Yia Yia's Baklava
Description
This traditional, delicious baklava has layers of tender phyllo dough with a walnut filling, and is coated in a spiced syrup.
Ingredients
•
2 cups water
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2 cups white sugar
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4 whole cloves
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1/2 cinnamon stick
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1 lemon, juiced, divided
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1 pound finely chopped walnuts
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1 cup white sugar
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2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
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1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
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3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, or more as needed
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20 sheets phyllo dough
Directions
1
Stir together water, 2 cups sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick, and 1/2 the lemon juice together in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until flavor blends and syrup consistency is reached, about 15 minutes. Stir remaining 1/2 the lemon juice into syrup. Strain and refrigerate until cool, at least 30 minutes.
2
Stir walnuts, 1 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl.
3
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush butter on the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
4
Lay the phyllo dough out on a clean, dry surface and cover it with plastic wrap. Cover the plastic wrap with a damp towel.
5
Lay 1 sheet of phyllo dough in prepared baking dish and lightly brush with butter. Lay another 1 sheet of phyllo dough on top, brush with butter. Repeat layering and brushing with butter with 4 more sheets of phyllo dough.
6
Gently spread 1/3 the walnut mixture in an even layer over the phyllo dough in the baking dish. Place a sheet of phyllo dough over the walnut mixture and brush it with butter. Repeat layering and buttering with 3 more sheets of dough.
7
Spread another 1/3 the walnut mixture in an even layer over the phyllo dough in the baking dish. Place a sheet of phyllo dough over the walnut mixture and brush it with butter. Repeat layering and buttering with 3 more sheets of dough.
8
Spread the remaining 1/3 walnut mixture in an even layer over the phyllo dough in the baking dish. Place a sheet of phyllo dough over the walnut mixture and brush it with butter. Repeat layering and buttering with the remaining 5 sheets of dough. Cut baklava into 1-inch diamonds.
9
Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes.
10
Ladle cooled syrup over hot baklava immediately. Set aside uncovered your countertop for 6-8 hours at room temperature to cool and allow syrup absorb. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks for best results. You can also freeze the baklava in an airtight container or freezer bag.