A few days ago I made baklava for the first time ever! It looks like a lot of work but believe me, it was one of the easiest things I have ever baked!

YOU WILL NEED:

Fillo dough package (can buy at any grocery store)
1 cup of coarsely chopped (I used a mix of raw shelled pistachios and walnuts)
2 tbs sugar
1 tbs ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground cloves
9 tbs butter (melted)

Honey Syrup:

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup cold water
1/2 cup honey
Zest from one small orange and some juice of
A splash of lemon juice

DIRECTIONS:

1. Thaw out your fillo dough package for an hour at room temperature.
2. Mix nuts, sugar, cinnamon, cloves in a small bowl, set it aside.
3. Set oven to 325-350F depends on the oven.
4. Take out a glass pie dish or any glass bakeware that approximately measures 9″x 5″. Unroll fillo dough and place the dish you will be using for baking on top… trim dough to the size of the dish. Place the fillo sheets on the damp towel and cover with a damp towel to keep it from drying.
5. Brush the dish you will be using for baking with melted butter. Add one sheet of fillo and fold in any excess fillo. Brush with melted butter… add another sheet…brush with melted butter… and so on until 1/3 of the fillo sheets are used.
6. Add 1/2 of nut mixture and distribute evenly. Cover with one sheet of fillo and repeat Step 5. Add the rest of the nuts… and repeat Step 5 again. Brush top layer with melted butter evenly.
7. Carefully with sharp knife dipped in water cut in about halfway diagonal lines to create a  1 1/2 inch diamond shapes.  If using the pie dish (like I did) here is a diagram how to cut.
8. Place on the bottom rack of the oven and bake for about an hour carefully watching the top so it doesn’t become too golden.  Halfway check and if it is getting a little dark reduce temperature to 325F.

9. Make honey syrup while baklava is baking.  Place sugar and water in a small sauce pan and dissolve it over medium heat.  Add honey, orange zest and juice.  Bring to boil. Reduce temperature to low and simmer for about 25 min stirring occasionally. Take off the stove, add lemon juice, and cool until lukewarm.

10. When baklava is ready pour the honey syrup on top and let it absorb for a few hours (I did not have patience for that so I only waited for about an hour).

11. Cut in the pieces all the way through and serve with coffee or tea! To store– wrap in plastic wrap and live it out for up to a day.  After a day it must be placed in refrigerator although I am sure it will be gone way before one day!

Enjoy!

O