Baklava

Ingredients

• 1 package Phyllo dough
• 1 lb Walnuts
• 1 cup Unsalted butter
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 1 cup Water
• 1 cup Granulated sugar
• 0.5 cup Honey
• 1 tsp Vanilla extract
• 1 tsp Lemon juice(optional)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.

2. 2

   Finely chop walnuts and toss with cinnamon. Set aside.

3. 3

   Unroll phyllo dough and cut to fit the baking dish. Keep covered with a damp cloth to prevent drying.

4. 4

   Place two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the dish and brush thoroughly with melted butter. Repeat until you have 8 sheets layered.

5. 5

   Sprinkle 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture over the top layer.

6. 6

   Layer two more sheets of phyllo, brush with butter, and sprinkle with nuts. Repeat until all nuts are used, ending with about 6-8 layers of phyllo on top.

7. 7

   Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes all the way to the bottom of the pan.

8. 8

   Bake for 45-50 minutes until golden brown and crisp.

9. 9

   While baking, combine sugar, water, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes until slightly thickened.

10. 10

    Remove baklava from oven and immediately pour the cooled syrup over the hot pastry. Let sit for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.