How to Make Homemade Vegan Baklava

Baklava is a scrumptious delicacy said to be invented in Turkey and Greece. However, many Mediterranean countries have put their own unique spin on it, slightly tweaking the recipe to make it their own. The history of Baklava is not very well documented, so there is some controversy regarding its origins. Today, this treat can be found all over the world and is known for its sweet, rich flavor and flaky texture.

While the recipe for this traditional dessert can vary, depending on where you are in the world, they always include these essentials: phyllo (or filo) sheets, sweet syrup (typically honey mixed with juices and spices), nuts (often pistachios), and butter. Baklava is made by brushing the thin, papery filo sheets with a mixture of butter and sometimes oil, and layering them with toppings such as nuts, sugars, and spices. It is then always topped with a sweet syrup.

While Baklava is not traditional vegan since it contains honey and dairy butter, it can easily be veganized with a few adjustments, and you definitely won’t be compromising on the taste, flavor, or texture! Let’s take a look at just how easy it is to make vegan baklava at home!

Make authentic vegan baklava

Source: Alex Gharfeh/Youtube

Alex Gharfeh shows us how to make this famous middle eastern dessert. While Baklava is not traditionally vegan, you can veganize anything, and that’s exactly what Alex did. He starts by adding some vegan butter and coconut oil to a pan, and brushing it on evenly. He then adds a sheet of filo dough to the pan. These steps should be done very carefully since the dough is delicate and can rip easily. Repeat these two steps of coating the dough with the butter and oil mixture with 10 laters of filo dough.

Once 10 sheets of dough are on the pan, now you add your filling, evenly spaced. Alex made a walnut, cinnamon filling for this recipe. Once the filling is added, go ahead and add the next 10 layers of fills dough on top. Once the layers are finished, Alec carefully cuts it into even squares and adds more butter and oil on top. He cooks it in the oven for about 40 minutes until it’s golden brown in color. Finally, he adds a sweet syrup mixture and pistachios on top! It should come out flaky, crunchy, and dangerously delicious.

Check out some of these delicious vegan variations of baklava:

• Baklava for Beginners
• Easy Baklava
• Baklava Custard Tart
• Maple Baklava Cheesecake
• Chocolate and Peanut Butter Baklava
• No-Bake Baklava Bars
• Baklava Tartlets
• Apple Baklava
• Ruffled Cinnamon Pistachio Pie

For more Animal, Earth, Life, Vegan Food, Health, and Recipe content published daily, subscribe to the One Green Planet Newsletter! Lastly, being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating! Being publicly-funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content.