The main ingredient in traditional baklava is phyllo dough, which is a thin, unleavened pastry. Baklava is a rich, sweet dessert that is made by layering sheets of phyllo dough with a mixture of finely chopped nuts, commonly walnuts or pistachios, and sweetened with butter and syrup, usually made from sugar, honey, or a combination of both. Nuts are often flavored with cinnamon for added taste. After baking, the baklava is cut into diamond or square shapes and drenched in syrup, creating a deliciously flaky and sweet treat popular in many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cultures.