Traditional Greek Dessert Recipe: Yia Yia's Baklava

Yia Yia's Baklava is a delicious and decadent Greek dessert made with layers of phyllo pastry, a sweet nut filling, and a honey syrup. This recipe has been passed down through generations and is a cherished tradition in many Greek households. The combination of crispy phyllo, crunchy nuts, and sweet honey syrup makes for a delightful treat. It's perfect for special occasions or whenever you're craving something sweet. Follow this step-by-step recipe to recreate the authentic taste of Yia Yia's Baklava at home.

Ingredients

• 1 package of phyllo pastry sheets
• 1 1/2 cups of mixed nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, and pistachios), finely chopped
• 1 cup of unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 1/2 cup of honey
• 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
2. In a bowl, mix the chopped nuts and ground cinnamon together.
3. Brush a baking dish with melted butter.
4. Place a sheet of phyllo pastry in the bottom of the dish and brush it with melted butter.
5. Repeat the previous step with 5 more sheets of phyllo pastry, brushing each sheet with melted butter.
6. Sprinkle a layer of the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo pastry.
7. Place another sheet of phyllo pastry on top of the nut mixture and brush it with melted butter.
8. Repeat this process of layering phyllo pastry and buttering between each layer until all the nut mixture is used.
9. Finish with a final layer of phyllo pastry, brushing the top generously with melted butter.
10. Using a sharp knife, score the top layer of pastry into diamond or square shapes.
11. Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the baklava turns golden brown and crispy.
12. While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup by combining sugar, water, honey, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in a saucepan.
13. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
14. Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately pour the hot syrup over the hot pastry. Make sure to get the syrup into all the cuts.
15. Allow the baklava to cool completely in the pan before serving. This will allow the pastry to absorb the syrup and become moist and flavorful.
16. Once cooled, carefully remove the baklava from the pan and transfer it to a serving platter.
17. Cut along the scored lines and serve the baklava pieces on a dessert plate. Enjoy!

Interesting Facts