Miracle Baklava Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 package (12 ounces) vanilla wafers, crushed
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Refrigerated butter-flavored spray (about 4 ounces)
• 1 package frozen phyllo dough (16 ounce, 14-inch x 9-inch sheet size), thawed
• SYRUP:
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the wafer crumbs, sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Spritz a 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan with butter-flavored spray. Unroll phyllo sheets. Place one sheet of phyllo in pan; spritz with butter-flavored spray and brush to coat evenly. Repeat seven times, spritzing and brushing each layer. (Keep remaining phyllo dough covered with plastic wrap to avoid drying out.)
• Sprinkle 1/4 cup crumb mixture over phyllo in pan. Layer with two sheets of phyllo, spritzing and brushing with butter-flavored spray between each. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup crumb mixture; repeat 11 times. Top with one phyllo sheet; spritz and brush with butter-flavored spray. Repeat seven more times, spritzing and brushing each layer.
• Cut into 15 squares; cut each square in half diagonally. Bake at 350° for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the sugar, water, honey and lemon peel to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from the heat; stir in vanilla. Cool to lukewarm. Pour syrup over warm baklava. Yield: 30 servings.

Miracle Baklava published in Light & Tasty December/January 2005, p39