21 Easy Phyllo Dough Recipes

Welcome to the world of phyllo dough! If you've never encountered it before, it's a type of pastry dough that's stretched into very thin sheets. You can buy it at the store, but if you're feeling adventurous, it can also be made at home. Check out our homemade phyllo dough recipe!

Phyllo dough comes from the culinary traditions of the Middle East and the Mediterranean. It's a key ingredient in many iconic dishes from this part of the world, such as baklava and spanakopita.

One of the beautiful things about phyllo dough is its versatility. It can be used to add a delicate, crispy texture to both sweet and savory dishes. From dessert pastries and appetizers to main dishes like meat or vegetable pies, the possibilities are endless. 

Let's look at some key tips before we jump into the list of recipes using phyllo dough.

Are Phyllo Dough and Puff Pastry Interchangeable? 

Phyllo dough and puff pastry might seem similar, but they're not exactly interchangeable. Why is that?

Well, phyllo dough is thin and delicate, creating crisp, light layers in a recipe. It's typically brushed with melted butter or oil between each sheet to help it become perfectly flaky when baked.

Puff pastry, though, is thicker and richer. It's made by layering dough and butter together, then rolling and folding several times to create many layers. When it bakes, the butter in the dough melts and turns into steam, pushing the dough apart and resulting in a puffy, flaky, and buttery pastry.

How to Use Frozen Phyllo Dough

Using frozen phyllo dough is pretty straightforward, but there are a few steps you should follow to get the best results.

1. Thawing the Dough: You can't use phyllo dough while it's still frozen, so you'll need to thaw it out first. The best way to do this is to leave it in the refrigerator overnight. If you're in a hurry, you can also leave it at room temperature for about 2 hours.
2. Handling the Dough: Once thawed, unroll the phyllo dough carefully because it can tear easily. Always keep the sheets you're not working with covered with a damp cloth to prevent them from drying out.
3. Prepping the Dough for Your Recipe: When adding the phyllo dough to your recipe, you'll often need to brush each sheet with melted butter or oil. This helps the layers to separate during baking, creating that characteristic flaky texture.

Now that we've got the tips on using phyllo dough down, let's dive into some of the best phyllo recipes. We've got everything from desserts to appetizers and main dishes lined up for you. 

Phyllo Dough Desserts

Phyllo dough is perfect for creating decadent desserts. Its light, flaky texture pairs wonderfully with a variety of sweet fillings. 

From twists on the traditional baklava to sweet, scrumptious pies, there's so much you can do. Let's look at a few delightful dessert recipes with filo pastry you can easily make at home. 

1. Baklava Recipe

When we talk about desserts with phyllo, it's impossible to skip Baklava, especially the famous Turkish version.

In the traditional Turkish Baklava, thin layers of phyllo dough are stacked with a filling of ground nuts, usually pistachios or walnuts. 

The stacked pastry is then cut into pieces before baking. After it comes out of the oven, a sweet syrup, often infused with lemon juice or rose water, is poured over the hot baklava, making it beautifully sticky and sweet. It is the same syrup used in lokma and tulumba recipes.

In Turkey, baklava is often served with dondurma (Turkish ice cream).

If you love baklava, check out our list of best Turkish desserts too!

2. Homemade Baklava From Scratch

Homemade baklava from scratch is like a Greek honey nut pie. 

It allows you to play with the ingredients and customize it just the way you like it.

You can choose any type of nuts that you prefer. Walnuts, pistachios, or almonds are popular choices. Even a mix of your favorite nuts works great. 

The same goes for the syrup – whether you love the taste of honey, rose water, orange blossom water, citrus or cinnamon, you can create a syrup that will add a personal touch to your baklava.

Making your own baklava means you can get creative and make a dessert that's perfectly suited to your tastes.

The recipe shows that it is even possible to make the filo dough itself when making baklava at home.

And if you love syrupy desserts like this, you might want to see our kadayif and künefe as well.

3. Baklava Cheesecake

Are you ready for a dessert that's a little bit different? Then, it's time to try Baklava Cheesecake! It's a unique blend of creamy cheesecake and the crunchy, nutty goodness of baklava.

Imagine a smooth cheesecake, with a twist of honey, cinnamon and rosewater, nestled on a base made from crushed baklava. 

The layers of phyllo dough in the baklava add a delightful crunch to every bite, contrasting beautifully with the creaminess of the cheesecake.

This dessert is perfect for those times when you can't decide between a cake or a pastry. With Baklava Cheesecake, you get the best of both worlds. 

4. Greek Filo Custard Pie (Bougatsa)

Here is a classic Greek dessert: Bougatsa, a delightful Greek Filo Custard Pie that's sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Bougatsa consists of multiple layers of thin, crispy phyllo dough enveloping a lusciously creamy custard filling. 

Once baked to a golden brown perfection, the pie is typically dusted with a generous sprinkle of powdered sugar and a hint of cinnamon, adding a touch of sweetness and warmth to each bite.

5. Greek Pumpkin Pie

This isn't your typical pumpkin pie. 

Let's introduce you to the Greek Pumpkin Pie, a festive treat that brings together shredded pumpkin, rice, and cozy fall spices, all wrapped up in a crispy, light filo pastry. 

The shredded pumpkin and rice create a unique texture, while the warm spices give it a delightful fall flavor. But what really sets this pie apart is the light, crispy filo pastry that encases the filling. 

6. Air Fryer Baklava

If you're looking for a twist on the traditional baklava recipe, why not try Air Fryer Baklava? It's a quick and convenient way to enjoy this beloved dessert without having to turn on the oven.

In this method, you'll still layer your phyllo dough with a nut and sugar filling, just like the classic recipe. But instead of baking, you'll be using an air fryer to get that beautiful golden color and crispy texture. 

You'll still make layers of phyllo dough and your chosen nuts. However, instead of baking, you'll use an air fryer to achieve the beautiful golden finish and delightful crunch we all love in baklava.

But the twist doesn't stop there! This version uses a special syrup made from brown sugar, maple syrup, and a pinch of sea salt. This unique combination results in a dessert that hits the perfect balance between sweet, salty, and nutty flavors.

Savory Phyllo Dough Recipes

Our collection of savory phyllo dough recipes has something for everyone. 

Whether you're looking for a filling main course like pies, borek, and quiches, or want to whip up some bite-sized appetizers like phyllo triangles, cups, and parcels, we've got you covered. 

Made with flaky phyllo dough, these recipes are not just delicious, but also fun and easy to prepare. 

10. Borek With Spinach and Feta Cheese

Borek is a traditional Turkish dish where thin sheets of phyllo dough are layered or rolled with a variety of fillings from cheese or vegetables to ground beef or chicken. 

In this version, we're using a classic combo: spinach and crumbled feta cheese. You can even add a little cream cheese in the filling.

What makes this dish stand out is a special sauce made with yogurt, egg, and olive oil. This sauce is spread over the dough before baking. Instead of turning crispy, the dough stays soft and tender, which makes a lovely contrast with the filling inside.

Whether you serve it as an appetizer or a main dish, this Turkish Borek is sure to be a hit. 

If you love pastries like this, check out our su boregi recipe too!

11. Sigara Boregi (Turkish Cheese Rolls) 

This is a popular Turkish snack that's both simple and tasty.

Sigara Boregi, also known as "cigar borek" is made by rolling phyllo dough into a cigar shape and filling it with cheese, often feta, and sometimes with added parsley or dill. The result looks a bit like a cigar, which is how it got its name.

After they're rolled, the feta cheese rolls are fried until they're golden and crispy. The outside is crunchy, and the inside is soft and full of melted cheese. 

They're perfect for a snack, an appetizer, or even a quick meal.

12. Potato Borek

Potato Borek is a unique twist on the traditional Turkish borek. In this version, we've swapped out the usual fillings for a seasoned potato filling, creating a comforting and satisfying treat.

The filo sheets are filled, rolled and twisted into a spiral shape, often referred to as gül boregi, or "rose borek". The spiral shape makes it perfect for serving individual portions, whether as a main dish or a substantial snack.  

Once baked, the spiral boreks turn a gorgeous golden brown, with a crispy exterior and a soft potato-filled interior. 

13. Spanakopita Triangles

Greek spinach pie triangles are small flaky pockets of phyllo dough filled with spinach and feta cheese. 

To make these phyllo triangles, you simply place the filling on a sheet of phyllo, fold it into a triangle, and then bake until golden and crispy. 

They're the perfect bite-sized treat for parties, or even just a snack. 

If you like snacks like these, you would like Greek cheese pies (tiropita) too.

14. Halloumi Filo Quiche

Here is a hearty meal that combines crispy filo pastry with a delicious filling. 

This quiche features the slightly salty halloumi cheese, paired with the fresh, green taste of asparagus. These two are nestled in a silky smooth egg mixture, all held together by a light and flaky crust of filo pastry shell. 

Once baked, the quiche is a delight to eat, with the crispy pastry shell providing a beautiful contrast to the soft, savory filling. It's a great main course, or a satisfying side dish. 

15. Goat Cheese Filo Parcels

The star of these parcels is the courgette filling, full of smoky and garlicky flavors. For a delightful crunch, add walnuts. And for that irresistible tang, there's creamy goat cheese.

This scrumptious filling gets enclosed in a crisp filo pastry case, which bakes up to a beautiful golden brown. 

16. Kolokithopita (Greek Zucchini Pie)

This zucchini phyllo pie is filled with shredded zucchini and a mixture of creamy ricotta cheese and feta cheese. It is flavored with tasty herbs like parsley, dill, and oregano.

This pie uses homemade phyllo dough, which is included in the recipe. 

Once it's done, you get a golden pie with crispy outside and a soft, flavorful inside. Perfect as a main dish or a filling snack. 

If you like this recipe, you might like chicken pot pie with phyllo dough too.