Yia Yia's Baklava

This recipe was passed from my Yia Yia to her daughter-in-law (my mother) to me. People love this as a Christmas gift. It has gained a big reputation among our friends. One time, my mother donated a small tin of baklava to a church charity auction. It was very competitive, but the price was driven up to $40!

• Preparation Time: 45 mins
• Cooking Time: 50 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 386 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1 cup white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups water
• 4 whole cloves
• ½ cinnamon stick
• 1 lemon, juiced, divided
• 1 pound finely chopped walnuts
• ¾ cup unsalted butter, melted, or more as needed
• 20 sheets phyllo dough

Recipe Instructions

Step 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.

Step 2

Stir walnuts, 1 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl.

Step 3

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush butter on the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 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.

Step 9

Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes.

Step 10

Pour cooled syrup over baked baklava and cool for 1 day to absorb syrup.