Baklava

By Addie

"Many ethnic festivals are held here throughout the year. One in May is the Greek Hellenic Festival. My family enjoys Baklava—a traditional walnut strudel. The recipe (below) uses phyllo dough, which is not difficult to work with. Just have your ingredients ready to go and follow the directions on the package. The results are scrumptious and well worth the effort." —Judy Losecco, Buffalo

Ingredients

• SYRUP:
• 1-1/2 pounds finely chopped walnuts
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 pound butter, melted, divided
• 2 packages (16 ounces each, 14-inch x 9-inch sheet size) frozen phyllo dough, thawed
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• 2 cups sugar
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup honey
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon or orange peel

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a small bowl, combine the walnuts, sugar, cinnamon and cloves; set aside. Brush a 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan with some of the butter. Unroll one package of phyllo dough; cut stack into a 10-1/2-in. x 9-in. rectangle. Repeat with remaining phyllo. Discard scraps.

2. Line bottom of prepared pan with two sheets of phyllo dough (sheets will overlap slightly). Brush with butter. Repeat layers 14 times. (Keep dough covered with plastic wrap and a damp towel until ready to use to prevent it from drying out.)

3. Spread with 2 cups walnut mixture. Top with five layers of phyllo dough, brushing with butter between each sheet. Spread with remaining walnut mixture. Top with one layer of phyllo dough; brush with butter. Repeat 14 times. Cut into 2-1/2-in. squares; cut each square in half diagonally. Brush remaining butter over top. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.

4. In a large saucepan, bring the syrup ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer for 10 minutes. Strain and discard peel; cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava. Yield: 4 dozen.
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REVIEWS:

I've never written a review for anything, but this was so good that I had to review it. This is by far the best Baklava I've ever had. It helps to have to people making it. One to lay the phyllo in the pan and one to butter the phyllo. I've been asked to take this many places! Make it exactly as written and you won't be disappointed.

The only thing I would change is that I would cut the sryup in half. It made my baklava juciy on the botton and I let it sit over night. It was to much.

LOVE this recipe!!! You don't think that baklava would be easy to make but this is fairly simple, time consuming maybe because of all the buttery layers, but it is so worth it!!!!

I would definitely make this recipe over and over! I have made 3 times and every time it's a hit! I think the time is a little off though. It takes me about 2 - 2.5 hours because of buttering every layer of phyllo dough, but it's well worth it!