Baklava for the holidays
Baklava turns up at holiday tables all over the world, from Eid mornings in Istanbul to Christmas cookie plates in the US. It keeps for days without a fridge, so it is one of the easiest holiday desserts to plan ahead. Here is how it fits each season, and how to time it.
Thanksgiving
The Thanksgiving dessert table is usually pie, pie and more pie. A plate of baklava next to them gives people something small to pick at after a big meal: one piece is enough. Pistachio baklava also sits well beside pumpkin and pecan, since it is nutty and buttery but not spiced.
If you are hosting, set it out at room temperature with coffee. If you are a guest, a half box of 8 pieces is an easy thing to bring that the host does not have to bake, chill or reheat.
Christmas
In many Greek, Lebanese, Armenian and Turkish-American homes, baklava is already part of Christmas. For everyone else it works the way cookies do: something to share with neighbors, to set out when people drop by, or to mail to family you will not see this year. A full box of 16 pieces covers a family gathering of about eight.
Hanukkah
Hanukkah food leans on oil and honey, and baklava, with its syrup and layers of buttered phyllo, sits comfortably next to sufganiyot and honey cakes on a Hanukkah table. Eight nights also means eight chances to open a box. Note that our baklava contains butter, so it is a dairy dessert.
Ramadan and Eid
This is where baklava comes from as a holiday food. In Turkey it is the dessert of bayram: the Ramazan Bayramı at the end of Ramadan and the Kurban Bayramı (Eid al-Adha). Families visit each other, kiss the hands of elders, and a tray of baklava is on every table and in every host’s hands. During Ramadan it is also a common sweet after iftar.
The dates of Ramadan and both Eids move about eleven days earlier each year, so check the calendar and plan a little ahead.
New Year
For a New Year’s Eve party or a New Year’s Day open house, baklava is finger food that needs no plates or forks. Set it out in paper cups or on a tray, and it will hold all evening at room temperature.
Timing a holiday box
- Arrive early, not late. Baklava keeps several days at room temperature, so a box that arrives a few days before the holiday is in good shape on the day.
- Keep it out of the fridge. The cold hardens the syrup and dulls the phyllo. A cool, dry spot in a closed box is best.
- Freeze the extra. If a holiday box is bigger than the crowd, freeze what is left. Our guide on how to store baklava covers it step by step.
- Sending it as a gift? The baklava gift guide has tips on sizes and shipping across the country.
FAQ
Is baklava a Christmas dessert?
In Greek, Lebanese, Armenian and many other Eastern Mediterranean families, yes. It is also a common holiday gift in the US because it keeps for days and ships well.
What holiday is baklava eaten on?
In Turkey it is above all the dessert of the two Eids (Ramazan Bayramı and Kurban Bayramı). Today it also shows up at Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year tables.
How far ahead can I buy baklava for a holiday?
A few days ahead is fine: it keeps several days at room temperature in a closed box. For longer, freeze it and thaw it at room temperature in the closed box.
How much baklava do I need for a holiday dinner?
Plan on one or two pieces per person after a big meal. A 16-piece box serves about eight people, an 8-piece box about four.
Our baklava contains wheat (gluten), tree nuts (pistachios), milk, soy and honey, and may contain traces of peanuts and other tree nuts.