Baklava

Ingredients

• 1 lb walnuts, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 lb (1 package) phyllo dough, cut to fit the pan
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup water
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp lemon zest, grated

Before you start

• Thaw phyllo and keep it under a damp towel.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Butter a 9x13-in pan.

Directions

1. Toss: walnuts, sugar, ground cinnamon.
2. Layer 8 buttered sheets, then nuts and 2 buttered sheets in turns, ending with 6 to 8 buttered sheets: step 1, phyllo dough, unsalted butter.
3. Cut into diamonds all the way through: step 2.
4. Bake 350°F 45 to 50 min, until golden and crisp: step 3.
5. Boil until sugar dissolves: water, sugar.
6. Simmer 15 to 20 min: step 5, honey, vanilla extract, lemon zest.
7. Spoon syrup over hot baklava: step 4, step 6.
8. Cool uncovered at least 4 hr: step 7.