Baklava Cupcakes

June 16, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella

If there’s one dessert that deserves to be made into a infinite variety of iterations it’s Baklava, the sticky, crispy nutty Lebanese pastry. I’d been well warned about Nigella’s Baklava muffin recipe from How to be a Domestic Goddess – not that it was bad but that it wasn’t particularly baklava-ey. I made a batch and I had to agree so given that I’m an obsessive type coupled with an ardent baklava enthusiast, I made another batch straight away seeking to rectify this baklava-less-ness. The secret was of course with the filo. One absolutely needed to have crispiness via the filo. And not just one set of filo layers on the top but a set of filo layers in the middle too. Over the top, moi? Surely not. But I have to say that these do replicate the baklava experience if I may so humbly claim.

I wanted the top filo discs to be tilted for the photograph so I used a bit of buttercream I had leftover from another baking escapade. Of course you don’t need to do that – they are perfectly delicious without the dollop of buttercream or the tilting. You could also upp the amount of walnut filling and use that as a cushion for the filo particularly if you are not needing to transport these anywhere aside from the four walls of your own house. I should also add a special thanks to my friend The Second Wife for loaning me pieces of her amazing cutlery collection – aren’t those scalloped spoons to die for?

And if there’s one thing that I learnt from the preliminary results from my reader survey (please click to do it, you can win a Nigella Lawson apron :) ) it’s that you like the cupcake recipes and want to see more. So like the ham that is always looking for an audience, here is a cupcake recipe for all of you lovely readers that let me know that that was what you wanted. So tell me Dear Reader, is there a flavour of cupcake you’d like me to make? I’m stuck for cupcake inspiration so any suggestions are welcomed!

Baklava Cupcakes


Makes 12

  • 210g plain flour
  • 1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 45g butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup runny honey
  • 250ml milk

For filling

  • 200g walnuts chopped
  • 150g demerera sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 85g melted butter

Also

  • 10 sheets filo pastry
  • 100g butter melted and preferably clarified *see note
  • 1/2 cup runny honey

1. Preheat oven to 200C/390F. Line a 12 hole muffin baking tray with papers. Mix the flour, bicarb and sugar together until well combined. In a measuring jug whisk the egg, milk, butter and honey and make a well in the flour and mix in until combined. Spoon into papers until 2/3-3/4 full and bake for 15 minutes until a skewer inserted comes out clean.

2. Cover the filo with a damp teatowel (it dries out very easily) and doing it layer by layer, lightly brush the butter over each sheet of filo until all of the sheets are used. Cut out 12 circles about the same size as the diameter of the cupcakes and bake in the 200C oven for 10-15 minutes until golden. Cool.

3. Mix all filling ingredients in one bowl. When the cake is completely cool gently remove the paper cases from the cakes. Slice the cake horizontally in half and place a spoonful of the nut mixture on the cut side and then top with a few circles of the crisp, golden filo (4-5 layers of the pastry discs or so – some might break, you can eat those or save them for the middle, use the best discs for the top). Drizzle a little honey on top of the filo and then replace with the other half of the cupcake.

4. Repeat with the nut mixture, filo discs and honey on the top of the cupcake.

*To clarify butter melt it and then skim off the foam and white that floats to the top

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Posted in Cooking and Recipes, Cupcakes

59 Comments | Add your own

  • 1. Liss | June 16, 2009 at 7:33 am | #

    yum. How long did it take you to make out of curiosity. I loooove baklava (Ok only some because some out there is positively crappy!)Did you make the filo? :P

  • 2. Tara | June 16, 2009 at 7:37 am | #

    Flavours for cupcakes i would love to try:
    Pistachio
    Honeycomb
    Vegemite!!!! lol

  • 3. Trisha | June 16, 2009 at 7:47 am | #

    Oh my goodness this is the ultimate in cupcake indulgence! Pro skills Lorraine!
    PS. Totally loving the gold doilies!!!

  • 4. The Duo Dishes | June 16, 2009 at 7:55 am | #

    If it has the components of a baklava, it’s going to be goods…hands down. The buttercream was not only a good idea, but probably another tasty layer.

  • 5. BethieofVA | June 16, 2009 at 7:56 am | #

    OPA! They look delightful. Send me one, please.

  • 6. Anita | June 16, 2009 at 8:01 am | #

    I love baklava! Can’t wait to try these, they look superb! Can’t think of any other cupcake flavours to try at the moment, too busy drooling over these ones :)

  • 7. Meg{Feasting on Art} | June 16, 2009 at 8:10 am | #

    You always have such clever recipes! I don’t think I can cook them fast enough!!

  • 8. Iron Chef Shellie | June 16, 2009 at 8:29 am | #

    Yum! Nice work! I must try to make baklava one day! All of those filo layers are going to drive me insane I think :P
    x

  • 9. Dorcas | June 16, 2009 at 8:42 am | #

    Love those spoons!! I love baklava too, the cupcake concept is very interesting!!
    What cupcake recipe i would like to see…hm…Greentea cupcake with azuma bean would be nice!!

  • 10. lisa (dandysugar) | June 16, 2009 at 9:16 am | #

    Lorraine, these are superb! I am a huge baklava fan but have yet to try those luscious flavors in a cupcake. Very, very well done!

  • 11. Arwen from Hoglet K | June 16, 2009 at 9:21 am | #

    Mmm, spicy cupcakes with honey and walnut filling sounds lovely. I love the spoons too!

  • 12. Matilda | June 16, 2009 at 9:38 am | #

    You’ve excelled yet again Lorraine!! Not a huge fan of Baklava in any shape or form, my husband on the other hand really loves it and these look so absolutely tempting that I would definitely try one. Tiramisu cupcake,what do you think?

  • 13. SydneyGal | June 16, 2009 at 10:06 am | #

    Rhubarb. I’m having fun with rhubarb right now so how about a rhubarb cupcake? Or maybe a rhubarb crumble cupcake? with cream …. oh I’m hungry again.

  • 14. Sweta | June 16, 2009 at 10:10 am | #

    Oh this is SINFUL Lorraine!! Whatever will you come out with next(can’t wait for it though);)

  • 15. Ellie | June 16, 2009 at 10:17 am | #

    Kudos! How should I eat them? With a spoon: ’scoop by scoop’ or with my hand: ‘layer by layer’? lol!!

  • 16. Cakelaw | June 16, 2009 at 10:56 am | #

    These look superb Lorraine! Well done on introducing the baclava back into the cupcake. Love the gold doilies – so pretty.

  • 17. Midge | June 16, 2009 at 11:19 am | #

    I agree with everyone else about the baklava cupcakes from the book: they aren’t as nutty, honey-sodden, and filo-crunch-ridden as I would like. Yours, however, are as tempting and as elegant as can be!

  • 18. Renee | June 16, 2009 at 11:32 am | #

    All of you fellow baklava enthusiasts should be *warned* about the amazing tahini scroll at the Hellenic Bakery on Illawarra Rd, Marrickville – so delicious, and very baklava like, but in the shape of a scroll. The above warning – even a quarter of one is enough to almost send me into a sugar shock coma. I recommend offsetting the effects with a strong coffee!

  • 19. Kathryn @ Australia Entertains | June 16, 2009 at 11:42 am | #

    OMG what a gorgeous combination – YUM!

  • 20. Sophia | June 16, 2009 at 11:53 am | #

    Cool! How freaking creative is this? It’s AWESOME! I love all the flavors and textures!

  • 21. Anita | June 16, 2009 at 12:49 pm | #

    Ok, I have some ideas for some new cupcake flavours: Creme caramel or creme brulee or maybe even a cheesecake one?

  • 22. Alexandra | June 16, 2009 at 1:01 pm | #

    what an interesting concept! I adore baklava and I adore cupcakes…so this seems like the perfect match for me :)

  • 23. Barbara | June 16, 2009 at 1:05 pm | #

    Now that is an over-the-top cupcake! Gorgeous!

  • 24. Johanna | June 16, 2009 at 1:10 pm | #

    this is excellent for someone struggling for inspiration for cupcakes – I have a great cupcake book and when I look at such creative work I think I should try and make some of the cupcakes from there more – I always love chocolate cupcakes in all guises – what about rose and honey?

  • 25. anna | June 16, 2009 at 1:33 pm | #

    Those are so beautiful! I need to try baklava again – I’ve made it before but wasn’t too crazy about it, even though it contains nothing but things I love. I bet I could make it better now, as the last time was in high school. Or, I could just make these!

    Honestly as far as cupcake ideas go, I think you should just join Iron Cupcake: Earth. I get the most ridiculously fun ideas every month.

  • 26. Tiffany | June 16, 2009 at 3:29 pm | #

    I have just discovered what a baklava tastes like only RECENTLY. I always saw them in the window of the lebanese bakeries yet I never dared to try it till recently and I have fallen in love with them. We bought 1kg of these lovely things within 1 week and downed them easily.

  • 27. Janna | June 16, 2009 at 7:30 pm | #

    i was drooling over all your PB cups posts… so maybe a PB and chocolate cupcake?? mmmmmm

  • 28. Alisa | June 16, 2009 at 8:31 pm | #

    They look so yummy! What if you backed them in filo cups? Just like, line the muffin tins with some layers of filo, pour in the dough, put some nut filling inside (like black bottom cupcakes) and wrap the excess filo sides on top, letting some space for the dough to rise? When ready douse in syrup and sprinkle pistacchios or walnuts on top :) I’m wandering if it could be working like this?

  • 29. Rebecca | June 16, 2009 at 8:33 pm | #

    I want to see Rocky Road cupcakes, something with dates in it and a chai tea cupcake with ginger frosting!

    This is like a mystery box challenge!

  • 30. Angela | June 16, 2009 at 8:38 pm | #

    Those look so delicious, of course I’m sure they’re not at all fattening :)

    Hmmm… flavours… lavender and white chocolate? But I’m also a sucker for the PB and chocolate combi!

  • 31. Leona | June 16, 2009 at 8:54 pm | #

    holy mother of GOD these are beautiful! I dont know how you do this but boy is really want one!

    Sometimes I crave for baklava i’m off to merrylands just to take some home. Sometimes baklava can be too sweet but this looks like it would be perfect! not to sweet but just right!

    YUMMMM!!

  • 32. Panda | June 16, 2009 at 9:47 pm | #

    i would never have thought of a baklava cupcake! this looks yum!

    as for a cupcake flavour, how about green tea and white chocolate – that’s probably one of my favourite combos!

  • 33. Not Quite Nigella | June 16, 2009 at 10:06 pm | #

    Hi Liss-Hmm good question! I made the cupcakes and the baklava one day and left them to rest as it got too dark but then put them together the next morning

    so probably about 1-2 hours? I know they’re fiddly and time consuming but if you do a whole lot at a time it’s not so bad. Hehe nope I bought the filo :)

    Hi Tara -oooh love the suggestions! Vegemite! :o

    Hi Trisha-Aww shucks thankyou! :D The doilies were an ebay purchase :P

    Hi The Duo Dishes-I figured something along those lines :P I liked the ones with buttercream a bit more I must admit hehe :)

    Hi BethieofVA-Hehe sure! :D

    Hi Anita-Thankyou! :D Hehe no problems, if you think of any others, feel free to let me know! :)

    Hi Meg-Thankyou so much! That’s so sweet of you to say :)

    Hi Iron Chef Shellie-Thankyou! I won’t lie, it does get a bit much doing alll those layers but the payoff is in the taste :D

    Hi Dorcas-They’re gorgeous aren’t they! Ooh I like the sounds of that! I love those red beans :D

    Hi lisa-Thankyou so much! :D YOu are too kind!

    Hi Arwen-Why thankyou! My eyes totally lit up when I saw The Second Wife’s spoons :lol:

    Hi Matilda-Aww thankyou! :D If he likes Baklava I think he’ll like these :) Yum that sounds delicious!

    Hi SydneyGal-Interesting! Rhubarb does sound very nice and I happen to love crumble!

    Hi Sweta -Hehe thankyou! I meant to make these for the longest time! :lol:

    Hi Ellie-Haha I admit I didn’t eat them with a spoon. It was straight in my mouth :lol:

    Hi Cakelaw-Thankyou! I’m afraid I got obsessed with having that baklava flavour :D

    Hi Midge-I know, and I think she said in her intro that they were very Baklava-ey whihc only made things worse! Ah well :lol: Thankyou!

    Hi Renee-Cool, thanks for the recommendation (Of the scroll and the accompanying coffee) :D

    Hi Kathryn-Thankyou! :)

    Hi Sophia-Thanks so much! You are too sweet! :)

    Hi Anita-Oooh that would be a nice textural challenge too! :D I’ve done cheesecake cupcakes and they’re yummy as well as being snack sized :)

    Hi Alexandra-Hehe it’s well worth a try! :D

    Hi Barbara-It is over the top isn’t it! :lol: Thankyou!

    Hi Johanna-I was totally stuck for a while! Rose and honey…I like it! :D

    Hi anna-Thankyou! I think you would make a gorgeous one :D But these are safe as they’re a cross between the two! :P I should! But I am worried I won’t be able to commit to all of the challenges :)

    Hi Tiffany-They’re gorgeous aren’t they! So sweet but oh so good (and moreish I am embarrassed to admit :P ). Wow, that is amazing! :D

    Hi Janna-Ahh yes sounds gorgeous! I love PB cups! :D

    Hi Alisa-Hehe you know what? I was talking to hubby about doing that very thing with the filo cup! I just chickened out at the last second and made them like regular ones. But geat minds think alike! ;)

    Hi Rebecca-I’ve done Rocky Road cupcakes but not the other two which sound great! :D Haha!

    Hi Angela-haha yes ummm sure, definitely not fattening! :P That’s a couple of votes for PB and choc! And I like the sound of lavendar and white choc!

    Hi Leona-Hehe why thankyou! You are too sweet! You are quite the baklava connoisseur! :D

    Hi panda-Thankyou! I’ve done a green tea one with mascarpone but yes the two combined would be great! :)

  • 34. Soma | June 16, 2009 at 11:10 pm | #

    Only I never thought that baklava could have this kinda variation. What a treat & what an idea:-D

  • 35. grace | June 16, 2009 at 11:34 pm | #

    “If there’s one dessert that deserves to be made into a infinite variety of iterations it’s Baklava…”
    amen, amen, and amen! these are incredible, and i highly doubt they can ever, EVER be topped. period. the end.

  • 36. stephchows | June 17, 2009 at 12:09 am | #

    These look beautiful and delicious!!! I love the complexity of all the layering. MMM!

  • 37. yaelian | June 17, 2009 at 12:53 am | #

    Oh my, I love baklava and your baklava cupcakes make me drool! So

  • 38. maris | June 17, 2009 at 1:35 am | #

    WOW- you’ve outdone yourself!

  • 39. The Purple Foodie | June 17, 2009 at 3:52 am | #

    The baklava cupcakes look great. And boy, is this a creative alternative or what. Love it.

  • 40. Marta | June 17, 2009 at 7:10 am | #

    hahahaha I just got a little freaked out because your most recent post says June 17th… but it’s still June 16th here and I have an important meeting tomorrow, so I was instantly terrified of having missed it!
    These cupcakes are amazing, I’ve tried them and adore their taste. Yours looks way better, though :)

  • 41. Yas | June 17, 2009 at 7:38 am | #

    Baklava cupcakes!! That’s very interesting! Never had it in other form than ordinary filo pastry ones.
    Looking delicious!

  • 42. Julia @ Mélanger | June 17, 2009 at 7:53 am | #

    Wow, this looks amazing. What a great cupcake twist and great photos! Agree, great spoons, too…

  • 43. sandra | June 17, 2009 at 8:21 am | #

    Sorry for the late comment those cupcakes look so delicious.

    I would like to see a spicy cupcakes faeturing hints of cinnamon and cloves perhaps paired with pear seeing as they are featuring prominantly in the shops. Also something with maple syrup and pecans would be good.

  • 44. Betty | June 17, 2009 at 10:46 am | #

    Ooh, the drizzle of honey looks gorgeous! I’m a huge fan of baklava, so sweet & so bad for you.. this combination has got guilty pleasure written all over it. YUM! :)

  • 45. anna | June 17, 2009 at 11:12 am | #

    Well, the great thing about Iron Cupcake is that you don’t have to participate every time. You can enter as often or not as you like – some months I have multiple entries…um, I haven’t missed one yet but I’m sure I will sooner or later once school starts.

  • 46. 5 Star Foodie | June 17, 2009 at 11:55 am | #

    What a neat idea! These baklava cupcakes looks scrumptious! A gorgeous creation!

  • 47. Kim | June 17, 2009 at 12:01 pm | #

    Fabulous! The food and photography is charming, elegant and intriguing.

  • 48. foodie-central | June 17, 2009 at 5:07 pm | #

    Wow! Those look really good. Ever think of opening up shop?

  • 49. pigpigscorner | June 17, 2009 at 5:47 pm | #

    That’s very creative! Looks gorgeous.

  • 50. Twitty | June 17, 2009 at 9:10 pm | #

    Those Baklavas look really delish!

  • 51. Not Quite Nigella | June 17, 2009 at 9:28 pm | #

    Hi Soma-Thankyou so much! :D They’re two of my favourite things together :P

    Hi grace-haha why thankyou Miss Grace! :D

    Hi stephchows-Thankyou so much! It’s a but I figured layering was all in the baklava theme :)

    Hi yaelian-Thankyou very much! :D

    Hi maris-Thanks! It was lots of fun :)

    Hi The Purple Foodie-hehe thanks! I just got such a terrible craving for baklava and couldn’t help myself :lol:

    Hi Marta-hehe yes there is a time difference. Sometimes quite a lot! Sorry for the shock :P thankyou so much!

    Hi Yas-Thankyou! I love to combine my favourite foods-except sushi and cupcakes. Although that might be an interesting one :P

    Hi Julia-Thankyou! My friends know that I have an obsession with crockery and tableware :lol:

    Hi sandra-Thankyou :D Mmm sounds delicious! And the maple syrup and pecan one sounds nice and Southern!

    Hi Betty-Thanks! :D I know-all that butter and sugar but oh so good :lol:

    Hi anna-Hmmm interesting! Maybe I’ll look at joining then! Sounds delicious and great for cupcake inspiration :)

    Hi 5 Star Foodie-Thankyou so much! :D

    Hi Kim-Thankyou! My readers helped me choose the pictures :lol:

    Hi foodie-central-Thankyou! I have but I don’t know if I could take the pressure! :lol:

    Hi pigpigscorner-Thanks so much! :D

    Hi twitty-Thankyou! :D

  • 52. Sophie | June 17, 2009 at 10:00 pm | #

    Waw,…Lorraine! They look fabulous!! Indeed, this is an excellent desert recipe!!! MMMMM….loving it!!

  • 53. Amaya | June 18, 2009 at 12:34 pm | #

    Since you’ve a churner and I do not I suggest that you should make the baklava ice cream I’ve been dreaming up a recipe for.

  • 54. The Food Addicts | June 18, 2009 at 3:28 pm | #

    These are amazing… the presentation is so artistic. I love your photos, too! Brings the dish to life.

  • 55. Kevin | June 20, 2009 at 5:59 am | #

    …mmm…baklava… Baklava muffins are a great idea! I am thinking of a version with a pocket of baklava filling in the middle and a baklava filling streusel topping and soaking them in a honey syrup as soon as they are done baking.

  • 56. Not Quite Nigella | June 20, 2009 at 10:24 am | #

    Hi Sophie-Thankyou so much! :D

    Hi Amaya-Sorry do you mean I should or shouldn’t do it?

    Hi The Food Addicts-Thankyou so much! :D You are too sweet!

    Hi Kevin-They are such a great combination :) Sounds like a good idea!

  • 57. Pam | June 22, 2009 at 10:47 am | #

    I made these & found them to be delicious. I did make a few changes though. Unfortunately, there was no amount of butter for the cakes, so I added 90grams & I found that I only needed 1/2 the filling receipe. I didn’t have any filo pastry on hand, so after splitting the cakes I spread a small ampunt of honey-flavoured butter cream on each side, then the filling, butter cream on the top & some more filling. Quite sweet, but delicious

  • 58. Ally | June 22, 2009 at 12:57 pm | #

    AMAZING. Turning a pastry dessert into a baked dessert would never have even crossed my mind. Kudos to you NQN!

  • 59. Von | November 20, 2009 at 5:25 pm | #

    Yummmm! This is such a smart idea…..definitely trying these one day!

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