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How To Make Baklava

Shaziya
Baklava is a masterpiece of sweet indulgence, layering crisp phyllo dough with rich, nutty filling and fragrant honey syrup. With just 40 minutes of prep and an hour of baking, this treat is surprisingly approachable.
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
soak 4 minutes
Servings 20 pieces

Ingredients
  

For the Syrup:

  • 1 cup honey (10oz/283g)
  • 1 cup water (8floz/225ml)
  • 1 cup sugar (8oz/225g)
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 (2- inch) strips orange peel
  • 3 (2- inch) strips lemon peel

For the Baklava

  • 2 cups raw shelled pistachios (10oz/284g)
  • 2 cups raw almonds (10oz/284g)
  • ½ cup granulated sugar (4oz/115g)
  • teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1 pound phyllo dough (16oz/450g)
  • 1 cup butter (8oz/225g) (melted)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C).
  • Make the syrup: In a small saucepan, combine the honey, water, sugar, cinnamon stick, orange peel, and lemon peel and heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside. (this syrup can be made up to 2 days in advance)
  • In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together the pistachios, almonds, sugar, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves until the nuts are chopped small (but not ground). Remove to a bowl and set aside.
  • Set up a workstation with the phyllo dough unrolled and under a damp kitchen towel, the melted butter, and a pastry brush.
  • Lightly brush a 9x9-inch (23x23cm) square baking dish with butter and lay a sheet of phyllo dough in the pan. Fold over the edges to fit into the pan. Brush lightly all over with butter.
  • Add another layer of phyllo dough, fold to fit, and brush with butter. Repeat this process until you have used 8 sheets of phyllo dough. Keep the unused dough under the towel to prevent it from drying out.
  • Sprinkle ¼ of the nut mixture onto the dough layers, then top the nuts with two sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each sheet of dough with butter after placing it in the pan. Repeat this process until you have created 4 layers of nuts with two layers of phyllo dough in between.
  • Top the nuts with the remaining phyllo dough, brushing each layer with butter, including the final layer.
  • With a very sharp knife cut the baklava into about 20 squares or diamond shapes.
  • Bake for about 1 hour, or until the pastry is a deep golden brown.
  • Remove the baklava from the oven. Immediately remove the cinnamon stick and the orange and lemon peels from the cold syrup and pour evenly over the hot baklava. Let the syrup absorb for at least 4 hours or overnight before serving.
  • Enjoy Baklava as is! Store loosely covered at room temperature for up to 3 days.
Keyword Baklava, dessert, honey syrup, phyllo dough, pistachios
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