Pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
Grease a baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine the finely chopped walnuts, ground cinnamon and ground cloves, if using; mix well.
Lay a sheet of phyllo dough in the greased baking dish and brush it with melted butter; repeat layering and buttering each sheet of phyllo dough until half of the package has been used.
Sprinkle half of the walnut mixture evenly over the layered phyllo dough.
Layer and butter the remaining phyllo sheets on top of the walnut mixture, brushing each sheet with melted butter.
Sprinkle the remaining walnut mixture over the top layer of phyllo dough.
Using a sharp knife, cut the baklava into small diamond or square shapes.
Place in the pre-heated oven and bake for about 45 – 50 minutes, or until the baklava turns golden brown.
While the baklava is baking, prepare the syrup by combining the granulated sugar, water, honey and lemon juice in a saucepan.
Bring the mixture to a boil; reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the syrup slightly thickens.
Once the baklava is baked, remove from the oven and immediately pour the syrup evenly over the hot baklava.
Allow the baklava to cool completely in the baking dish, allowing it to absorb the syrup.
Once cooled, carefully remove the individual pieces of baklava from the dish and serve.
