Make baklava with Rita Ora's favourite recipe
Learn how to make Rita Ora’s heart-shaped baklava! Find the full ingredients list and step-by-step recipe instructions on this page. Don't miss Abby's quickfire questions for Rita all about her iconic role as the Queen of Hearts in The Descendants films!
Watch Rita Ora make baklava on Blue Peter
Pop superstar Rita Ora joins Abby in the kitchen for a magical, heart-shaped twist on a classic dessert!
Rita spills the tea on playing her role as the villain-turned-goodie, the iconic Queen of Hearts, in Disney's Descendants films. She shares behind-the-scenes secrets from Wonderland while showing Abby how to create her baklava family recipe... with a Queen of Hearts style twist! ❤️
Baklava is a delicious, sweet pastry packed with nuts and honey, but this version is sure to be fit for the Queen of Hearts herself!
How to make an easy and super tasty dessert baklava
Baklava ingredients - THIS RECIPE CONTAINS NUTS
For the pastry and filling:
Filo pastry
Melted butter
Pistachios
Walnuts
Pecans
Honey
For the syrup:
Golden caster sugar
Honey
Ground cinnamon
Water
What can I use instead of nuts?
You could fill your baklava with lots of alternatives. Rita Ora suggests a more savoury style one filled with spinach and feta!
Step-by-step recipe instructions
Blend pistachios, walnuts, and pecans in a food processor until finely chopped (resembling breadcrumbs).
Stir the honey into the nut mixture until thoroughly combined.
Layer half of your filo pastry sheets in a square baking tray, brushing melted butter generously between each sheet.
Spread the honey-nut mixture evenly over the bottom layers and press down firmly.
Layer the remaining filo pastry sheets on top, brushing melted butter between each layer.
Gently slice the pastry into square/diamond grid shapes before baking so it bakes crisp.
Pour the remaining melted butter over the top and bake in the oven until golden and crisp. (Always ask a grown-up for help when using knives or hot ovens!)
Combine golden caster sugar, honey, cinnamon, and water in a pan. Simmer on low heat until dissolved, then boil for 8 minutes.
Pour the cooled syrup evenly over the warm baked baklava.
You're done! Arrange the pieces on a serving platter in a large heart shape and top with extra chopped pistachios if you like. Rita loves hers with a nice cup of tea, and Abby said she could eat 20 of them in one go!
Rita Ora on Disney’s Descendants and playing the Queen of Hearts
During her kitchen chat with Abby, pop superstar and actor Rita Ora tells all about playing the iconic Queen of Hearts in Disney's Descendants: Wicked Wonderland.
She reveals what it is like stepping into Wonderland, the fun of playing a villain with a secret sweet side, and why her favourite character besides her own is Cinderella! Plus, Rita shares how her Albanian heritage inspired her love for traditional home-cooked recipes like baklava.
Don't miss it, watch the video above and stay tuned to Blue Peter on CBBC and BBC iPlayer for more celebs and baking inspiration.
Where can I watch Blue Peter? ⛵️
Watch Blue Peter on CBBC or catch all episodes on BBC iPlayer!
And remember, you can play games and quizzes, enter our competitions, get creative with recipes and crafts, and chat to other BP fans over on the Blue Peter page!
