Dessert · African · Mediterranean ·

Sumptuous North African M'hanncha with Nutty Almond Filling

Name: Sumptuous North African M'hanncha with Nutty Almond Filling
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 200 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: Dessert
Ingredients: Almond flour, 2 cups; Sugar, 3/4 cup; Orange blossom water, 2 tsp; Melted butter, 1/4 cup; Cinnamon, 1 tsp; Lemon zest, Zest of 1 lemon; Phyllo dough sheets, 12 sheets; Melted butter (for brushing), 1/2 cup; Honey, 2 tbsp; Orange juice, 1 tbsp; Chopped pistachios, 1/4 cup; Powdered sugar, 1 tbsp

M'hanncha, meaning 'serpent' in Arabic, is a visually stunning Moroccan pastry with a rich almond filling. It's characterized by its unique shape and robust flavors, a perfect highlight for any occasi

4.9(967 reviews)

·By Ethan Brooks·October 18, 2025

Sumptuous North African M'hanncha with Nutty Almond Filling — Dessert served and photographed from above

Prep

50 min

Cook

2 h 30 min

Difficulty

Intermediate

Serves

Ingredients

Servings

For the Almond Filling

For the Pastry

For the Glaze

For the Garnish

Nutrition

Per serving

Calories: 506 kcal
Protein: 7.88 g
Carbs: 49.88 g
Fat: 31.38 g
Fiber: 4.25 g

Whole recipe

Total

Calories: 4048 kcal
Protein: 63 g
Carbs: 399 g
Fat: 251 g
Fiber: 34 g

Breakdown by ingredient▾

Ingredient	Cal	P	C	F	Fib
Almond flour 2 cups	960	36	36	84	20
Sugar 3/4 cup	580	0	150	0	0
Orange blossom water 2 tsp	0	0	0	0	0
Melted butter 1/4 cup	400	0	0	45	0
Cinnamon 1 tsp	6	0	2	0	1
Lemon zest Zest of 1 lemon	5	0	1	0	0
Phyllo dough sheets 12 sheets	960	21	158	18	10
Melted butter (for brushing) 1/2 cup	800	0	0	90	0
Honey 2 tbsp	120	0	34	0	0
Orange juice 1 tbsp	7	0	2	0	0
Chopped pistachios 1/4 cup	180	6	8	14	3
Powdered sugar 1 tbsp	30	0	8	0	0

These are estimates, not dietary advice.

Preparation

Get these tasks done before you start cooking.

Preparing the Almond Filling

1
Combine dry ingredients
In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, sugar, and cinnamon.
2
Mix wet ingredients
Add orange blossom water, lemon zest, and melted butter. Mix well to form a paste.
3
Portion the paste
Divide the almond paste into 3 equal parts.

Handling the Phyllo Dough

1
Butter the first sheet
Carefully lay out one sheet of phyllo dough and brush generously with melted butter.
Tip: Keep phyllo sheets covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.
2
Stack sheets
Place another sheet on top and repeat the brushing process. Continue until you have a stack of 4 sheets.
3
Create all stacks
Repeat to create 3 stacks for the entire filling.
Tip: Work in a cool environment to keep butter from setting too quickly.

How to Make Sumptuous North African M'hanncha with Nutty Almond Filling

Total time: 3 h 20 min · Yields 8 servings

1
Roll the dough
Place the almond filling along one long edge of each phyllo stack and roll tightly into a log.
2
Coil the pastry
Shape each log into a coil, starting from the center outwards on a buttered baking sheet.
3
Bake the M'hanncha
Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake for 30-35 minutes until golden brown.