Making Christmas baklava with walnuts is a delightful twist on a classic dessert. Here’s a recipe to guide you through the process:
Ingredients:
- 1 package of phyllo dough (16 oz), thawed
- 1 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 cups walnuts, finely chopped
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup water
- 1 cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 orange
- Zest of 1 lemon
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
- In a bowl, combine the chopped walnuts, sugar, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. Mix well and set aside.
- Lay one sheet of phyllo dough in the prepared baking dish and brush it with melted butter. Repeat with 7 more sheets, brushing each layer with butter.
- Sprinkle about 1/3 cup of the walnut mixture evenly over the phyllo layers.
- Layer 4 more sheets of phyllo dough on top of the walnut mixture, brushing each sheet with butter.
- Repeat steps 4 and 5 until all the walnut mixture is used, finishing with a layer of phyllo dough on top.
- Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 50-60 minutes, or until the baklava is golden brown and crisp.
- While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, combine the water, honey, vanilla extract, orange zest, and lemon zest. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and let simmer for 10-15 minutes.
- Once the baklava is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup over the hot baklava, allowing it to seep into all the cuts.
- Allow the baklava to cool completely before serving, allowing the syrup to soak in thoroughly.
- Serve and enjoy your Christmas baklava with walnuts!
This festive treat is perfect for sharing with family and friends during the holiday season. Enjoy!
