping down your hand, it oozes goodness when you bite into it, and you know that someone slaved over this delicious pastry that took mere seconds to inhale.  I've always wanted to try my hand at a batch of baklava, but I've seen videos of this being done, and I've heard the agonizing tales of the long process, (peeling the phyllo sheets gently apart without tearing) and well, this lady just doesn't have enough patience to handle all that!  So naturally, when I came across a simplified version, I had to try it.  I knew if it tasted anything like the real stuff, this was going to be a keeper, and guess what?  It's a family favorite!  Plus easy-peasy (oh, yeah!).


Baklava Bars
adapted from A Southern Grace and Betty Crocker

Cookie Base:
1 pouch sugar cookie mix
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 egg
pinch of cinnamon-big pinch!

Filling:
1 1/4 c. walnuts, chopped
1/4 c. pistachio meats, dry roasted and salted, chopped
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. cinnamon (heaping)
1/8 tsp. salt
-package frozen, pre-baked mini phyllo shells

In case you were wondering what I'm talking about, I use these.

Glaze:
2/3 c. honey
1/4 c. unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. light brown sugar, packed
1 1/2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
2 cinnamon sticks
4 cloves

-additional honey for drizzling

1.  Preheat oven 350 degrees F.  Spray 9x13 pan with cooking spray.

2.  In a stand mixer,  mix all cookie base ingredients until dough forms.  Press into bottom of prepared pan; Bake 12-15 minutes.  Cool for 10 minutes.

3.  While cookie base bakes, using a food processor, pulse the filling ingredients until well mixed and you have a nutty, chunky paste.

4.  Sprinkle the nut mixture evenly over partially baked, slightly cooled base. Crumble phyllo shells in hand and evenly sprinkle over nut mixture until covered.  Bake additional 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.

Sprinkle that nut mixture over the top

Crush up those phyllo shells

5.  On medium heat, combine all glaze ingredients in a small pot.  Stir until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble and boil. Remove from heat, strain out cloves and cinnamon sticks.

6.  Drizzle glaze evenly over bars.  Cool before cutting.  Drizzle with honey before serving.

I like to be generous with my drizzling of honey!

Watch these go quickly from any picnic platter!