Creating Christmas Baklava is straightforward if you follow these simple steps:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

2. Prepare the Nut Mixture: In a bowl, combine the chopped nuts, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon. Toss to blend.

3. Prepare the Phyllo: Unroll the phyllo dough and cover it with a damp cloth to prevent it from drying out.

4. Assemble the Baklava: Brush a 9×13 inch baking pan with melted butter. Place one sheet of phyllo dough in the pan and brush with butter. Repeat this step with 5 more sheets.

5. Add Nut Mixture: Spread a layer of the nut mixture evenly over the phyllo layers.

6. Repeat Layers: Layer 3 more sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with butter in between. Add another layer of nuts on top. Repeat this until all the nuts are used, finishing with 6 sheets of phyllo, brushed with butter on top.

7. Cut the Baklava: Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the baklava into diamond or square shapes before baking.

8. Bake: Place the baklava in the preheated oven and bake for 45-50 minutes, or until golden and crisp.

9. Prepare the Syrup: While the baklava is baking, combine water, honey, sugar, vanilla extract, and lemon juice in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.

10. Soak the Baklava: Once the baklava is done baking, remove it from the oven and immediately pour the warm syrup over it, soaking all the layers.

11. Cool and Serve: Allow the baklava to cool completely before serving, letting the syrup soak in for the best flavor.

By following these steps, you’ll successfully create a batch of Christmas Baklava that is sure to impress everyone around the table.