What Greek dessert is a custard pie with phyllo and syrup?

The Greek dessert that combines custard pie with phyllo pastry and syrup is galaktoboureko. It consists of semolina-based custard baked between layers of crisp filo, then soaked or coated with a clear, sweet syrup.

The custard is the dessert’s defining feature. It is commonly flavored with lemon, orange, or rose, while the pastry is layered both underneath and above the filling. A pan version may contain about 20 filo layers, though galaktoboureko can also be rolled into individual portions.

The dessert is popular throughout Greece and also has close connections to the eastern Black Sea region of Turkey. Its history is associated with Byzantine culinary traditions, and ancient Greek cuisine included a related preparation called plakous, made with honey, cheese, and wheat.

Galaktoboureko is sometimes confused with bougatsa because both can contain custard and filo. Bougatsa is a broader filled-pastry style, while galaktoboureko is specifically a baked custard dessert finished with syrup. Unlike mille-feuille, its custard is baked together with the pastry rather than added afterward.