by Meagan Spain

Created on: December 01, 2008

Here is a delicious recipe for baklava. Through the combination of nuts, cinnamon, and a homemade syrup, this is a pastry that you and your friends will treasure forever.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds of chopped nuts (almonds, walnuts, or pistachios-you can use one kind or mix them up)

1 pound of phyllo dough (you can find it in the freezer section of the grocery store)

1 1/2 cups of melted butter

1/2 cup of granulated sugar

1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves

1 1/2 cups of water

1 1/2 cups of granulated sugar

1 cup of honey

2 tablespoons of lemon juice

1 cinnamon stick

Directions:

1. Set the oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9x13 inch pan.

2. Make sure the phyllo dough is thawed out. Roll the sheets out and cut them in half to fit inside the pan. Cover them with a damp towel to keep them from drying out.

3. Make sure the nuts are processed in small even pieces. Combine them with 1/2 cup granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, and ground cloves.

4. Using a brush, make sure the bottom of the pan is brushed with butter. Place a sheet of phyllo dough in the pan and brush with butter. Repeat this process 7 more times, making sure to brush each sheet with butter.

5. Spoon some of the nut mixture into the pan (about 1/4 cup of the nut mixture). Cover with 2 more sheets of phyllo dough, making sure to brush each one with butter. Continue this process until all of the nut mixture is used. Use the remaining phyllo dough (about 8 sheets) as the top layer of the baklava. Make sure to butter each sheet of dough before placing it into the pan.

6. Once all sheets have been placed, tuck in the edges of the dough. Then, using the palms of your hands, press the dough down. Pour the remaining butter over the top of the baklava.

7. Cut the baklava about 1/2 inch deep, either into 24 equal squares or into diamond shapes by cutting 5 strips lengthwise and then cutting diagonally. Bake for approximately 45 minutes, until lightly golden brown.

8. Make the syrup. Combine the cinnamon stick, 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1 cup honey, 1 1/2 cups water, and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and let simmer for 12 minutes, until slightly thick. Remove the cinnamon stick and let cool.

9. Spoon the syrup over the hot baklava and let cool for at least 4 hours. Before serving, cut the baklava the rest of the way through.

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