YIA YIA'S BAKLAVA

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Yia Yia's Baklava image

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!

Provided by Jacolyn

Categories     World Cuisine Recipes     European     Greek

Time P1DT1h35m

Yield 20

Number Of Ingredients 11

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

Steps:

  • 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.
  • Stir walnuts, 1 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Brush butter on the bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch glass baking dish.
  • Lay the phyllo dough out on a clean, dry surface and cover it with plastic wrap. Cover the plastic wrap with a damp towel.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Bake in the preheated oven until lightly golden brown, 35 to 45 minutes.
  • Pour cooled syrup over baked baklava and cool for 1 day to absorb syrup.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 385.8 calories, Carbohydrate 44 g, Cholesterol 18.3 mg, Fat 22.9 g, Fiber 2.4 g, Protein 4.9 g, SaturatedFat 6.1 g, Sodium 94.5 mg, Sugar 30.7 g

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