Before the launch of Craft Dessert Bar, the Head Patissier was busy researching recipes that we’ve typically made for our friends and family in the past. A lot of our recipes were passed down from generation to generation and we have since refined and added our own twist to make our treats a little bit more special over the years.
History of the Baklava
One such recipe in our arsenal is the Baklava Bar which we think makes for the perfect corporate gift box or holiday gift box because it’s such a delicious dessert that one can simply enjoy it anytime. Baklava is typically described as layers upon layers of pastry, drizzled with honey and with nuts spread all over. It’s a simple yet sophisticated dessert that has endured the test of time and has remained mostly unchanged even after all this time.
A memorable quote from a Baklava article we read for research comes to mind: “In our family, you open your eyes to the world, and the first thing you see is baklava, [and] we learn the profession starting from childhood.”
The person who said that was Efkan Güllü in Smithsonian Magazine interview written by John Moretti and it speaks volumes on how important Baklava is to the people of Turkey. Efkan’s family business is one that had been passed ‘for more than five generation’ and even the progenitors of their historic dessert shop learned their craft from other masters.
We’ve researched and read a lot of articles about Baklava and its rich history and many of them have their own stories but most of the modern masters agree on one thing: Baklava is not something that can be done willy nilly and thrown in a birthday gift box and sold just like that. No, it requires many years of precise training and practice coupled with the know-how of layering fine dough by hand. Efkan describes making Baklava as a “craft” which is a testament to the amount of pride that he has for this delicious dessert treat.
Baklava in Ancient Dessert Gift Boxes
Baklava is said to have come from Iraq, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait and other areas in the region and many different people will have different accounts to how it was created and for what reason. The flaky dessert treat has evolved throughout the years and the Greeks had their own version of what is essentially Baklava, down to its very essence. Research shows that the Baklava’s earliest mention was during the Ottoman era.
In terms of when the dish was served, it was mostly reserved for very special events such as festivities and it was even used as a gift for the highest-ranking soldiers, like when the company sends out a gourmet gift box as a Christmas present for their employees. Because of how important it was treated, plenty of wealthy and influential travelers spread word about it far and wide, bringing it with them to other places and thus, Baklava spread all over the world. The rest, as they say, is history.
Making Our Own Baklava Bar
At Craft Dessert Bar, we love and appreciate the heritage and the history of the Baklava. It is a dessert we hold close to our heart so when we created our Baklava Bar recipe, we combined shortbread cookies with Baklava bar, basically two desserts we deeply love. The shortbread crust adds an additional layer of texture and crunch that enhances the Baklava bar’s already impressive texture and flavor and it helps cleanse the palate from the sweetness of the filling.
One of the most important factors we took into consideration for our version of the Baklava bar is how we were going to combine the legacy of the past with the nuanced tastebuds of today. Instead of overcomplicating things, we simply combined two of the best desserts we knew and created our own take on the Baklava bar that’s sure make history – it’s also perfect for your next gift box!