Nothing says Greek Christmas quite like the sweet and aromatic scent of freshly baked baklava wafting through the kitchen. This classic dessert is a true holiday indulgence, with layers of crispy, golden phyllo pastry encasing a rich filling of nuts and sweet honey. While it may seem intricate, making baklava at home is a rewarding experience that will impress your guests and fill your home with festive cheer.
**Baklava Layered Phyllo With Nuts And Honey**
**Ingredients:**
– 1 package of phyllo pastry sheets, thawed
– 2 cups of mixed nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios), finely chopped
– 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
– 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
– 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
– 1 cup granulated sugar
– 1 cup water
– 1 cup honey
– 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
– Zest of 1 lemon
– Zest of 1 orange
**Instructions:**
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with some of the melted butter.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped nuts, cinnamon, and cloves. Mix well and set aside.
3. Carefully unroll the phyllo pastry sheets and cover them with a damp towel to prevent them from drying out.
4. Place one sheet of phyllo in the prepared baking dish and brush it generously with melted butter. Repeat this process, layering and buttering each sheet until you have used half of the phyllo sheets.
5. Sprinkle a generous layer of the nut mixture over the buttered phyllo sheets.
6. Continue layering the remaining phyllo sheets on top of the nut mixture, again buttering each sheet as you go.
7. With a sharp knife, carefully cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes, being careful not to press too hard and crush the layers.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes or until the baklava is golden and crisp.
9. While the baklava is baking, make the honey syrup. In a saucepan, combine the sugar, water, honey, vanilla extract, lemon zest, and orange zest. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Let it simmer gently for about 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened.
10. Once the baklava is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the warm honey syrup evenly over the hot pastry. Allow the baklava to cool and soak up the syrup for at least a couple of hours or overnight.
11. Serve the baklava at room temperature, garnished with additional chopped nuts if desired. Enjoy the sweet and nutty layers of this delightful Greek Christmas treat!
This Baklava Layered Phyllo With Nuts And Honey recipe is sure to become a treasured addition to your holiday baking repertoire. Warm and fragrant, it captures the essence of Greek culinary tradition and will delight all who gather around your table. So, roll up your sleeves, embrace the festive spirit, and treat yourself and your loved ones to a taste of the Mediterranean this holiday season.
