PECAN PHYLLO SPIRALS

Pecan Phyllo Spirals image

We use phyllo dough in this recipe to make a tasty little dessert that is almost like mini baklavas. They're perfect for parties because you can pick them up easily and they aren't messy. The only problem is, you'll have to make lots because they go like hotcakes!

Yield makes 36 spirals

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 cups chopped pecans
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
12 sheets phyllo dough, thawed (see page 5)
1/3 cup melted margarine or butter
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup orange juice

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Combine the pecans, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl.
Unroll the phyllo dough, place on a flat surface, and separate out a stack of 12 sheets, gently lifting them off as a single unit. Cover the 12 sheets of phyllo with barely damp paper towels. (Be sure to cover the phyllo every time you take a sheet or it will dry out.) Return the remaining dough to its packaging, seal tightly, and refrigerate or freeze, depending on how soon you'll use it. Place a sheet of phyllo on a flat surface and brush with melted margarine. Continue the layering process with sheets of phyllo brushed with margarine until you have 4 phyllo sheets in the stack. Sprinkle one-third of the nut mixture over the phyllo dough, covering the entire surface, then roll the phyllo up tightly lengthwise, and brush with margarine. Place the roll seam side down, cut it into 3/4-to 1-inch pieces, and place the rolls flat in an ungreased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Repeat the process with the remaining ingredients. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
Combine the honey and orange juice in a small bowl, stir until well combined, then pour the mixture over the rolls. Serve warm or at room temperature.
I love cinnamon . . . or I thought I did. The name cinnamon refers to cinnamon from a tree grown in Ceylon; however, a related species, Cassia, is also often sold labeled as cinnamon. So even if you think you're buying real cinnamon, most of the powdered cinnamon sold in stores in the U.S. is actually cassia. But don't start screaming fraud just yet-they're very similar, with cassia just being stronger in flavor than cinnamon.