Baklava Bars

I have found heaven.. These bars are AMAZING.. If you like Baklava or Honey, you will LOVE these bars. Oh ... in heaven, these bars would contain no calories.. But here on earth, they are not diet friendly. They are perfect for Valentine's day for that non chocolate person. (whomever that may be)

I made these for the first time at Christmas, they were a HUGE hit, and I loved them. I always wonder why I need to work out everyday... I had two trays in January that also requested them. So these will also be perfect for Valentines. Nothing says love like some "honey" honey.

These lovely delights could sit next to any cookie any day

and they are perfect all year round

This recipe does come together fairly quickly.. The steps are just spelled out to make things easier. This recipe will impress your family and friends. And you will have kicked it up a notch. 

Baklava Bars
hugely modified from Bettycrocker.com
Ingredients
Cookie Base
1 stick of butter, softened
1 cup of granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
2 cups of all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda

Filling
1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 package frozen mini fillo shells

Glaze
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup 1/2 stick) butter
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with tin foil. Spray well with cooking spray.

In a large bowl of a mixer with a paddle attachment, mix butter and sugar for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy. Add egg and mix and then add vanilla extract. Add remaining dry ingredients and mix. A soft dough will form. Press dough into baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes.

While crust is baking, in a medium bowl, stir walnuts, granulated sugar, butter and cinnamon with a fork until mixture is well mixed and crumbly.

Sprinkle nut mixture evenly over partially baked base. With your hands, crumble frozen fillo shells evenly over nut mixture. Bake for 18-20 minutes longer or until golden brown.

While that is baking, in a small microwaveable bowl, microwave honey, butter, brown sugar, lemon juice and cinnamon on high for 1 minute or until bubbly. Stir in vanilla. Drizzle this mixture over your cooked fillo bar evenly. cool completely about 2 hours.

Store covered at room temperature, if the are not totally devoured.

A soft dough. Gently spread out, using your fingers

into your baking pan. Cover surface evenly

Baked for 15 minutes.

Edges are "just" starting to brown

Nuts, sugar, butter, cinnamon topping

ready to go next

These shells are in the freezer dept.

Usually near the frozen pie shells and cool whip area

I decided that I will buy these again.

There are "countless" different things I can make with them

Breaking it up into small pieces

Baked for the second time and drizzled with a Honey mixture

This was from my January trays. 

Everyone loved them ... and the pizelles also

Taking an old Greek dessert and making it easier.

Baklava is fussy and labor intensive. 

With a bit of knowledge, any baker can whip these up 

for a special event... or a Wednesday..