I first made this as a birthday gift for Therese, and only a few times since because it is so decadent to have a full pan of baklava at home. But it is crazy delicious, and quite easy, just very time consuming.
Walnut Baklava
Ingredients
- 1 package phyllo dough, thawed
- 1 pound walnuts, shelled
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- dash cloves
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter , melted
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
Instructions
- Grind walnuts, 5T sugar, cloves and cinnamon in a food processor.
- Use a pastry brush to butter a cookie sheet lightly, and place one sheet of phyllo dough on the pan.
- Lightly brush the dough with butter (do not soak), and place another sheet on top. Repeat until you use 1/3 of the package.
- Spread half the walnut filling over the dough, then top with a sheet of phyllo.
- Carefully butter the top sheet, and repeat the process with another 1/3 of the dough package.
- Spread the rest of the filling, and repeat the process to butter the rest of the phyllo sheets.
- Bake at 350F until the top is well browned.
- Meanwhile, heat water in a saucepan and slowly stir in sugar, honey, and lemon juice.
- Remove the baklava from the oven and let cool.
- Cut in diagonal slices from top left to bottom right, then repeat from top right to bottom left, forming diamond shaped pieces.
- Drizzle the warm honey mixture slowly across the whole sheet and allow to soak at least 20 minutes before serving.