Vegan Baklava Recipe (2024)

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The best Vegan Baklava with flaky filo pastry, walnuts, pistachios, plant based butter and the ultimate orange lemon syrup featuring coconut nectar or agave instead of honey. Finish with a luscious drizzle of dark chocolate and a pinch of Fleur de Sel flakes to make it next level!

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Vegan Baklava

A rich sweet dessert made with flaky filo pastry filled with chopped walnuts and pistachios, baked then traditionally drenched in honey syrup. In spite of this recipe being a little time consuming to make, I promise it is actually really easy to throw together and crazy delicious. Alternatively you can just bake these perfect Christmas cookies!

Baklava Ingredients

  • Filo Pastry – Defrost it in advance according to the directions on the package. It’s very important to keep the filo sheets covered with a wet tea towel as you work with them so they don’t dry out and tear while you butter up and layer the others.
  • The Nuts – I used a mix of chopped walnuts and pistachios spiced up with some cinnamon, you can go for whatever nuts you want here even hazelnuts, cashews, pecans or macadamias.

  • The Butter – Any vegan butter or vegetable spread will do the job here, I prefer Miyoko’s cultured European butter but you can use any plant based butter you like.
  • The Syrup – Traditionally honey is used when making the syrup for baklava and the great news is you can even buy bee-free plant based honey now. Personally I love using coconut nectar mixed with both fresh orange and lemon juice for the ultimate citrus flavor.
  • Toppings – I love to drizzle my baklava with a luscious drizzle of dark chocolate and finish with a pinch of Fleur de Sel (sea salt flakes) and crushed pistachios. Optional but makes is so next level!

Baklava Tips + FAQ

  • is baklava vegan ? Yes as long as you use plant based butter and a vegan honey, coconut nectar or agave for the syrup.
  • can I make it without nuts ? Sure, replace the nut filling with a seed filling made of sunflower seeds, toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds) and sesame seeds for a delicious nut-free baklava.
  • slice before baking – Make sure to cut the baklava into diamonds or squares before baking. This will prevent the filo from crumbling once cooked.
  • How to keep baklava crispy?Crispiness comes down to using the right amount of syrup and storing properly. Pour the syrup over the hot baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven and give it plenty of time to absorb every single drop of it before serving. Once completely cooled store in a cold oven or on the kitchen counter away from humidity. It keeps well at room temperature for up to one week. Do Not Refrigerate!

How to Make Baklava – Layering Order:

  • 10 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 10 filo sheets

As always if you make this recipe remember to leave a comment rating below, snatch a photo and tag me with #VeggieSociety on Instagram, it always makes my day ~ Florentina Xo’s

Vegan Baklava Recipe (8)

5 from 1 vote

Vegan Baklava

The best vegan baklava with flaky filo pastry, walnuts, pistachios, vegan butter and the ultimate orange lemon syrup featuring coconut nectar or agave instead of honey. Finish with a luscious drizzle of dark chocolate and a pinch of Fleur de Sel flakes to make it next level!

Print Recipe

Prep Time:45 minutes mins

Cook Time:1 hour hr

Resting time:5 hours hrs

Total Time:6 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • 16 oz package filo dough defrosted
  • 3/4 lb walnuts chopped
  • 3/4 lb pistachios chopped
  • 1.5 tsp cinnamon
  • zest from 1/2 orange
  • 12 oz vegan butter (3 sticks) melted (I love Miyoko's for this)
  • 3 oz dark chocolate (optional for drizzling)
  • 2 tbsp crushed pistachios for garnish
  • Fleur de Sel sea salt flakes for garnish

Orange Syrup

Instructions

  • Preheat your oven to 350”F. In a bowl combine the nuts, cinnamon and the zest from half an orange and set aside.

  • Brush a 9x13 inch oven proof baking dish with some of the vegan butter.

  • Cut the fillo dough sheets in half and start layering 10 of them in the bottom of the pan, one by one, brushing each one with some of the melted better before topping with another. Sprinkle with a quarter of the nuts all over. (keep the remaining filo sheets covered with a damp tea towel so they don’t dry out and tear).

  • Layer 4 more filo sheets brushing them with melted butter in between. Sprinkle another quarter of the nuts and layer another 4 filo sheets on top. Sprinkle with another quarter of the nuts and layer 4 more filo dough sheets buttered in between.

  • Top with the rest of the nuts and the remaining 10 layers of filo sheets, making sure you brush each one of them with the butter in between.

  • Using a sharp knife cut the Baklava into 2 inch strips, then make slightly angled horizontal cuts to create a diamond pattern. Or you can just cut it into squares or whatever shape you like. It’s very IMPORTANT that you do the cutting before baking it.

  • Bake the Baklava in the preheated 350"F oven for 1 hour until golden brown on top.

  • Meanwhile make the the orange syrup by whisking together the orange juice, lemon juice, coconut nectar (agave or maple) and the remaining zest from half an orange. Pour it all over the Baklava once it comes out of the oven. Allow it to sit at room temperature for a few hours or overnight for the baklava to soak it all up. (I like to park it back in the cold oven overnight)

  • Optional: break the chocolate into small pieces and place it in the top pan of a double boiler over hot water. Stir until nicely melted and using a spoon drizzle some all over the Baklava. Garnish with some crushed pistachios and sea salt flakes and enjoy !

Notes

Baklava Tips:

  • Make sure to cut the baklava into diamonds or square before baking. This will prevent the filo from crumbling once cooked.
  • Keeping the baklava crispy comes down to using the right amount of syrup and storing it properly. Pour the syrup over the hot baklava as soon as it comes out of the oven then give it plenty of time to absorb every single drop of it before serving. Once completely cooled just store in a cold oven or kitchen counter away from humidity to keep crisp It keeps well at room temperature for up to one week. Do Not Refrigerate!

Layering Order

  • 10 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 4 filo sheets + 1/4 of the nut mix
  • 10 filo sheets

Nutrition

Calories: 194kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 65mg | Potassium: 139mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 58IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Keyword: baklava, plant based, vegan,

Servings: 35 pieces

Calories: 194kcal

Author: Florentina

Vegan Desserts:

Vegan Baklava Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is vegan baklava made of? ›

This vegan version of baklava is made with layers of sweet filo and chopped nuts, all covered in a sweet syrup! we also add dates to the nut filling since our syrup is not very sweet. We add less sweetener than in traditional baklava recipes. This is a simple yet showstopping dessert guaranteed to impress!

What's the difference between baklava and Turkish baklava? ›

They also have different shapes, Greek baklava is made in square or rectangular pans, while Turkish baklava is commonly made in a circular baking dish. The clove in the Greek confection also helps hold the baklava together while it is cut.

What is the difference between Greek baklava and Lebanese baklava? ›

Difference #1: Baklava is flavored with cinnamon and cloves while baklawa is flavored with cardamom and orange blossom water or rose water. Difference #2: The Greek baklava uses almonds, while baklawa uses a blend of almonds and pistachios.

Is baklava healthy? ›

Baklava is a good source of essential vitamins and minerals

Nuts are an excellent source of heart-healthy fats, protein, fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin E, and selenium. This makes Baklava a dessert that contributes positively to your nutrient intake.

What is a vegan substitute for honey? ›

The most common vegan alternatives are:
  • Maple syrup. Made from the sap of the maple tree, maple syrup contains several vitamins and minerals and up to 24 protective antioxidants ( 6 , 7 ).
  • Blackstrap molasses. ...
  • Barley malt syrup. ...
  • Brown rice syrup. ...
  • Date syrup. ...
  • Bee Free Honee.

Does baklava need to be refrigerated? ›

Baklava has a really lengthy shelf life, lasting about 2+ weeks. It should be stored in an airtight container, either in room temperature or in the fridge. Storing in room temperature will preserve the crispness. If you like your baklava chewy and a bit harder, store it in the refrigerator.

Why is baklava so expensive? ›

Baklava is made out of sugar (şerbet), yufka (sort of a flat layered dough) and antep fıstığı (pistachio). These three ingridients are very expensive in Turkey due to the shortages of production and current currency crisis.

Which country has the best baklava? ›

The Best Baklava in the World
  • Turkey - In Turkey, there are multiple varieties of baklava to choose from, and you may wonder about missing out on the traditional and traditional types. ...
  • Syria - Syrian baklava is known for its light and flaky texture, as well as its sweetness.
Nov 4, 2023

Is baklava Greek or Arabic food? ›

History. The three main proposals for the roots of baklava are the Greek placenta cake, the Medieval Arab/Persian lauzinaj, and the Central Asian Turkic tradition of layered breads. There are also claims attributing baklava to the Assyrians, according to which baklava was prepared by them in the 8th century BC.

How do you keep baklava from getting soggy? ›

I have found it works really well to cut the whole sheet in half. When you are brushing sheets with butter, brush lightly, don't soak with butter. Soggy baklava is a result of the butter brushing, not the sauce. Cool completely before serving and don't store in the fridge, or covered.

Is baklava better with walnuts or pistachios? ›

As walnuts have a more bitter flavor than pistachio, it's less sweet than the pistachio and, if you're ordering more than one variety at once, forms a nice counter-balance to many of the sweeter forms of the dessert.

What ethnicity eats baklava? ›

Baklava is originally from Turkey, Greece, and the Middle East, but it was brought to Hungary by Turkish invaders during the 16th century. Hungary revised it and made it part of their culture as the strudel. 2. It has strong religious roots.

Can you eat too much baklava? ›

Eating excessive amounts of baklava can cause a rapid increase in blood sugar levels, leading to insulin resistance, weight gain, and other metabolic disorders. It is important to consume baklava and other sugary foods in moderation and as part of a balanced diet.

Can Muslims eat baklava? ›

Generally speaking, baklava is considered halal, as its primary ingredients—phyllo dough, nuts, sugar, butter, and syrup or honey—are permissible under Islamic dietary laws. The core components of baklava align with halal principles, making it a sweet treat that can be enjoyed by those following a halal diet.

How many baklavas can I eat? ›

Baklava is too sweet and made in pure butter, so it is very heavy food full of calories. Therefore one or two pieces are ok. But take too much of baklava, and you will feel heavy and lethargic afterwards. So it has empty calories of sugar refined flour, and the fat of butter.

What is baklava made of? ›

Baklava is a sweet dessert made of layers of flaky phyllo pastry filled with crushed nuts and sweetened with honey syrup.

What is phyllo dough made of? ›

Phyllo dough includes only flour, water, vinegar, and a little oil. The fine sheets of pastry dough result in a crispy, crackly effect when layered and baked. When brushed with butter and stacked, they form a flaky crust that is essential for Middle Eastern desserts like baklava and Greek dishes like spanakopita.

What is green baklava made of? ›

Turkish Baklava, also known as Fistikli Baklava or Pistachio Baklava is a deliciously rich, buttery, sweet dessert made from phyllo dough, finely ground pistachios, butter, and a syrup made from sugar, water and lemon juice.

Does phyllo dough contain dairy? ›

The perfect substitute for pie crusts, pastry dough and so much more. Athens phyllo is a dairy-free, egg-free dough. Just add cooking spray or a light brush of your favorite oil for layers that bake up crispy, golden and light.

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