Baklawa - How to Make Baklawa

Baklava takes a lot of time to make. It's sticky and gooey. You will get messy - thats a given. But it is worth it. Baklava is such a dessert of passion. The passion it takes to make it, enjoying the sweet taste with each bite, makes it a dessert that is one of a kind.

Prep Time: 25 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups walnuts or pistachio nuts
• 4 cups sugar plus 1/2 cup
• 1 lb butter
• 1 package, or 16 oz. frozen filo dough, thawed according to package directions
• 2 cups water
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons rosewater
• cinnamon if using walnuts

Preparation:

Prepare Syrup First

Combine 4 cups sugar, lemon juice, and water in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, and allow to boil for 10 minutes. Add rosewater and bring to a boil. Remove from heat immediately. Allow to cool.

Preparing Dough and Filling

Combine 1/2 cup sugar and nuts in a bowl. If using walnuts add cinnamon. Preheat oven to 300.

Unroll dough and cut into 9x12 pieces to fit into dish.

Grease bottom of 9x12 pan with butter. Place two sheets of dough in the baking dish. Brush dough with butter and repeat until half of filo dough is used.

Spread about 1 cup of nut mixture over the last layer of dough. Place two sheets of filo dough and brush with butter.

Repeat until nut mixture is used. On the final layer of filo dough, be sure to brush with butter.

Cut into 3 inch squares. Then, cut each square in half diagonally to make triangles. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until golden brown.

Remove from oven and pour syrup over top of baklava and allow to seep and saturate it well.