Baklava
A rich, sweet Middle Eastern dessert made with layers of flaky phyllo dough, chopped walnuts, and aromatic spices, all soaked in a honey-sugar syrup. This traditional pastry is perfectly spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves.
Ingredients
- •3½ cups walnuts
- •½ cup sugar
- •1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- •½ teaspoon ground cardamom
- •¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- •1 pound phyllo sheets
- •1½ cups butter
- •2⅛ cups sugar
- •1½ cups water
- •½ cup honey
- •¼ whole lemon
- •1 whole clove
Cooking Instructions
- 1.
Preheat the oven to 375°F.
5 min
- 2.
Mix together the walnuts, sugar, and spices and set aside.
5 min
- 3.
As you work, keep the sheets of phyllo covered with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. Place 1 sheet of phyllo on the bottom of a jelly roll pan (12-inch x16-inch). Brush the dough lightly with melted butter. Repeat this process until there are 8 sheets of phyllo in the pan.
15 min
- 4.
Sprinkle one-third of the nut mixture onto the phyllo sheets.
2 min
- 5.
Place 4 more sheets of phyllo on top of the nuts, brushing melted butter between each sheet.
8 min
- 6.
Place another one-third of the nut mixture on the dough.
2 min
- 7.
Layer the remaining sheets of phyllo on top of the nuts, brushing melted butter in between each sheet. Brush the top sheet with butter as well.
10 min
- 8.
Trim the edges so that they do not stand above the level of the dough.
3 min
- 9.
Cut the pastry into 2-inch squares, making sure not to slice through the bottom layer of phyllo dough. Leaving the bottom layer uncut will allow the syrup to soak in more efficiently.
10 min
- 10.
Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes or until the top layer of the phyllo takes on a light golden brown color.
30 min
- 11.
While the dough bakes prepare the syrup. Combine all of the ingredients and bring to a boil. Remove the clove and lemon peel.
15 min
- 12.
Remove the pan from the oven and immediately pour hot syrup over the baklava.
2 min
- 13.
Before serving allow the baklava to stand at room temperature until cooled. Slice through the bottom layer of phyllo dough and serve.
60 min