Golden Knafeh Sweet Dessert Made Easy

On Mar 16, 2025 14 0

Knafeh is a truly special dessert, loved for its perfect balance of textures and flavors. Imagine a warm, buttery base topped with soft, melted cheese, all drizzled with fragrant syrup and sprinkled with crunchy pistachios. This popular Türkiye treat is easier to make at home than one might think, even for beginner bakers. This guide will walk through each step to prepare a delicious knafeh right in your own kitchen. Get ready to experience the joy of making this delightful sweet and sharing it with family and friends! This recipe uses halal ingredients and is perfect for those seeking delicious homemade halal desserts.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Before starting, gather all the necessary ingredients. Having everything measured and ready will make the process smooth and enjoyable. Here is what is needed to put together this delicious dessert:

💧 1 cup (240ml) Water: This is the base for the sweet syrup that makes knafeh so luscious.
🍬 2 cups (400g) Sugar: Granulated sugar is used for both the syrup and the knafeh base.
🍋 1 tablespoon Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice adds a touch of brightness to the syrup and balances the sweetness.
🧈 1/2 cup (113g) Unsalted Butter, melted: Melted butter is essential for the crispy base of the knafeh. Use unsalted butter to control the overall salt level.
🌾 1 cup (100g) Shredded Phyllo Dough (Kataifi): This special dough is what gives knafeh its unique, slightly crunchy texture. Phyllo dough is made from flour, water and a little oil. It is very thin and is shredded into fine strands for this recipe. It can often be found in the freezer section of grocery stores.
🧀 8 ounces (225g) Mozzarella Cheese, shredded: Use low-moisture mozzarella cheese for the best results. Ensure it is certified halal. Mozzarella cheese is a soft, white cheese that melts beautifully when heated. Shredding it allows it to melt evenly in the knafeh.
🟢 1/4 cup (30g) Pistachios, finely chopped: Pistachios add a beautiful green color and a nutty flavor as a garnish. They also provide a pleasant crunch. Make sure they are finely chopped so they sprinkle nicely over the knafeh.
🍊 Optional: Orange Blossom Water or Rose Water (a few drops): These add a delicate floral aroma to the syrup, enhancing the Middle Eastern flavor profile. These are flavoring ingredients derived from orange blossoms or rose petals, respectively, and are optional for those who enjoy floral notes in their desserts.

Kitchen Equipment

Having the right tools makes any cooking task easier. Here is the basic equipment needed to make knafeh:

🥣 Medium saucepan: Used to prepare the sugar syrup. A saucepan is a deep cooking pan with a handle, ideal for simmering liquids.
🥄 Measuring cups and spoons: For accurately measuring ingredients. Precise measurements are important in baking for consistent results.
🥄 Mixing spoon or spatula: For stirring ingredients together. A spatula is a flexible tool that is useful for scraping bowls clean and folding ingredients.
🔪 Knife and cutting board: For chopping pistachios. Always use a clean cutting board when preparing food.
🔥 9-inch round baking pan or oven-safe skillet: To bake the knafeh. A 9-inch round pan is a standard size for many baking recipes. An oven-safe skillet can also be used if it is the right size and oven-safe material.
🌡️ Oven: For baking the knafeh to golden perfection. Ovens are essential for baking and roasting.
🧤 Oven mitts: To safely handle hot pans from the oven. Oven mitts protect hands from burns when handling hot cookware.

Let’s Learn Basic Kitchen Techniques

Before starting the recipe, it’s helpful to understand a couple of basic cooking terms that will be used. Don’t worry, they are very simple!

Melting Butter: Melting butter simply means heating butter until it turns from a solid to a liquid. This can be done in a saucepan over low heat on the stovetop or in a microwave-safe bowl in short intervals in the microwave. Be careful not to overheat or burn the butter.

Shredding Cheese: Shredding cheese means grating it into small pieces using a cheese grater. This helps the cheese melt more quickly and evenly when baked. If pre-shredded cheese is used, it’s ready to go!

Simmering Syrup: Simmering means to cook a liquid gently over low heat, just below boiling point. Small bubbles will appear occasionally on the surface of the liquid. Simmering helps to thicken the syrup slightly and allows the flavors to blend together.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Knafeh

Now, let’s put everything together and prepare this wonderful knafeh. Follow these simple steps, and refer to the image to see how the knafeh should look at different stages.

Step 1: Make the Sweet Syrup

This is the first step because the syrup needs time to cool down before being poured over the hot knafeh. In the medium saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Place the saucepan over medium heat on the stovetop. Stir the mixture until the sugar dissolves. Sugar is dissolved when it is no longer visible in the water and the liquid looks clear. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently for about 10 minutes. This will slightly thicken the syrup. After 10 minutes, remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the lemon juice and, if using, orange blossom water or rose water. Set the syrup aside to cool completely. As it cools, the syrup will thicken further.

Step 2: Prepare the Cheese Filling

While the syrup is cooling, prepare the cheese filling. In a bowl, place the shredded mozzarella cheese. Make sure the mozzarella is shredded evenly so it melts uniformly in the oven. No other preparation is needed for the cheese at this stage.

Step 3: Assemble the Knafeh Base

This step involves preparing the base of the knafeh with the phyllo dough and melted butter. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). This ensures the oven is at the correct temperature when the knafeh is ready to bake. In a large bowl, place the shredded phyllo dough. Pour the melted butter over the phyllo dough. Using clean hands or a spatula, gently toss the phyllo dough to evenly coat it with the melted butter. This step is important to ensure a crispy and golden base. Take the 9-inch round baking pan or oven-safe skillet and press about two-thirds of the buttered phyllo dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. This forms the base layer of the knafeh. Try to press it firmly and evenly to put together a solid base.

Step 4: Add the Cheese and Bake

Now it’s time to add the cheese filling and bake the knafeh. Refer to the image to see how the layers are assembled. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the phyllo dough base in the pan. Make sure the cheese is spread in an even layer to ensure every bite is cheesy. Crumble the remaining one-third of the buttered phyllo dough over the cheese layer. This will form the top layer and add to the crispy texture. Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the knafeh is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Baking time may vary slightly depending on the oven, so keep an eye on it. Observe in the image how the top of the knafeh has a beautiful golden-brown color.

Step 5: Add Syrup and Pistachios

Once baked, the knafeh is ready for the final touches. Remove the hot knafeh from the oven using oven mitts. Immediately pour the cooled syrup evenly over the hot knafeh. The hot knafeh will absorb the cool syrup, making it moist and sweet. Sprinkle the finely chopped pistachios over the top of the syrup-soaked knafeh. The green pistachios provide a lovely color contrast and nutty flavor. Let the knafeh sit for a few minutes to absorb the syrup before serving. This allows the flavors to come together beautifully.

Enjoy Your Homemade Knafeh!

Congratulations on making your own delicious knafeh! The process of putting together this sweet treat is rewarding, and the taste is even more so. Each bite offers a delightful combination of crispy, cheesy, and sweet flavors. This knafeh is best served warm. It can be enjoyed as a dessert after a meal or as a special treat any time. Feel free to share pictures of your homemade knafeh desserts! Enjoy the wonderful experience of making and sharing this beautiful dessert.