Better Baklava

Before we get any further, don't worry, I'm not going to tell you that you should make your own phyllo dough at home. However, I will say that with some store bought phyllo dough, you can create the most incredible baklava at home with lots of walnuts and lots of honey.

Desserts

Prep: 20 min
Cook: 20-25 min
Total: 45 min
Serves 24

Thaw Phyllo
1 pound phyllo dough
Thaw the phyllo dough according to manufacturer's directions (this may take overnight).
Dough and Nut Base
2 tablespoons canola oil
Preheat oven to 350°F and generously grease a 9x13 baking pan with canola oil.
1 ¼ pounds walnuts
½ pound pistachios
Combine walnuts and pistachios in a large plastic bag and crush into fine pieces with a hard kitchen utensil such as a mallet or measuring cup.
¼ cup of sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground cloves
Transfer nuts to a bowl and add sugar, cinnamon, and cloves. Toss to combine and set aside.
1 cup of butter, melted
Melt butter in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl. Set aside.
Assembly
4 sheets phyllo dough
melted butter
1 cup of reserved nuts
Place four sheets of phyllo dough on a 9x13 baking sheet and using a pastry brush, coat the top generously with melted butter.
2 sheets phyllo dough
metled butter
1 cup of reserved nuts
Top with another two sheets of dough, coating each one with butter, and spread with another ½ cup of crushed nuts.
2 sheets phyllo dough
melted butter
1 cup of reserved nuts
Top with another two sheets of dough, coating each one with butter, and spread with another ½ cup of crushed nuts.
2 phyllo dough
melted butter
remaining nuts
Top with another two sheets of dough, coating each one with butter, and spread with another ½ cup of crushed nuts.
remaining phyllo dough
melted butter
Place remaining phyllo dough on top of last layer of nuts and coat with butter.
Cut baklava into 24 pieces before you place it in the oven. Bake at 350°F until phyllo becomes golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.
Syrup
1 cup of water
1 cup of sugar
¾ cup of honey
1 tablespoon lemon juice
While dough and nuts bake, combine water, sugar, honey, and lemon juice in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer until thickened to a honey-like consistency, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
Rest and Chill
When baked, remove baklava from the oven and immediately pour syrup evenly on top.
Let cool on a wire rack for at least 4 hours or overnight.
½ cup finely crushed pistachios (optional)
Garnish with pistachios if desired.
Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.