Easy Kunafa Recipe with Simple Ingredients

If you’ve never had kunafa before, get ready to fall in love with the homemade version. This delicious Middle Eastern dessert is the ultimate sweet-and-savory combo. For the base, you start with tiny strands of dough toasted in ghee (butter on steroids). Next, to create a textural contrast, you layer the toasted dough around a filling of melted stretchy cheese for a crunchy-gooey-crunchy effect. Finally, you envelope the whole thing in a floral syrup that cuts through the fattiness of the butter and cheese to create a gastronomical masterpiece.

If this sounds intimidating, it’s not! The great thing about this recipe, in particular, is that we substitute the foreign ingredients for easy-to-find ingredients that should be available most places in the country. It’s not just a dessert that feels super indulgent but is actually pretty easy to make with simple grocery store ingredients!

Since you are here and love fun and traditional recipes from Middle Eastern countries, check out this Viral Chocolate Date Bark Recipe or this Dubai Pistachio Chocolate Bar Recipe.

Ingredients for this Easy Kunafa Recipe with simple ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make this knafeh recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page for the detailed ingredient measurements. 

• Kunafa Dough: also known as kataifi dough, forms the golden base of the dessert.
• Clarified Butter (Ghee): coats and crisps up the kunafa dough layers.
• Granulated Sugar: sweetens and balances the savory cheese filling with a hint of sweetness.
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: is similar to the halloumi-style akawi cheese used in traditional kunafa.
• Fresh Mozzarella Cheese in Water: is combined with the shredded version to create the gooey cheese effect.
• Simple Sugar Syrup (Sugar and Water): sweetens the dessert overall and moistens the kunafa layers.
• Orange Blossom Water: is an iconic flavor of the Middle East and infuses a delicate floral aroma into the syrup.
• Chopped Pistachios: are sprinkled on top as a garnish to add texture, flavor, and a visual pop. Mine are extra vibrant because I purchased them from the UAE and they add a little green food coloring to really make them pop. Any chopped up pistachios would work here!

How to make this Easy Kunafa Recipe with simple ingredients

This is how you can make this traditional Middle Eastern dessert. Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card at the end of this post for the oven temp, bake time, and full step-by-step instructions! 

1. Set your oven and allow it to preheat.
2. In a large bowl, separate the strands of kunafa dough to loosen them, don’t worry about ripping them, they’ll be delicious regardless.
3. Drizzle the melted ghee over the dough, sprinkle with granulated sugar, and mix thoroughly to coat all the strands evenly. You can do this, by grabbing a handful and pulling them apart and repeating that process multiple times.
4. Take half of the buttered kunafa mixture and press it firmly into the base of a 10.5-inch round baking pan, ensuring an even layer.
5. Evenly distribute the shredded mozzarella and chopped soft mozzarella cheese over the dough layer.
6. Cover the cheese layer with the remaining kataifi dough, pressing it down firmly using the back of a measuring up or glass to secure everything in place.
7. Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake until the kunafa is crisp and golden brown.
8. While the kunafa bakes, prepare the simple syrup. In a small saucepan, combine sugar and water over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Then, lower the heat and let it simmer for about 10 minutes until slightly thickened. Remove from heat and add the orange blossom water to the sweet syrup. Set aside to cool slightly.
9. Once the kunafa is out of the oven, immediately pour the sweet sugar syrup evenly over the crispy pastry.
10. Let the kunafa cool slightly before flipping the baking tray onto a serving platter.
11. Sprinkle the top layer with chopped pistachios, serve warm, and enjoy!

Easy Kunafa Recipe Tips and Tricks

• If possible, get fresh kataifi or shredded filo dough from a Middle Eastern grocery store rather than frozen.
• Don’t skimp on the butter/ghee. Make sure every strand of dough is well-coated to avoid dry spots.
• Bake until it has a deep golden brown color and don’t pull the kunafa out too early.
• Let the hot kunafa soak up the fragrant syrup immediately after baking to help the pastry layers absorb the liquid without making them soggy.
• Use a spatula to loosen the kunafa from the baking pan if needed so it is easier to flip it onto the serving plate.

Why do you need to make this cheese kunafa recipe?

• This buttery dessert is the easiest way to try a foreign recipe for the first time.
• It’s a popular Middle-Eastern dessert that’s impressive enough to make for special occasions.
• It’s a simplified version of a classic dessert that helps you substitute difficult-to-find ingredients like the akkawi cheese.
• You can customize it to make it fit your specific taste or for the ingredients you have available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ

What is Kunafa dough and where do I find it?

Kunafa dough or kataifi pastry is essentially just shredded phyllo dough and it should be available in every Middle Eastern store, the bakery freezer section of American stores, or online from Amazon.

Can I use regular butter instead of ghee?

Yes you can use regular butter instead of the clarified butter, but it won’t have as good of a flavor. If you do use it regular, try to get the best quality you can find. Also, skim the top of the melted butter to remove the milk solids.

What other substitutions can I make for this easy Kunafa recipe?

• Instead of mozzarella: you can use ricotta cheese for extra creaminess.
• Instead of orange blossom: you can use rose water for a softer, more subtle floral flavor.
• Instead of pistachios: garnish with whatever variety of chopped nuts you want.

How do I store leftover kunafa?

Once your Middle Eastern pastry has cooled to room temperature, place it in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. For longer storage, wrap the kunafa tightly in plastic wrap before putting it in the airtight container and store it in the freezer for a month or two.

To reheat, put it in the microwave for 30 seconds to melt the cheese, and then crisp up the outer layers on a pan for 3-5 minutes on each side.

Why is my kunafa not crispy?

It could be because you didn’t bake it enough in the oven. Make sure it’s deep golden brown before removing it from the oven.

Can I make kunafa ahead of time?

Yes! You can assemble kunafa and refrigerate it (unbaked) for up to 24 hours. When ready to bake, let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking. You can also bake it and reheat it in the oven to crisp it up again.

Easy Kunafa Recipe with Simple Ingredients

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