Easy Homemade Baklava Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 pound chopped nuts
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 (16 ounce) package phyllo dough
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup water
• 0.5 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Generously butter a 9x13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
2. Combine chopped nuts and cinnamon in a bowl. Unroll the phyllo dough and cut the entire stack in half to perfectly fit your baking dish. Keep the phyllo sheets covered with a damp cloth during assembly to maintain their moisture.
3. Lay 2 sheets of phyllo dough at the bottom of the prepared dish. Brush generously with melted butter. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture evenly over the buttered phyllo. Repeat these layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with approximately 6 sheets of phyllo on top.
4. Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the baklava into 4 lengthwise rows, then slice diagonally 9 times to create 36 diamond-shaped pieces. Ensure you cut completely through all the layers to the bottom.
5. Bake in the preheated oven until the baklava turns a beautiful golden brown and achieves a crispy texture, approximately 50 minutes.
6. While the baklava is baking, combine sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in honey, vanilla extract, and lemon zest. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for 20 minutes, allowing the syrup to thicken.
7. Remove the baked baklava from the oven and immediately drizzle the prepared syrup evenly over the top. Allow the baklava to cool completely before serving. Store uncovered at room temperature.

Nutrition

• Calories: 201 kcal
• Fat Content: 14 g
• Fiber Content: 1 g
• Sodium Content: 97 mg
• Protein Content: 3 g
• Cholesterol Content: 14 mg
• Carbohydrate Content: 18 g
• Saturated Fat Content: 4 g
• Unsaturated Fat Content: 0 g