Knafeh is a Middle Eastern dessert,where cheese pastry is soaked in sweet sugar-based syrup and topped with pistachios. An easy recipe to prepare cupcake knafeh dessert.

Ingredients:
  • For the Crust :
    • 1/2 package Shredded Phyllo Dough (Kataif)
    • 1 stick unsalted Butter melted (1/2 cup)
    • 1/4 tsp Orange Color (or Ziyad brand Kunafa)
  • For the Cream Filling (keshta):
    • 2 cups Whole Milk
    • 1 tbsp Cornstarch
    • 1 tbsp Flour
    • 1 tbsp Sugar
    • 1/2 can Cream (Nestle crema) (225 ml) or 1/2 cup creamy Ricotta Cheese.
    • 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella
  • For the Syrup:
    • 2 cups Sugar
    • 1 cup Water
    • 2 tsp Rose Water
    • 1 tsp Lemon juice or 1/8 tsp Citric acid (Lemondoze)
Method:
  • Preparing Crust:
    • Chop Fillo dough very small with a sharp knife or you can use food processor to do so.
    • Mix melted butter and the Kunafa color together and then pour it over the chopped phyllo dough.
    • Mix very well till all the shredded phyllo dough is covered with butter and colored.
  • Preparing Cream Filling:
    • Mix milk, cornstarch, flour and sugar and whisk very well until the starch and the flour dissolve very well.
    • Cook over low heat till the mixture is thickened.
    • Add the cream and mix well then leave aside to cool down.
    • Cover and refrigerator after it cools down.
  • Preparing Sugar Syrup:
    • In a saucepan add sugar,water and lemon juice.
    • Cook over medium to low heat until the mixture comes to boil.
    • Continue boiling for 5-10 minutes till the syrup is thick.
    • Add rose water and then let it cool down.
  • Prepare cupcake moulds by greasing with butter or place cupcake papers in moulds.
  • Put a layer of the shredded Kunafa in the cupcake moulds and press tightly.
  • Spread a little amount of Mozzarella cheese then top it with little of cream (keshta) then spread more Mozzarella cheese.
  • Finally distribute the remaining of the shredded Fillo dough in each mould and press carefully.
  • Bake in 350 F preheated oven, on middle rack of the oven, for about 30 minutes or till the bottom starts to be golden.
  • Immediately pour the cold syrup on the hot kunafa and cover so the kunafa becomes soft.
  • Decorate with chopped pistachios and serve warm.

Note: 1-Instead of the cream filling you can use akawi cheese( sweet Arabic cheese). 2-Instead of the cream you can use creamy Ricotta cheese + Mozzarella cheese.