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Three pieces of vegan baklava stacked on top of each other.
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5 / 3 votes

Vegan Baklava

This vegan baklava recipe makes the sweet and nutty Greek classic with agave instead of honey, and uses pistachios, almonds, and walnuts for extra crunch.
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time45 minutes
Chilling time1 hour
Total Time2 hours 30 minutes
Course: Appetizers
Cuisine: Greek
Servings: 36 servings
Calories: 133

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 cup walnut pieces
  • 1 cup shelled pistachios
  • 3/4 cup raw almonds
  • 12 sheets phyllo dough, thawed overnight in the refrigerator
  • 1/2 cup light olive oil or melted coconut oil, plus more for the pan
  • 1 cup agave syrup, (or, for a non-vegan version, honey)
  • 1/2 cup cold water
  • Zest from 1 large lemon, preferably organic, removed in 1 long strip
US - Metric

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Oil a 13-by-9-inch baking pan.
  • In a blender, blitz the brown sugar and cinnamon until finely ground and powdery. Transfer to a small bowl.
  • In the blender or a food processor, pulse the walnuts until mostly finely chopped but still a bit chunky. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in 1/3 of the sugar mixture. Repeat with the pistachios and the almonds, combining each type of nut and 1/3 of the sugar mixture in a separate bowl.
  • Cover the phyllo sheets with a large piece plastic wrap, then cover that with a towel that’s barely damp.
  • Remove 1 phyllo sheet and place it on a clean work surface. Brush half the phyllo sheet with olive or coconut oil. Fold the sheet in half and place it in the prepared pan, then brush the top with oil. Repeat with 2 more sheets.
  • Scatter the walnuts over the phyllo in an even layer. Repeat the layering with 3 more sheets phyllo, the pistachios, 3 more phyllo sheets, and the almonds. Layer the last 3 phyllo sheets on top.
  • Using a sharp paring knife, score the top layer of phyllo across the short side of the pan to form 6 strips. Next, score the phyllo diagonally from corner to corner, and then score parallel to that line 2 times on each side. (Or if that just completely confused you, just cut it into squares or triangles however you wish.)
  • Bake for 40 minutes, until the phyllo is lightly golden and crisp.
  • While the baklava bakes, in a small saucepan over high heat, combine the agave syrup, water, and lemon zest and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly. Remove and discard the zest.
  • Pour the syrup over the warm bakvlava when it comes out of the oven. Cover the baklava with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. (You can refrigerate the baklava, tightly covered, for about 2 weeks.)

Nutrition

Serving: 1piece | Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 32mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g