the.com/baklava
sugar, butter, and nuts stacked into geometric proof that empires fought over dessert.
layer countTraditional recipes demand 33 paper-thin phyllo sheets.
contested birthGreeks, Turks, and Arabs all claim invention.
palace originPerfected in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace kitchens.
sugar physicsHot syrup on cold pastry prevents sogginess.
royal ritualSultans paraded baklava to soldiers during Ramadan.