Baklava (Recipe from Lisa Ames)

Instructions

1. 1

   Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. 2

   In a bowl, mix walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, and cloves.

3. 3

   Butter the bottom of a large cookie sheet or jelly roll pan. Layer 2 sheets of phyllo dough in the pan and brush with butter. Repeat until about ⅓ of the phyllo is used (approximately 6–8 sheets).

4. 4

   Sprinkle ½ of the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo. Drizzle lightly with butter. Add another third of the phyllo dough, buttering each layer. Sprinkle remaining nut mixture over the phyllo. Top with the remaining phyllo layers.

5. 5

   Do not butter the top two sheets yet. Cut the baklava into diamond shapes: first cut vertical lines, then diagonal lines. Brush the top with butter.

6. 6

   Bake until golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

7. 7

   Meanwhile, combine lemon juice, honey, sugar, and water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Pour hot syrup evenly over cooled baklava. Let stand overnight before serving.