Description
Creamy, crunchy, nutty, and dripping with honeyed goodness—this baklava cheesecake recipe is the ultimate dessert mashup you never knew you needed. Imagine the rich, smooth texture of classic cheesecake layered between flaky, golden sheets of buttery phyllo dough and topped with cinnamon-spiced nuts and a sweet syrup drizzle. It’s indulgent, impressive, and surprisingly simple to make.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 roll phyllo dough, thawed (16 oz)
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted (for brushing layers)
- 2 cups finely chopped walnuts or pistachios
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar (for nut mixture)
- 3 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (for filling)
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ½ cup sour cream
For the Honey Syrup:
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
Instructions
- Preheat & Prepare: Preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). Grease a 9-inch springform pan and line with parchment.
- Prepare Nut Mixture: In a bowl, mix chopped nuts, cinnamon, and 3 tbsp sugar. Set aside.
- Layer Phyllo: Place one sheet of phyllo in the pan, brush with melted butter. Repeat 8–10 times, rotating sheets so edges hang over the pan.
- Add Nut Layer: Sprinkle half of the nut mixture over the phyllo base.
- Make Cheesecake Filling: In a bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Add ¾ cup sugar, eggs (one at a time), vanilla, and sour cream. Mix until creamy.
- Assemble Layers: Pour half of cheesecake filling over nuts. Add 5 more buttered phyllo sheets, sprinkle remaining nuts, then top with remaining filling.
- Top with Phyllo: Finish with 6–8 buttered phyllo sheets. Tuck in or trim excess edges.
- Bake: Bake for 60–70 minutes until center is set. Cover with foil if phyllo browns too quickly.
- Make Syrup: While baking, simmer honey, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick for 8–10 minutes. Remove cinnamon stick.
- Cool & Drizzle: Let cheesecake cool slightly. Pour warm syrup evenly over the top. Chill 4+ hours or overnight.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 70 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Fusion (Greek–Middle Eastern–American)