I loved Baklava when I was a kid. It had everything I desire in a dessert. Crunchy, crispy, nutty sweetness. Every year, we take our daughter to the Greek food festival, and there are a few things I can eat, but really my kid just loves the music and the people, and I love watching how excited she gets. However, my husband always gets baklava. I will admit, I am jealous when he eats it, but no more!
I have created the most delicious baklava of all time. You will never know it is vegan, and you will honestly wonder why you never had apple pie baklava before. That flavor combination with the addition of the apples, seemed like a natural thing to do. It normally has spices that I think of when I think of apple pie. It is winter and apples are in season, and boom! Vegan Apple Pie Baklava!
The recipe while super simple, I will warn you, it is a bit time consuming. You make a few components, and then layer the phyllo dough with vegan butter. So, easy, but a bit of a process. You first make a simple syrup, then cook the apples down a bit, chop up nuts very fine, and then layer it all with the beautiful paper thin dough. Bake it until nice and brown and crispy, then pour the simple syrup over top and hear that fantastic sizzle when the cooled syrup hits the piping hot baklava!
This Vegan Apple Pie Baklava is one of the best things I have ever tasted, and now is a perfect time to make it. So many amazing apples are in season right now, go out and get your favorite and make this fantastic recipe! One last note, all of the phyllo dough I found was “accidentally” vegan, but just double check when you purchase your dough! Peace out!
- 1 C. Sugar
- 1/2 C. Water
- 1/2 Tbsp. Lemon juice
- 1 Cinnamon stick
- 2 C. Apples, peeled and finely chopped (I recommend green apples)
- 1/4 C. Sugar
- 2 C. Pecans or walnuts, chopped finely
- 2 tsp. Cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. Cloves
- 1/4 tsp. Nutmeg
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 24 Sheets of phyllo dough, vegan
- 3/4 C. Vegan butter, I used Earth Balance
- Make the syrup first. In a small sauce pan, add all the ingredients except the cinnamon stick and bring to a simmer. Add the cinnamon stick and continue to simmer until it reaches 225 degrees(use a candy thermometer to check)
- Once syrup reaches the right temperature, remove from the heat and take out the cinnamon stick. Set aside to cool.
- Peel and then chop apples into very small pieces.
- Place in a sauce pan with the 1/4 cup of sugar. Cook down until softened, and liquid begins to thicken, this will take about 10 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Add the cooked apples to a bowl, and add the remaining filling ingredients: the finely chopped nuts and the spices, and stir together.
- Melt the vegan butter in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds.
- In a 9x13 in. baking dish, start to layer the phyllo dough. Lay one sheet down and brush with melted vegan butter, repeat this until you have 8 sheets put together. Pour half of the filling on top and smooth out.
- Repeat with 8 more sheets, then the remaining filling, then 8 more sheets.
- Score the dough, slice 4 even slices lengthwise, then slice diagonally across to create diamonds.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes, lower the temperature to 300 degrees, and bake another 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Remove from the oven, cut fully where the scores were made and pour the cooled syrup over while it is still hot.
- Let cool for at least 4 hours.
- Enjoy!
- If you sprinkle a little cold water on top before you bake, it will help the dough not curl up.
Hi, can this be made in advance?
Thank you