Easy Baklava Recipe

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Butter a 9x13 inch baking dish.

Toss together cinnamon and nuts. Unroll phyllo and cut whole stack in half to fit the dish. Cover phyllo with a damp cloth while assembling the baklava to keep it from drying out.

Place two sheets of phyllo in the bottom of the prepared dish. Brush generously with butter. Sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of the nut mixture on top. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used ending with about 6 sheets of phyllo. Using a sharp knife cut baklava (all the way through to the bottom of the dish) into four long rows then (nine times) diagonally to make 36 diamond shapes.

Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and crisp about 50 minutes.

While baklava is baking combine sugar and water in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a boil. Stir in honey vanilla and lemon or orange zest; reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes.

Remove the baklava from the oven and immediately spoon the syrup over it. Let cool completely before serving. Store uncovered.