Categories
Dessert Recipes

Baklava Satchels

A dessert to celebrate Saint Nicholas of Myra.

Baklava Satchels Recipe

Our family loves to find authentic Catholic traditions that are almost lost in time. From A-Souling to Michaelmas, we keep these traditions alive by passing them on to our children. Because of our love of tradition, Saint Nicholas knows to visit our home on the 6th of December.

Saint Nicholas of Myra is well known for his generous gift-giving, especially to the poor and needy. This Baklava Satchel recipe is a great way to celebrate his feast day, and I’ll explain why.

A well-known legend of Saint Nicholas explains how he delivered bags of gold to a poor man in the middle of the night. These little bags of gold were a dowry for the poor man’s daughters, enabling the girls to marry. Without a dowry for marriage, the girls would live a life of servitude. Our Baklava Satchels represent the little bags of gold given by Saint Nicholas.

Baklava has been a part of Turkish cuisine for as long as anyone can remember. This is why we chose it to celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra. This delicious treat contains a nutty, gooey filling wrapped in a light, flakey crust. Drizzled with honey and shaped into the form of a satchel, Saint Nicholas will enjoy stopping by your house to eat this treat!

These Baklava Satchels are a great way to celebrate the feast of Saint Nicholas of Myra. Download the recipe and enjoy them with your family and friends. I’d like to know what you think of this Baklava Satchel recipe and invite you to leave a comment below.

Saint Nicholas of Myra, pray for us!


Ingredients:

Filling
  • 1 ½ cups Mixed Nuts (Pistachios, Walnuts, Pecans), lightly toasted, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, melted
  • ¼ cup Honey, plus more for serving
  • ¼ Orange, zested
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • Pinch of Salt
Pastry
  • 1 package (9×13 inch) Frozen Phyllo Pastry Sheets, thawed
  • ¼ cup Unsalted Butter, melted

Preparation Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. In a medium bowl, stir together chopped nuts, melted butter, honey, orange zest, cinnamon, and salt until evenly combined.
  3. Stack the thawed phyllo sheets on top of each other.
  4. Using a sharp knife, cut the sheets lengthwise in half and cut each length crosswise into thirds, to make 6 sections per sheet of phyllo.
  5. Cover phyllo with a barely damp kitchen towel to prevent from drying.
  6. Prepare a clean work surface and set the melted butter and pastry brush within easy reach before you start assembling.
  7. Place one square of phyllo on a work surface. Brush lightly with melted butter. Top with a second square of phyllo, off-setting the corners. Brush lightly with melted butter. Top with a third square of phyllo, off-setting the corners again to form a star shape. Brush with butter.
  8. Place two tablespoons of filling in the center of the phyllo.
  9. Enclose by bringing together two opposite sides. Continue to gather the edges while twisting and pleating them slightly to form a pouch.
  10. Brush the top and sides lightly with melted butter.
  11. Place on a baking sheet (leave an inch or two of space around each one) and bake at 375°F until tops are golden brown, approximately 18-25 minutes.
  12. Remove from oven and place baking sheet on rack to cool for 5-10 minutes. Serve warm.

*Note: You must be logged in to save the recipe.


Leave a Reply