History

Baklava came through Ottoman court cuisine and adapted to Bosnian highland walnuts and honey, a distinct departure from the pistachio-heavy Gaziantep canon of Turkey. Slasticarna Egipat on Ferhadija and Slasticarna Ramis on Saraci both work the Sarajevo recipe, the syrup balance pulled back toward honey rather than sugar and the walnut layer kept thicker than the Turkish or Greek standard, a tradition codified through Sarajevo's Habsburg-era patisseries.

Common allergens: Gluten, Nuts, Dairy

Make it at home

Yield 12Hands-on 45 minTotal 2 hrDifficulty Intermediate

Ingredients

  • 500g phyllo pastry
  • 400g walnuts, finely chopped
  • 250g unsalted butter, melted
  • 100g sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 400ml water
  • 300g sugar (for syrup)
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 lemon, juiced

Method

  1. Heat oven to 180 C; brush a baking pan with butter.
  2. Mix walnuts with sugar and cinnamon.
  3. Layer 6 sheets of phyllo, brushing each with butter.
  4. Sprinkle a layer of walnut mixture; repeat layers (2 phyllo, walnut) until walnut and phyllo are used.
  5. Top with 6 final phyllo sheets, all buttered.
  6. Score the top into diamond shapes with a sharp knife (cut through to the bottom).
  7. Bake 40 minutes until deeply golden.
  8. Meanwhile bring water, sugar, honey and lemon juice to a simmer for 10 minutes.
  9. Pour hot syrup over the baklava as it comes out of the oven.
  10. Rest 4 hours before serving so the syrup soaks in.

Tip from the editors. Make the day before; baklava improves overnight as the syrup distributes evenly.

Where to eat baklava

Baklava in Sarajevo

Slasticarna Egipat ★ 4.5

Bakery$centarMon-Sun 09:00-22:00Walk-in onlyBosnian sweets, baklava, tufahija, hurmasice

Slasticarna Egipat on Ferhadija is the Sarajevo Bosnian sweet counter open since 1949, with baklava, tufahija, hurmasice and tulumbe by the piece.

Tip: Pair a Bosnian coffee with tufahija (poached apple with walnut and cream) for the full sit.

Worth the queue: Baklava and tufahija stuffed apple

Ferhadija 29, 71000 Sarajevo

Slasticarna Ramis ★ 4.4

Bakery$bascarsijaMon-Sun 08:00-22:00Walk-in onlyBaklava, tulumbe, hurmasice

Slasticarna Ramis on Saraci is the historic Bosnian sweet shop in Sarajevo's Bascarsija, pulling walnut baklava, hurmasice and rose-water tulumbe daily.

Tip: Counter sale; take to Sebilj square and watch the pigeons with a Bosnian coffee.

Worth the queue: Walnut baklava

Saraci 1, 71000 Sarajevo

More cities are in research. Want baklava covered somewhere specific? Tell us where you want to eat.

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