Servings: 24

Time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 16 oz. package phyllo dough sheets
  • 1 cup melted butter
  • 1 ½ cups chopped nuts (a mix of walnuts, pecans, and pistachios)
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • ½ cup light brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon ground ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ½ cup mascarpone
  • Spiced Simple Syrup:
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Step 1

In a bowl, mix the pumpkin puree with sugar, pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves), and mascarpone until smooth.

Step 2

Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 3

Brush a 9” x 13” baking dish with melted butter.

Step 4

Place a sheet of phyllo dough in the baking dish and brush it with melted butter. Repeat this step, layering and buttering 5-6 sheets of phyllo dough.

Step 5

Spread a thin, even layer of the pumpkin filling over the buttered phyllo sheets.

Step 6

Sprinkle a layer of the chopped nuts on top of the pumpkin filling.

Step 7

Place another phyllo sheet on top of the pumpkin filling and nuts, brush with melted butter, and repeat the process of layering and buttering 5-6 sheets of phyllo dough.

Step 8

Add another layer of pumpkin filling and nuts.

Step 9

For the final layers, use 5-6 sheets of phyllo dough, each brushed with melted butter.

Step 10

Before baking, cut the layered baklava into diamond or square shapes to make it easier to serve after baking.

Step 11

Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the baklava is golden brown and crispy.

Step 12

While the baklava is baking, combine sugar, water, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and orange zest in a saucepan.

Step 13

Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, until it has a syrupy consistency.

Step 14

Remove from heat, strain, and then stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 15

Let the syrup cool slightly.

Step 16

As soon as the baklava is out of the oven, pour the warm syrup evenly over the hot baklava. Ensure the syrup penetrates through all the layers.

Step 17

Allow the baklava to cool completely before serving.

Notes:

Add additional layers of puree and nuts if you prefer. Optional: garnish the top of the baklava with chopped pistachios.