Baklava

roxygibbs's Note:

An easy, traditional baklava recipe, using few ingredients. My mother and I have been making baklava, using this recipe, for over 20 years. It's very good.

• Total Time: 2 hrs 30 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 2 hrs

Ingredients:

Serves: 24

Yield: 1.0 9 x 13 ...

• 4 cups walnuts (16 oz pkg)
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 lb phyllo dough
• 1 cup butter , melted
• 1 (12 ounce) jar honey

Directions:

1. 1. Grease 13" x 9" baking dish. In large bowl with spoon, combine chopped walnuts, sugar and cinnamon until blended; set mixture aside.
2. 2. In baking dish, place 1 sheet of phylllo, allowing it to extend up sides of dish; brush with some butter. Repeat to make 5 more layers of phyllo; sprinkle with 1 cup walnut mixture. Cut remaining phyllo into approximately 13" x 9" rectangles.
3. 3. Place one sheet of phyllo in baking dish over walnut mixture; brush with butter. Repeat to make at least 6 layers, overlapping small strips of phyllo to make rectangels, if necessary. Sprinkle 1 cup walnut mixture evenly over phyllo.
4. 4. Repeat step 3 two more times. Place remaining phyllo on top of last walnut layer (I put at least 6 more sheets). Trim any phyllo that extends over top of dish. With sharp knife, cut just halfway through all layers in a diamond pattern to make 28 servings. Bake in 300 degree oven 1 hour and 25 minutes or until top is golden brown.
5. 5. Meanwhile, in 1 quart saucepan over medium-low heat, heat honey until hot but not boiling. Spoon hot honey evenly over baklava. Cool in pan on wire rack at least 1 hour, then cover and leave at room temperature until serving time.
6. TO SERVE:.
7. With sharp knife, finish cutting through layers. Makes 24 servings.
8. It's better to let it sit for a day.