Description
Baklava Cream Sandwich Cookies combine flaky puff pastry with a rich, creamy whipped filling, drizzled honey, and crunchy nuts for a delightful fusion of baklava and cookie sandwich. Perfect for special occasions or elegant snacks, this recipe offers an easy, quick baking treat with sophisticated Middle Eastern-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Puff Pastry Base
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Filling
- 1 cup cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup powdered sugar
Toppings
- 1/4 cup honey, plus more for drizzling
- 1/3 cup chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking.
- Prepare Pastry Circles: Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheets slightly to smooth and even thickness, then cut into circles using a cookie cutter or a round glass.
- Arrange Pastry Rounds: Place half of the pastry rounds on the lined baking sheet and prick each round with a fork to prevent excessive puffing.
- Add Toppings: Brush the rounds on the baking sheet with melted butter, sprinkle evenly with chopped walnuts or pecans and ground cinnamon, then place another pastry round on top of each one to form sandwiches.
- Brush and Bake: Lightly brush the tops of the assembled pastry sandwiches with more melted butter and bake in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes, or until golden brown and crisp.
- Honey Drizzle and Cool: While the pastries are still warm, drizzle generously with honey, then allow them to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Make Cream Filling: In a bowl, beat the softened cream cheese with powdered sugar until smooth and creamy.
- Whip Cream: Add the heavy cream to the cream cheese mixture and whip until thick and fluffy. Chill the filling in the refrigerator for 20 minutes to firm up.
- Assemble Cookies: Pipe or spoon the chilled cream filling onto the flat side of one pastry round.
- Complete Sandwiches: Carefully top each filled round with a second pastry round, pressing gently so the flat sides meet, forming a sandwich.
- Final Toppings: Drizzle the assembled cookie sandwiches with honey and sprinkle chopped pistachios on top for garnish and extra crunch.
- Chill Before Serving: Refrigerate the cookies for at least 30 minutes to let the filling set and to improve the texture before serving.
Notes
- Keep the puff pastry cold prior to baking to ensure optimal puffing and flakiness.
- Lightly toast the chopped nuts before adding for enhanced flavor and crunch.
- Chilling the cream filling and assembled cookies is crucial for proper setting and better texture.
