This is a funny story about how I came up with Baklava Rice Krispies. The other night, we were at the grocery store when I spotted this GIANT box of Rice Krispies. But honestly, what caught my eye first was the “Receive a Free Minecraft Character” promo—for my 9-year-old gaming nephew, of course. (Priorities!)

Oh, any gamers out there who would like a FREE Minecraft toy?! Head over to your local grocery store and grab a box.

I thought, What am I going to do with this huge box of Rice Krispies?
Then it hit me: Duh, I’ll make Baklava Rice Krispies!

No, but seriously—last week I made baklava for a catering event, and the customer told me it was the BEST baklava they’d ever had. So yes, I’m tooting my own horn here for a second. That compliment stuck with me and made me think: why not combine our beloved American classic with our timeless Greek favorite?

Tasty Baklava Rice Krispies by

A delicious fusion of cultures! This Greek Baklava Rice Krispies recipe blends the rich, spiced flavors of classic Greek baklava with the nostalgic crunch of American Rice Krispies treats. Sweet, nutty, and irresistibly unique. Our family devoured the pan, and I need to make more! The next batch I make, I will add some crunchy phyllo layers to the mix.

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of this page and read the notes first. Also, make sure to have your baklava syrup prepared in advance. Happy baklava rice krispy making!

Baklava Rice Krispies Recipe

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup toasted walnuts, finely chopped, and reserve 3 tablespoons for the top
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon, divided
• ¼ tsp granulated salt
• Zest of 1 orange or 1 lemon (your choice!)
• 4 1/2 to 5 cups Rice Krispies cereal ( see notes)
• 1 cube (½ cup) unsalted butter
• 1 bag (10 oz) marshmallows
• 1/4 cup Greek baklava syrup, plus extra for drizzling

Method:

1. In a bowl, combine the toasted walnuts, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, salt, and citrus zest. Set aside.
2. In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth.
3. Stir in the baklava syrup and mix well to combine.
4. Quickly fold in the Rice Krispies and the walnut-zest mixture. Stir until everything is evenly coated. You want to do this step fast so the mixture doesn’t stick to the pot.
5. Lightly grease an 8×8-inch pan. Press the mixture into the pan using a greased spatula or greased hands, pressing firmly to set. We like to make these into triangles, so I used my round 8 x 8 pan.
6. While still warm, drizzle extra baklava syrup on top and sprinkle with the reserved chopped walnuts and a teaspoon of cinnamon powder.
7. Let cool at room temperature for 30–45 minutes. Cut into squares and enjoy!

*Scroll down to read the baklava syrup recipe. Make sure you let it reduce.

Baklava Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of cold water
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for a thicker syrup, use demerara)
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 orange or lemon, reserve peel (optional- see notes)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• A small pinch of finely ground sea salt

Method:

1. Boil water, sugar, and honey. Add the cinnamon stick, orange or lemon peel, salt, and vanilla.
   Simmer for about 15 to 20 minutes or until the syrup has reduced by half. It should resemble almost a golden honey sauce. Set aside until the baklava is ready. Make sure your sauce reduces down because you do not want it watery!

Tips & Notes

• You can use any toasted nuts you want, but our go-to is walnuts and or pecans.
• I used roughly 4 1/2 cups of Rice Krispies cereal, but you can adjust accordingly.
• The baklava syrup should be made at least a few days ahead. It will last for 20 days stored inside a sealed jar.
• If you want more of a sticky, gooey Rice Krispies then add more marshmallows to the mix.
• If you don’t want it too sweet, add less syrup and fewer marshmallows.
• You can use mandarin, orange, or lemon zest.
• You can drizzle dark chocolate over the top.
• I realize this isn’t technically baklava without phyllo in the mix—so for the next batch, I’m going to try adding golden, flaky phyllo and see what happens!

 

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