Baklava

Indulge in the sweet, flaky layers of baklava, a classic Middle Eastern dessert filled with crunchy nuts and drizzled in honey syrup. Perfect for special occasions or a delightful finish to any meal.

• 1 package phyllo dough
• 1 cup unsalted butter
• 2 cups chopped nuts
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cup honey

Method

1. 1

   Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. 2

   In a saucepan, combine water and sugar. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 10 minutes. Add honey and vanilla extract, if using, and set aside to cool.

3. 3

   In a bowl, mix the chopped nuts with ground cinnamon.

4. 4

   Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in a greased baking dish, brushing it with melted butter. Repeat this process for 8 layers.

5. 5

   Spread a layer of the nut mixture over the phyllo. Add two more buttered phyllo sheets, then repeat with the nut mixture and phyllo layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with 8 layers of phyllo on top.

6. 6

   Cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes with a sharp knife before baking.

7. 7

   Bake in the preheated oven for about 45 minutes, or until golden brown.

8. 8

   Pour the cooled syrup evenly over the hot baklava right after taking it out of the oven. Let it sit for at least 4 hours or overnight to absorb the syrup before serving.