Easy Rolled Russian Baklava Food

EASY BAKLAVA

Steps:

• 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.

EASY ROLLED RUSSIAN BAKLAVA

Steps:

• In a food processor, pulse walnuts until crumbs. Pour into a bowl and add 1 1/2 cups of the powdered sugar and cinnamon. Mix and set aside.
• In a small bowl, add the melted butter, set aside.
• Lay out one sheet of phyllo dough. Brush gently with melted butter using a silicone pastry brush. Cover with another sheet of phyllo dough. Brush with melted butter. Repeat until you have 5 sheets of phyllo dough stacked. On the last buttered sheet of phyllo dough, sprinkle about 1/2 cup of the walnut mixture. Spread gently with fingers.
• Using your hands, roll the dough up tight (rolling from the short end to the short end). Place in a 13x9 baking dish that has been sprayed with baking spray.
• Repeat for remaining sheets of phyllo dough.
• Drizzle the remaining butter over the top. Bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 28-30 minutes, until edges are brown and crispy.
• Sprinkle immediately with 1/4 cup of the remaining powdered sugar. Cool for about 1 hour. Remove from baking dish and slice each log into 4 pieces and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup powdered sugar. Add honey if desired upon serving. ENJOY!