Dessert · Middle Eastern ·

Rich Lebanese Knafeh with Creamy Ashta Filling

Name: Rich Lebanese Knafeh with Creamy Ashta Filling
Prep time: 35 min
Cook time: 105 min
Total time: 140 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: Kataifi dough, 500g; Unsalted butter, melted, 250g; Whole milk, 1 cup; Heavy cream, 1 cup; Cornflour, 3 tbsp; Sugar, 3 tbsp; Rose water, 1 tbsp; Orange blossom water, 1 tbsp; Akawi cheese, soaked and grated, 300g; Mozzarella cheese, shredded, 200g; Sugar, 1 cup; Water, 1/2 cup; Lemon juice, 1 tbsp; Rose water, 1 tbsp

This Lebanese Knafeh is a luscious, cheese-filled pastry topped with a crispy kataifi dough and infused with a fragrant syrup, featuring a rich creamy ashta filling.

4.7(783 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·November 14, 2025

Rich Lebanese Knafeh with Creamy Ashta Filling — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

35 min

Cook

1 h 45 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Knafeh Base

For the Ashta Filling

For the Cheese Layer

For the Sugar Syrup

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 878 kcal
Protein: 18.4 g
Carbs: 74.1 g
Fat: 54.1 g
Fiber: 1.5 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 7027 kcal
Protein: 147 g
Carbs: 593 g
Fat: 433 g
Fiber: 12 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Kataifi dough 500g	1800	36	300	18	12
Unsalted butter, melted 250g	1785	2	2	204	0
Whole milk 1 cup	150	8	12	8	0
Heavy cream 1 cup	825	4	7	88	0
Cornflour 3 tbsp	90	0	22	0	0
Sugar 3 tbsp	150	0	39	0	0
Rose water 1 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0
Orange blossom water 1 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0
Akawi cheese, soaked and grated 300g	810	51	6	63	0
Mozzarella cheese, shredded 200g	640	46	4	48	0
Sugar 1 cup	773	0	200	0	0
Water 1/2 cup	0	0	0	0	0
Lemon juice 1 tbsp	4	0	1	0	0
Rose water 1 tbsp	0	0	0	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Knafeh Base

1
Preheat the oven
Preheat the oven to 180°C (350°F).
2
Loosen kataifi dough
Place the kataifi dough in a large bowl and gently pull apart to loosen.
3
Coat with butter
Pour the melted butter over the dough, mixing thoroughly to coat evenly.

Preparing the Ashta Filling

1
Combine ingredients
In a saucepan, combine milk, heavy cream, cornflour, and sugar.
2
Cook mixture
Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until thickened.
3
Flavor and cool
Stir in rose water and orange blossom water, then set aside to cool.

How to Make Rich Lebanese Knafeh with Creamy Ashta Filling

Total time: 2 h 20 min · Yields 8 servings

1
Assembling the Knafeh
Spread half of the buttered kataifi dough into a baking dish, pressing firmly.
2
Layering the Cheese
Spread grated akawi and mozzarella over the kataifi base.
3
Adding Ashta Filling
Spread cooled ashta over cheese, then top with remaining kataifi dough.