Makes 3 dozen
- 3 cups finely chopped walnuts
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ground cloves
- 1-1/2 cups clarified butter*, divided
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 package (16 oz.) filo pastry sheets
- Honey Syrup
Combine walnutes and spices in medium bowl. Reserve 1/2 cup clarified butter for brushing top and bottom layers; stir honey into remaining 1 cup butter. Brush bottom of 13x9x2-inch baking pan with clarified butter. Cut filo sheets in half crosswise; trim to 13×9-inch rectangles. Cover filo with waxed paper and damp towel to keep from drying out. Line pan with 10 sheets of filo, brushing each with clarified butter; sprinkle with 1/3 cup walnut mixture. Place 2 sheets filo on top of walnut layer, brushing each with honey-butter mixture. Sprinkle with 1/3 cup walnuut mixture. Repeat, layering 2 sheets filo, brushing each with honey-butter mixture and sprinkling with 1/3 cup walnut mixture until all nut mixture is used. Top with remaining file sheets, brushing each with clarified butter. With sharp knife, cut baklava into diamond-shaped pieces, carefully cutting through all layers. Bake in preheated 325°F oven 45 minutes. Reduce heat to 275°F and bake 20 minutes more. Remove from oven; while still hot, carefully spoon cool Honey Syrup over entire surface. *To clarify butter, cut 1 lb. butter into pieces and melt in medium saucepan over medium heat. Skim off foam; strain clear yellow liquid into a bowl, leaving cloudy residue in bottom of pan.
Tip: Baklava may be wrapped in foil or placed in freezer-safe containers and frozen. To serve, place unwrapped thawed baklava on baking sheet; bake in preheated 325°F over 12 minutes or until heated and crisp on top. Cool before serving.
Honey Syrup
Makes
- 1 cup honey
- 3/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon peel
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 cinnamon stick, 3 inches long
- 1-1/2 teaspoons lemon juice
Combine honey, water, lemon peel, cloves and cinnamon in small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 20 minutes. Add lemon juice; simmer 5 minutes more. Remove from heat; cool. Remove cloves and cinnamon before using.
