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1
Preheat the oven to 350F.
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2
Combine the nuts, sugar, rose water, cinnamon, and 3 tablespoons of the melted butter in a medium-size bowl.
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3
Set aside.
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4
Unroll the phyllo dough onto a countertop and gently smooth out with dry hands.
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5
With a kitchen scissors or very sharp knife, cut the phyllo in half widthwisealong the short end-and separate the dough, leaving it in two equal parts.
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6
Take two sheets of phyllo dough and spread over the bottom of a well-greased 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking pan.
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7
Cover the remaining phyllo with a slightly damp towel (and keep it covered at all times or it will dry out and crack).
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8
Using a pastry brush, cover the entire surface of phyllo in the pan with melted butter, and continue to layer and butter every two sheets until half of the phyllo is used.
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9
Distribute the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo, pressing down gently by hand.
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10
Use the remaining phyllo to create the top layer of balawa, working in the exact fashion as in step (As you are working, reserve and set aside one perfect sheet, without holes or tears, for the top sheet.)
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11
Brush the top sheet generously with melted butter.
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12
Using a sharp knife, cut the pan of balawa lengthwise at 1 1/2-inch intervals into equal strips.
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13
Then, starting 1 inch from the upper left hand corner, cut diagonally through the entire pastry in 1-inch intervals to the lower right hand corner.
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14
Bake until the top of the phyllo is golden brown and crispy, 20 to 30 minutes.
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15
Take out of the oven and drizzle the cold syrup over the top of the entire balawa.
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16
Cover lightly with aluminum foil and allow the syrup to soak in for 5 to 6 hours.
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17
(Dont seal it, or it will get soggy.)
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18
Serve at room temperature.
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19
These will keep, refrigerated, for 5 to 7 days.
