Baklava Bundt Cake

Here’s a Baklava Bundt Cake that captures all the flavors of traditional baklava—nuts, cinnamon, honey, and citrus—without the fiddly pastry. It’s moist, fragrant, and perfect for a crowd.

Baklava Bundt Cake

Ingredients

Nut Filling

• 1½ cups walnuts, finely chopped

• ½ cup pistachios, finely chopped

• ⅓ cup sugar

• 1½ tsp ground cinnamon

• ¼ tsp ground cloves (optional)

Cake

• 2½ cups all-purpose flour

• 2 tsp baking powder

• ½ tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp salt

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 1½ cups sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 1 cup plain yogurt or sour cream

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• Zest of 1 orange (or lemon)

Honey Syrup

• ¾ cup honey

• ½ cup water

• 2 tbsp lemon juice

• 1 cinnamon stick (optional)

Instructions

1. Prep the pan
   Preheat oven to 175°C (350°F).
   Grease and flour a Bundt pan very well.

2. Make nut filling
   Mix walnuts, pistachios, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.

3. Mix dry ingredients
   Whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. Make cake batter
   Beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
   Add eggs one at a time.
   Mix in yogurt, vanilla, and citrus zest.
   Fold in dry ingredients until just combined.

5. Layer the cake
   Spoon ⅓ of the batter into the pan.
   Sprinkle ½ of the nut filling evenly.
   Add another ⅓ batter, remaining nuts, then final batter.
   Gently swirl once with a knife (don’t overmix).

6. Bake
   Bake 50–60 minutes, until a skewer comes out clean.

7. Make honey syrup
   While cake bakes, simmer honey, water, lemon juice, and cinnamon stick for 8–10 minutes.
   Remove cinnamon stick.

8. Soak the cake
   Let cake rest 10 minutes in pan.
   Poke holes with a skewer and slowly pour warm syrup over cake.

9. Cool & serve
   Cool completely before turning out.
   Garnish with chopped pistachios if desired.

Tips for Best Results

• Finely chopped nuts layer better

• Warm syrup + warm cake = maximum absorption

• Cake improves in flavor after a few hours (or next day)

Variations

• Orange blossom: Add 1 tsp orange blossom water to syrup

• Vegan: Use plant butter, dairy-free yogurt, and maple syrup

• Extra indulgent: Drizzle with white chocolate before serving