Bittersweet Chocolate Date Nut Baklava

Baklava has gone wild! One of our favorite catering desserts of all times. This combination of bittersweet chocolate baklava with the dates, cinnamon, and walnuts is utterly delicious. The flavors are so rich I serve it alone with a cup of coffee, tea, or a glass of wine.

Makes : 3o ( 2 1/2″ square pieces)
Use a sheet pan for this recipe.
Cut recipe in half for a 1/2 sheet pan.

Chocolate and walnuts enveloped in a crunchy bittersweet phyllo.

Author: Mary Papoulias-Platis

Recipe type: Dessert

Ingredients

Syrup:

2 cups sugar
1 cup water
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
¼ teaspoon ground ginger
¼ teaspoon ground allspice

Chocolate Filling

6 cups walnuts
12 ozs. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 cups pitted dates
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
2 eggs,slightly beaten
2 sticks melted butter for the phyllo
1 box of pyhllo dough, thawed

Instructions

Syrup

Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan and boil until sugar is dissolved. About 2 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool.

Filling

Place the walnuts, chopped chocolate, dates, sugar and cinnamon in a food processor and pulse on/off until nut mixture is coarsely chopped.
Transfer to a medium bowl and add the eggs. Mix well.
Butter the sheet pan.
Place ½ pound of the phyllo sheets on the bottom. (about 14 sheets) one by one buttering each layer.
Add the chocolate-nut mixture.
Add remaining phyllo, buttering each layer.
Cut into 2½ ” (or any size you would like), squares or so. Can be cut in diagonals or diamonds too.
Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degree oven.
Pour syrup over the baklava immediately.
Let the baklava cool and serve.

Notes

Note: This can be ahead of time. Freeze before cooking, add syrup after baking. I buy my chocolate bar at Trader Joes. I’m now using the organic phyllo from The Fillo Factory http://www.fillofactory.com/index.htm Any brand phyllo will work.

Adapted from 1991 article in Bon-Appetit

Tagged as: baklava, chocolate, chocolate baklava, desert, Greek desert, Greek food, phyllo, Valentine

{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }

The Fillo Factory April 29, 2011 at: Hi Mary,

Thanks so much for posting this delicious-looking spin on baklava and mentioning that you used our fillo dough. We’re glad you enjoyed it.

Last month, we joined Twitter + Facebook, where you can give us your feedback, see new recipes, and view more of our product line. We would like to feature your recipe/blog on these sites today and hope you will join us there!

Looking forward to reading more from you.

Best wishes,
Sara
The Fillo Factory
http://facebook.com/fillofactory
http://twitter.com/fillofactory
Jen May 2, 2012 at: Mary, it was lovely meeting you at the food blogger bake sale last weekend! I thoroughly enjoyed your baklava and want try my hand at veganizing it soon. Blog post to follow, eventually! Wish me luck!
-Jen
Mary Papoulias-Platis May 3, 2012 at: Hi Jen,
Yes, I enjoyed the bake sale and your company. Good-Luck with the baklava and send me the link to the vegan spin-off!
Good-Luck, Mary