Baklava Cookies Good Stuff By Top Chef Spike Mendelsohn Recipes

BAKLAVA THUMBPRINT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream sugar and butter until blended. Beat in eggs, one at a time, and extracts. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder and salt; gradually beat into creamed mixture. Wrap dough in plastic; refrigerate until firm enough to form into balls, about 30 minutes. , Preheat oven to 375°. For topping, combine sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Shape dough into 1-in. balls; refrigerate again if dough becomes too warm. Place 2-1/2 in. apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes. Press a deep indentation in center of each cookie with the back of a rounded teaspoon. Fill each with honey and walnuts; sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Return to oven and bake until edges begin to brown, 7-9 minutes longer. Cool on pans 1 minute. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container.

EXQUISITE AND ADDICTIVE ROLLED BAKLAVA COOKIES

Steps:

• Spread out one sheet of phyllo dough.
• Keep the other sheets covered with a damp towel to prevent from drying and becoming brittle.
• Lightly brush with butter or spray the oil.
• Place another sheet of phyllo dough on top of the first sheet.
• Brush 2nd sheet with butter or oil and sprinkle the nut, sugar, and cinnamon filling lightly over whole sheet.
• Place a third sheet of phyllo dough over first two sheets.
• Brush with butter or oil and lightly sprinkle nut filling again.
• Roll the 3 sheets up tightly as you would a cigar or jellyroll.
• Slice diagonally into 1 or 2 inch pieces and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet with sides *make sure you have sides on your cookie sheet (aka "jelly roll pan").
• Repeat until all the phyllo dough and filling have been used, using three sheets for each roll.
• Brush tops of baklava pieces with melted butter and sprinkle with raw (turbinado) sugar.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
• Remove from oven to cool. Leave in pan.
• In a saucepan heat the honey, sugar, water, and lemon rind together and bring to a boil for 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pour over cooled baklava pieces. You may have to turn them once to make sure they are completely saturated with the syrup.
• Let them stay in pan long enough to absorb the syrup.
• Eat and then serve what is left; or serve and eat. It is your choice, but I guarantee there will never be any left!
• Cover and refrigerate. These can be frozen.