-
1
To create a sachet out of cheesecloth, cut about a 6 inch square piece 3 layers thick.
-
2
Place lemon zest, cloves and cinnamon stick in the center of the cheesecloth square; bring the edges toward the center and twist them together.
-
3
Tie them together with string, forming a little pouch also known as a sachet.
-
4
In a sauce pan, combine the water, 3 cups sugar, and orange blossom syrup together.
-
5
Add sachet to sauce pan mixture and bring to a boil, stirring frequently, on medium heat.
-
6
Reduce heat and simmer mixture for 15 minutes stirring frequently.
-
7
Remove sachet and allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
-
8
Mix the remaining 1/2 cup sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and nuts together (set aside).
-
9
In another sauce pan, melt pound of butter (reserving teaspoon butter) remove from heat and strain to make clarfied butter.
-
10
Preheat the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
-
11
On a jelly roll pan, grease pan with the reserved teaspoon of butter.
-
12
Lay a sheet of phyllo dough out flat on pan, and paint it with clarified butter.
-
13
Then place another sheet on top of the first and paint it with butter.
-
14
Do the same thing, six more times, until 8 layers are on top of each other.
-
15
Sprinkle a handful of nut mixture over buttered phyllo dough evenly.
-
16
Add two more sheets of buttered phyllo dough on top of nut mixture.
-
17
Then add another handful of nuts and sprinkle over buttered phyllo sheet.
-
18
Do the same thing until you have 8 sheets of phyllo dough left.
-
19
Place the last eight sheets on top of the nuts, painting them each with the butter.
-
20
Cut the baklava into either diamond or square shapes.
-
21
Make sure the knife cuts through the bottom phyllo sheet.
-
22
Paint tops of baklawa with remaining butter.
-
23
Bake baklava for 45 minutes or until golden and flaky.
-
24
Remove from oven and drizzle cooled syrup over entire pastry.
-
25
Enjoy!
