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You guys, don’t fear the baklava.

Embrace it!!

I know there are a good handful of you out there who may think baklava is a tricky thing to make because of all the layering, but it’s not. It’s actually a fairly simple thing to make, if you ask me.

AND it’s so delicious. I mean, it has layers of flaky buttery dough, chocolate and sweet candy bar like pecans and pistachios. What is not to love about that?

When I set out to make this baklava with butter rum sauce, I wasn’t sure that I REALLY wanted to make a baklava. I made one last year and didn’t want to be repeating things. But this baklava is so different. Last year’s was all about the chocolate chip cookie and yes, I still adore that recipe, but this year’s recipe is a bit more traditional.

It’s got a twist – of course. Can I ever leave anything as is? NOPE.

I am not going to lie, little miss Rachel Ray inspired this recipe. In her November issue she had a Candy Bar Pie recipe and it looked amazing. It was oozing with chocolate, so you know that right there got my attention. As I read through the recipe, it hit me that I should save the idea for Christmas and turn the Candy bar filling into a baklava.

I may be a bit biased, but I sort of think my idea is kind of awesome. I know, I know, way to talk myself up, but this baklava was so good and the butter rum syrup?

Perfection (and yeah, I am totally doing that thing with my fingers that the chefs in movies do when they say perfection. If you could see me you’d think I am such a dork. I kind of am.).

Ok, but don’t let the name of this baklava fool you, there is NO CANDY in this recipe. You sort of make your own candy, but not really. Whatever, regardless, it is good, sweet, buttery and extra chocolatey.

The “candy bar” is really just a mix of boiled brown sugar and honey that you stir with some pecans and pistachios. It’s not really candy, but who cares. I think it’s sort of supposed to be like a brittle thing, but it never gets that hard, which I think is good. This way everything stays soft and gooey.

And then you add chocolate chips and layers of phyllo dough, which I am currently loving (and using too much of). See, not too complicated, and the presentation is so pretty. Holiday guests will love this and, promise, it will make you look so good.

Speaking of holiday guests, do you guys have any yet? Our first guest arrived Sunday and three more will follow on Thursday and the big crew will arrive Saturday. WE ARE SO CLOSE. Still not sure if I will be in the barn or not, but I guess we will all find out soon. If you didn’t know this, I despise not knowing what’s to come. I am planner, type A person and the whole “up in the air” thing seems to happen to me way too much. UGH.

Mom says Thursday, we’ll see.

Anyway, it’s been really crazy here since… basically Thanksgiving. We have had at least two extra people staying with us since then and often times more. Worst part is these are not grown people, they are growing boys and all I can say is that it’s just been a lot and I am so excited for Christmas Eve to hit and to have a little break. Of course, I will be cooking, but my cousins will be here and it’s gonna be fun.

And I hear that their aunt from California is sending use some Carne Asada, so yeah, I am really excited for that too. Last Christmas I made these tacos and I am thinking those will need to be repeated. Fries and all. YUM.

Oops. Sorry, didn’t mean to get off topic there.

Back to this delicious baklava with butter rum sauce. Well I’ve really said all there is to say, other than that it was a huge hit. If this sounds like your thing, please make it. Heck, even if you aren’t sure, make it. Everyone will love it, it’s pretty hard not to.

Oh, and the butter rum sauce? This is not traditional, but wow, is it awesome! Maple, butter and rum. Too good.

The layers. The chocolate. The phyllo dough. A million times – yes!