A flaky, spiced, and sweet dessert featuring a subtle apple flavor, complemented by a delightful aroma of butter. This apple baklava is perfect for satisfying cravings, ideal for family gatherings or a sweet treat any time.
1: Preheat oven to 350°F.
2: Pulse walnuts and pecans in a blender until coarsely ground.
3: Shred the apples with a grater and squeeze out the juice into a measuring cup. Combine the grated apple in a bowl with 1/4 cup sugar, nutmeg, salt, and ground nuts.
4: Brush the bottom of a 9x13 pan with melted butter, add a sheet of phyllo and place it in the pan. Lightly brush the sheet with butter and repeat 11 more times.
5: Spread 1/2 of the apple mixture on top of the phyllo, then repeat the process with another 12 sheets of phyllo. Spread the remaining apple mixture and finally another 12 sheets of phyllo.
6: Chill in the fridge for 10 minutes.
7: Slice the baklava lengthwise into 3 stripes then slice on a bias widthwise to make diamond shapes. Bake in the oven for 40 minutes.
8: While the baklava is in the oven, add water into the measuring cup with the apple juice until it makes up 1 cup. Add the liquid into a pot with remaining sugar, honey, cinnamon and lemon zest. Bring the mixture up to a simmer for 10 minutes. Set aside to cool.
9: Once the baklava is finished baking pour the honey mixture over top. Set aside to cool for 4 hours or overnight at room temperature.
