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1
Beat cream cheese in large bowl of electric mixer till light & fluffy.
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2
Gradually fold in honey, then lemon juice & vanilla.
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3
Beat in Large eggs 1 at a time till just incorporated.
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4
Set aside.
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5
Stir through filling & pour into crust.
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6
Cover filling with overhanging phyllo, squaring at edge of pan.
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7
Bake till pastry is light brown and cake is hard to touch, about 50 mins.
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8
Remove pan sides; using toothpick, poke 12 holes in top of cake to allow steam to escape.
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9
Cold completely on rack.
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10
Chill 2 days to mellow flavors, covering after first day.
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11
Baklava Topping: Preheat oven to 350.
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12
Cover baking sheet with 2 pcs of parchment.
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13
Coarsely grind all nuts with 1 Tbsp.
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14
sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon in processor.
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15
Stack 10 reserved phyllo pastry sheets on work surface.
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16
Set rim of 10-inch springform pan atop pastry.
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17
Cut around inside of rim through entire stack using sharp knife, making 10 rounds.
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18
Cover rounds with damp towel.
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19
Set pan rim on prepared baking sheet.
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20
Brush parchment and inside of pan rim with butter.
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21
Place one pastry round in pan rim and brush with butter.
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22
Repeat with four more rounds.
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23
Spread nut mix proportionately over pastry.
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24
Top with remaining 5 pastry rounds, brushing each with butter.
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25
Using ruler as guide, cut pastry into 16 wedges
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26
(or possibly however many pcs you want) with sharp knife.
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27
Sprinkle lightly with water.
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28
Bake till crisp and golden brown, about 30 min.
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29
Meanwhile, heat 1/2 c. sugar, water, and lemon juice in heavy small saucepan over low heat, swirling pan occasionally till sugar dissolves.
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30
Add in cinnamon stick, increase heat to medium and boil till syrupy, about 4 min.
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31
Remove from heat.
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32
When bubbles subside, add in Cognac.
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33
Flatten pastry atop cake.
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34
Remove pan rim from topping.
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35
Set topping on cake, using large spatula.
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36
Re-cut wedges.
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37
Replace pan rim on assembled cake.
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38
Immediately pour on warm syrup.
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39
Cold one hour.
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40
Chill one to 6 hrs, preferably six hrs.
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41
Let cake stand at room temperature for 20 min before serving.
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42
/DESSERTS