Simple Baklava (Lower-Fat)

Baklava is a delicious dessert made with layers of phyllo dough, butter, sugar, cinnamon, and usually nuts- among other things. However, I chose to make my baklava with a layer of crushed vanilla wafers, instead of nuts. It was cheaper and really yummy!My dessert came out flaky, sweet and savory. I know you will enjoy this one!

Ingredients:
1 package (11 oz) vanilla wafers, crushed (or 1 cup crushed walnuts)
2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Refrigerated butter-flavored spray (i used I Can't Believe its Not Butter)
1 pkg. frozen phyllo dough, thawed (14x9 inch size)

Syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp grated lemon peel 
1 tsp vanilla extract



Preheat the oven to 350°. Crush vanilla wafers the easiest way possible. I have a magic bullet blender, so I used that to crush them up.

In a large bowl, combine the vanilla wafers, 2 tbsp of sugar, and cinnamon. Set this aside.

Cover a 13x9 inch pan with non-stick cooking spray, such as Pam. Unroll the phyllo sheets. Place one sheet of phyllo in the pan, and spritz with your butter flavored spray. Brush to coat evenly, be sure to get the edges really well. Repeat this step seven times, layering and spritzing each layer. 

Sprinkle 1/4 cup of your crumb mixture over the phyllo dough, spreading evenly. Layer with two more sheets of phyllo, spritzing and brushing each layer with butter spray. Then sprinkle again with your crumb mixture.... two more layers... repeat this step 11 times. 

Now you want to repeat step one. Top with one phyllo sheet, spritz and brush with butter, and repeat seven times. 

When the layering and spritzing is done, you now want to cut your baklava into squares or triangles. You want to do this before baking because the baklava becomes very flaky, and will result in a mess if you wait.  Cut the baklava into squares, then cut each square diagonally, being careful not to tear the dough

Bake your baklava for 40-45 minutes or until golden brown. I highly recommend keeping an eye on your dessert around 35 minutes, it can begin to burn on the edges very quickly!

While this is baking, you need to make your sauce. In a saucepan, bring the sugar, water, honey and lemon peel to a boil. DO NOT ADD VANILLA at this point. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. 

Remove from the heat, and then stir in the vanilla. Let cool until lukewarm. Once the baklava is done baking, pour syrup all over the warm baklava.