First, assemble your ingredients before you start. Place the melted butter in a bowl and grab a pastry brush for easy application on the phyllo dough. Ensure the pecans are finely chopped and ready to go, placed conveniently near your work surface.
Next, preheat your oven to 350°F. This is a crucial step as you want the baklava to bake evenly and develop that golden crust. While the oven is heating, thoroughly butter a 9×13-inch pan using your pastry brush. This will prevent sticking and allow for easy removal later.
Now, unwrap your roll of phyllo dough onto a clean cutting board. Cut it in half to ensure it fits perfectly in your baking pan. Cover the phyllo dough with plastic wrap and place a damp kitchen towel over the top to keep it moist while you work.
Take the top sheet of phyllo dough and brush it generously with melted butter. Grab the sheet below it (so you have two sheets together), and place them butter side down in the pan. Repeat this process two more times, layering a total of six sheets in the pan. Ensure to cover the remaining phyllo with a damp towel to prevent it from drying out.
Next, sprinkle a handful of finely chopped pecans over the layered phyllo. It’s important to distribute them evenly for consistent flavor in every bite.
Now, butter another sheet of phyllo and grab the one below it (again, you should have two sheets). Place them butter side down on top of the pecans. Follow this with another sprinkle of pecans. You’ll repeat this layering process about four more times, or until you’ve used up nearly all of your pecans.
Once you reach the final layer of pecans, butter yet another sheet of phyllo along with the sheet below it. Place these on top of the last pecan layer, repeating this two times, ensuring you have six layers on top of your last pecan layer. Finish by buttering the top of the baklava generously.
Using a sharp knife, carefully cut your baklava into squares, ensuring you cut all the way through every layer. You can opt for squares or diamonds, whatever you'd like. This step is what will give the baklava its beautiful presentation.
Now it’s time to bake! Place the baklava in the preheated oven and let it bake for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until it’s golden brown. Keep an eye on it during the last few minutes to prevent it from over-browning.
While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup. In a saucepan, heat the water, granulated sugar, dark corn syrup, and vanilla. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and let it simmer gently until the baklava comes out of the oven.
Once your baklava is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the warm syrup over the top, making sure to get it in all the cuts you made earlier. This will soak into the layers, creating that sweet, sticky goodness that we all love. Let the baklava cool completely, uncovered, for several hours.
