Bring a beautiful, festive twist to traditional baklava, shaped into intricate stars and laced with fragrant orange blossom syrup. They’re crispy, buttery, and filled with crushed pistachios and walnuts —a luxurious sweet treat that brings Eastern Mediterranean warmth to any Christmas celebration. The orange blossom twist in this recipe pays homage to the sunny orchards of the Eastern Mediterranean.  Personally, I used the mold after completing all process. But, I believe making stars first is better way of preparing this recipe. 

Ingredients

For the Baklava Stars:

• 1 package filo (phyllo) dough, thawed
• 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup pistachios, chopped
• ½ cup walnuts, chopped 
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Orange Blossom Syrup:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon orange blossom water
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• ½ teaspoon cardamom seeds crushed
• Orange zest (optional, for an extra fragrant touch)

Instructions

1. Prepare the Filling: In a bowl, mix the chopped pistachios, walnuts, sugar, and cinnamon.
2. Shape the Baklava Stars:
   • Preheat the oven to 350°F 
   • Grease a baking sheet with a bit of melted butter.
   • Place a single layer of filo on a clean surface, brushing it lightly with melted butter. Layer about four sheets this way.
   • Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut the filo into star shapes.
   • Spoon a small amount of the pistachio filling into the center of each star.
   • Top with another filo star layer and press lightly to seal. Brush the top with butter.
3. Bake: Arrange the baklava stars on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until golden and crispy.
4. Prepare the Orange Blossom Syrup:
   • In a small saucepan, combine sugar, water, and honey over medium heat, stirring until sugar dissolves.
   • Simmer for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and stir in the orange blossom water and lemon juice.
   • Let the syrup cool slightly before drizzling over the warm baklava stars.
5. Finish and Serve: Drizzle the warm orange blossom syrup over the baked baklava stars. Garnish with extra pistachios if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.