Nut Free Baklava Recipes

Steps:

• Remove the thawed phyllo from the fridge 1 hour before using. When working with the phyllo dough, only remove the sheets you immediately need, keeping the other sheets covered in plastic wrap, then a damp cloth.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Melt 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) of the butter in a small saucepan.
• Toss together the chopped pecans and cinnamon in a bowl. Set aside.
• Thoroughly butter a rectangular baking pan with the melted butter. Make sure the sheets of phyllo will generally fit in the pan. (If they're a little bigger, that's okay; if they're much bigger, just trim them with a sharp knife.)
• Butter the top sheet of phyllo with melted butter, then grab it and the unbuttered sheet below it. Flip the sheets over and set them in the pan buttered-side down. Press them lightly into the pan. Repeat this twice more, so that you have 6 sheets of phyllo in the pan, 3 of the sheets buttered.
• Sprinkle on enough pecans to make a single layer. Butter 2 sheets of phyllo and place them on top of the pecans buttered-sides down. Add more pecans, then 2 more buttered phyllo sheets. Repeat this a couple more times, or until you're out of pecans. Top with 4 more buttered phyllo sheets, buttered-sides down. Butter the top of the final sheet.
• Cut a diagonal diamond pattern in the baklava using a very sharp knife. Bake until very golden brown, about 45 minutes.
• While the baklava is baking, combine the honey, sugar, vanilla, 1/2 cup water and the remaining 1 stick butter in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low.
• When you remove the baklava from the oven, drizzle half of the honey mixture evenly all over the top. Allow it to sit and absorb for a minute, then drizzle on a little more until you think it's thoroughly moistened. You'll likely have some of the honey mixture leftover, which you can drink with a straw. Just kidding.
• Allow the baklava to cool, uncovered, for several hours. Once cool and sticky and divine, carefully remove from the pan and serve with coffee (or give as gifts!).

Steps:

• Soak the diced figs in the rum in a large bowl for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spread the walnuts and almonds out on a baking sheet and toast until darkened and fragrant, about 8 to 10 minutes. Cool. Toss the nuts, chocolate, sugar, and spices with the figs and the rum.
• Bring the butter to a simmer over low heat. Skim and discard the foamy solids that rise to the top until the butter is clear, about 8 to 10 minutes.
• Lightly butter a 16 1/2 by 11 1/2-inch sheet pan. Remove the phyllo from the package, unroll and lay it on the counter next to the pan and cover with a kitchen towel. Lay 1 sheet of the phyllo on the pan and brush lightly with butter. Repeat with 11 more sheets of phyllo working quickly and keeping the phyllo covered, as you assemble the baklava. Scatter 1/3 of the nut mixture (about 1 1/2 cups) evenly over the layers of phyllo. Repeat 2 more times and top with the remaining 12 sheets of dough. Carefully, cut 3/4 of the way through the phyllo and nut filling to make about 96 (1 1/2-inch) squares.
• Bake the baklava until light brown and cooked through, about 1 hour. Raise the temperature to 450 degrees F and bake until golden crisp, about 5 to 8 more minutes.
• While the baklava crisps make the syrup: Heat the sugar, honey, and water in a saucepan over high heat until the sugar dissolves. Add the lemon juice and carefully pour the hot syrup over the just baked baklava, making sure to get into all the cuts. Let cool. Complete the pre-made cuts in the baklava and serve with some honey drizzled on top.
• Store the baklava in a sealed container for up to 1 week.

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350°F
• Generously spray 8 (2 3/4x1 1/4-inch) nonstick muffin cups with non-stick cooking spray.
• In 1-quart saucepan, mix syrup ingredients; heat to boiling.
• Remove from heat; cool 10 minutes.
• Discard whole cloves.
• Meanwhile, in food processor bowl with metal blade, place filling ingredients.
• Cover; process with on-and-off pulses until finely chopped: set aside.
• Separate dough into 8 biscuits.
• Separate each biscuit into 3 layers.
• Place 1 biscuit layer in bottom of 1 muffin cup.
• Brush dough with syrup; top with 1 1/2 teaspoons nut filling and drizzle with 1 1/2 teaspoons syrup.
• Place second biscuit layer on top; press edge of second biscuit into side of bottom biscuit.
• Brush with syrup; top with 1 1/2 teaspoons nut filling and drizzle with 1 1/2 teaspoons syrup.
• Top with third biscuit layer.
• Brush with syrup; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon nut filling.
• Repeat with remaining biscuits.
• Reserve remaining syrup (about 1/2 cup). *see note below
• Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until deep golden brown.
• Cool 1 minute.
• Remove from pan.
• Serve warm with remaining syrup.
• *To make ahead, prepare as directed through step 4; cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Bake as directed.
• Reheat reserved 1/2 cup syrup in microwave on High 30 to 60 seconds until hot.

Steps:

• In a small bowl, combine apricots, raisins and white wine and allow the fruit to soak for at least 2 hours
• Preheat over to 300 degrees
• Mix cashews, sugar and spices in a separate bowl
• Place a layer of phyllo into a 13x9 pan and brush with melted butter
• Repeat to make 5 layers
• As you work, keep the dough coveed with a damp towel
• Spread 1/4 of the fruit and nuts over the phyllo
• Repeat layers of phyllo and fruit/nuts ending with a layer of phyllo
• With a very sharp knife, slice through the top few layers in a diamond pattern
• Bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour
• Warm honey in saucepan or in microwave
• Pour warmed honey over pastry and allow to soak inches
• Allow to cool and serve