Baklava is a sweet, flaky pastry dessert made of filo pastry, filled with chopped nuts, and sweetened with syrup or honey. It is a popular and traditional dessert in the Middle East and parts of the Mediterranean, and is often served during festive occasions such as weddings, gatherings, and graduation parties. Baklava is normally prepared in large pans, with many layers of filo dough separated with melted butter and vegetable oil, and a layer of chopped nuts, typically walnuts or pistachios, placed on top, then more layers of filo. Most recipes have multiple layers of filo and nuts, though some may vary. Baklava is supposed to be very sweet, composed primarily of sheets of phyllo dough brushed with butter and interspersed with a crumble made of walnuts, cinnamon, and sugar, all poured over with sugar syrup. The tissue paper-thin phyllo dough is fragile and breaks easily if not handled properly, but the end product is forgiving.