Description
These Sweet & Crunchy Pecan Caramel Baklava Cups are a delightful twist on traditional baklava, featuring crispy mini phyllo shells filled with a spiced nut mixture and topped with luscious homemade caramel. Perfect for serving at parties or enjoying as a decadent treat, these bite-sized desserts combine the rich flavors of pecans, walnuts, pistachios, and warm cinnamon, finished with a smooth caramel drizzle.
Ingredients
Scale
Baklava Cups
- 15 mini phyllo shells (pre-baked)
- 1/2 cup pecans, roughly chopped
- 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1/4 cup pistachios, chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Caramel Sauce
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons water
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 pinch sea salt (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and arrange the mini phyllo shells on a parchment-lined baking sheet to prepare them for filling.
- Prepare Nut Mixture: In a mixing bowl, combine the roughly chopped pecans, walnuts, pistachios, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Add the melted unsalted butter and vanilla extract, stirring until all ingredients are well incorporated to create a flavorful filling.
- Fill Phyllo Cups: Spoon the nut mixture into each mini phyllo shell, pressing the filling lightly to ensure it is compact and evenly distributed in each cup.
- Bake Cups: Bake the filled phyllo shells for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the shells turn golden brown and the nuts are lightly toasted. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely.
- Make Caramel Sauce: While the cups cool, combine granulated sugar and water in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves, then stop stirring and allow the mixture to boil and caramelize until it reaches a deep amber color.
- Finish Caramel: Remove the caramel from heat and carefully whisk in the unsalted butter and heavy cream until the sauce is smooth and glossy. Optionally, add a pinch of sea salt to enhance flavor.
- Assemble & Garnish: Drizzle the warm caramel sauce over the cooled baklava cups. For an extra touch, garnish with additional chopped nuts or a sprinkle of flaky sea salt if desired.
- Set Caramel: Allow the caramel to set slightly before serving to ensure the perfect texture and presentation.
Notes
- Use pre-baked mini phyllo shells to save time and ensure crispiness.
- Ensure the caramel is a deep amber color to avoid bitterness but rich flavor.
- Be cautious when adding butter and cream to hot caramel to prevent splattering.
- You can substitute nuts according to preference or availability, such as almonds or hazelnuts.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain crispness.
