If you're craving a sweet, nutty treat that's easy to make and full of flavor, these pistachio baklava bites are for you! Each bite has a crispy phyllo shell filled with chopped nuts and finished with a warm honey drizzle-bringing you all the classic baklava flavors in mini form. It's quick to make and easy to customize with any nuts of your choice. These baklava bites are ideal for holiday parties or when you're in need of a mini dessert.
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Table of Contents
Why you'll love it
Baklava is something that holds a special place in my heart. Every holiday season, my mom and I get up early to spend a few hours in the kitchen, layering sheets of phyllo dough to make homemade baklava. It is always delicious, but very time-intensive.
These smaller portion pistachio baklava bites capture all the delicious flavors of traditional baklava without all the prep work. Here's why you'll fall in love with them:
- Quick and easy: Ready in just 35 minutes, this easy baklava bites recipe lets you enjoy the rich flavors of baklava without the hours of work.
- Perfect for entertaining: This bite-sized sweet is ideal for parties, holiday gatherings, or simply as a sweet snack everyone can enjoy.
- Crispy and delicious: The premade phyllo shells bake up beautifully crisp, adding a delightful crunch with every bite. And then the sweet-spiced pistachio filling and honey drizzle makes them downright irresistible.
Are they healthy?
As a dietitian, I always say: All sweets can be a part of a balanced diet. It's just more about keeping the portions in check. That's where mini or single-serve desserts are ideal!
These bites also use pistachios which are packed with nutrients to support our overall well being. Here's a few health benefits of enjoying nuts like pistachios:
- Brain, Gut, and Skin Support: Rich in essential nutrients, pistachios may support brain function, gut health, and even promote skin and eye health, according to recent research.
- Blood Sugar and Weight Management: With a low glycemic index and high fiber content, pistachios can help with blood sugar control and weight management.
- Complete Protein: Pistachios are one of the few plant-based complete proteins, meaning they provide all nine essential amino acids, much like dairy or meat products.
- Rich in Healthy Fats: Pistachios are high in monounsaturated fats, which support heart health and can help lower cholesterol levels.
Ingredients you'll need
Here's everything you'll need to make these delightful pistachio baklava bites:
- Mini phyllo shells - Premade and easy to find in the freezer section, these shells save time while offering the same crisp texture as traditional phyllo dough. If you can't find these mini phyllo shells, you could also try making your own with this recipe guide.
- Roasted and salted pistachios - I prefer using salted pistachios because I find these bring a nice balance of saltiness to the sweetness. Choose pistachios with the shell already removed to save you time.
- Butter - Adds richness and helps the pistachio filling blend together beautifully.
- Cinnamon - Gives the filling a cozy, spiced warmth.
- Water, sugar, honey, and lemon juice - These ingredients create the simple syrup that's drizzled over the bites, adding that signature sticky + sweet baklava finish.
How to make these mini baklava bites
These baklava bites are quick and easy to make with just a few simple steps:
Preheat the oven
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F (175°C) and place the phyllo shells on a baking sheet or mini cupcake pan.
Prepare the pistachio filling
Pulse pistachios in a food processor until roughly chopped, then add the butter and cinnamon. Pulse again until just combined. Note: Be careful to not overblend it here-the nuts should resemble the size of a pebble. This helps the bites to have a nice crunch!
Fill the shells
Spoon about 1 heaping teaspoon of the pistachio mixture into each phyllo cup.
Bake the bites
Bake in the oven for 10-12 minutes, until the phyllo is golden and crispy.
Make the syrup
While the bites bake, combine water, sugar, honey, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Simmer for 6-8 minutes until it's slightly thickened, then let cool for a couple of minutes. Be sure to not let it simmer for much longer than that, otherwise it can become overly thick.
Drizzle and cool
Remove the bites from the oven and drizzle with the syrup. Allow them cool completely before serving for the best flavor.
Recipe tips and tricks
- Serving suggestions: Serve these pistachio baklava bites with a warm cup of coffee or tea for a cozy treat. They also pair well with fresh fruit or a dollop of Greek yogurt on the side.
- Troubleshooting: If the syrup becomes too thick, add a small amount of water to loosen it up. Be sure to drizzle the syrup over the warm baklava bites so it absorbs into the shells for that signature sticky finish.
- Scaling tips: This recipe makes 12 bites, but you can easily double or triple the ingredients for larger gatherings. Just make sure to increase the syrup ingredients slightly to ensure there's enough drizzle for each bite.
Customize it your way
Like all my recipes, this pistachio baklava bites recipe is completely customizable. Here are a few ways to make it your own:
- Nut options: Feel free to swap out pistachios for walnuts or almonds to give the bites a different flavor twist.
- Make it dairy-free: Swap in a vegan butter alternative to make these bites completely dairy-free and vegan.
Can I make it ahead of time?
These baklava bites are best fresh but you can make them up to 1 day in advance. Simply store them in an airtight container at room temperature.
How do I store leftovers?
These baklava bites are best enjoyed fresh, but if you end up with leftovers you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
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Mini Baklava Bites
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Ingredients
- 15 premade mini phyllo shells (1.9 ounce package)
- ¾ cup roasted and salted shelled pistachios or nuts of your choice (almonds, walnuts, pecans, or a mixture)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Place phyllo shells onto a sheet pan or mini cupcake pan.
- In a food processor or blender, pulse pistachios until they are roughly chopped. Add melted butter and cinnamon, then pulse a few more times until everything is combined. (Be careful to not overblend it here-the nuts should resemble the size of a pebble.)
- Fill each phyllo cup with a spoonful of the pistachio mixture (about 1 heaping teaspoon per cup).
- Bake the filled cups for 10-12 minutes, or until the phyllo is golden and crisp.
- While the baklava bites are baking, prepare the syrup: in a small saucepan, combine water, sugar, honey, and lemon juice. Stir and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat. Let it simmer for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened to a maple syrup-like consistency. Remove from heat and let cool for 2 minutes.
- Remove the baklava bites from the oven, keeping them on the sheet pan, and drizzle the syrup evenly over each warm baklava bite.
- Allow the baklava bites to cool completely before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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