Bulgarian apple-walnut banitza recipe is a sweet dessert version of a savory cheese banitza served as an appetizer or vegetarian main course. It is a simple filo dough roll baked until crispy. Other popular dessert fillings include pumpkin. This is a popular dessert served with strong Turkish coffee.
Makes 5 Apple-Walnut Banitzi
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1 cup finely chopped walnuts
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
- 18 sheets filo dough, thawed
- 8 ounces (2 sticks) butter, melted
- 4 Golden Delicious apples, peeled, cored and grated
Preparation:
- Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, bread crumbs and set aside.
- Place one sheet filo dough on parchment paper or a tea towel. Brush lightly with butter. Repeat 2 more times so there are 3 layers of filo.
- Portion out 1/5th of the walnut mixture on the entire surface of the filo. Then, place 1/5th of the apples in a 1/2-inch-wide strip along the short edge and 1/2 inch away from the sides. Fold up bottom edge first, then sides, and then roll away from yourself, using the parchment paper or towel to help, until you have a tight cylinder. Brush lightly with more melted butter and sprinkle with extra sugar, if desired.
- Repeat with remaining filo dough. Place banitzi on a parchment-lined pan and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown and crispy. Serve warm or at room temperature.
