Baklava

Make Baklava at home

Ingredients

• 1 lb phyllo dough, thawed
• 1 cup (2 sticks) melted unsalted butter
• 3 cups walnuts or pistachios, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 tsp vanilla or rose water

How it's made

1. Heat the oven to 350F and butter a 9 by 13 inch pan.
2. Mix the nuts with the ground cinnamon.
3. Layer 8 phyllo sheets in the pan, brushing each with butter.
4. Sprinkle a third of the nuts, add 4 more buttered sheets, and repeat until the nuts are used up.
5. Top with 8 buttered sheets, then cut the unbaked baklava into diamonds or squares with a sharp knife.
6. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until deep golden.
7. Meanwhile simmer sugar, water, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon stick for 10 minutes, then stir in the vanilla.
8. Pour the cooled syrup over the hot baklava, and let it rest for several hours before serving.