Hello everyone, it is time for another Lady Behind the Curtain Dessert Challenge! This month’s ingredients are…..honey and walnuts. My brain instantly went to baklava, but I was afraid that everyone else would think the same thing!
So I mulled the ingredients over for a few days, and then remembered that I do not even use walnuts in my baklava. I have always used pecans, just like in my healthy vegan cookies…aka Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Pecan Cookies, and Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies. Okay, so what if I switch up the flavors…yet again…and create Vegan Baklava Cookies!!
How to make Baklava Cookies:
So I got together all of my ingredients while dreaming of baklava…yum! I switched things up this time, and decided to try coconut sugar in place of the evaporated cane juice…..
(it worked perfectly by the way) and then it hit me, honey is not vegan!! I went on line to double check, and sure enough, not vegan. 🙁 So I needed to change the name, and start taking photos. I missed whisking in the honey, almond butter, oil, coconut milk, and extract.
Next we add the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ground flax seeds, and wheat bran and give it a good stir to combine…..
This dough is very thick and sticky. Next, stir in the oats and lemon zest…..
Finally, stir in the chopped walnuts…..
I always use a small cookie scoop so every cookie will be the same size, but I’m weird like that. Place cookies on parchment paper or silpat covered baking sheets…..
and place in a preheated 425 degree oven. Bake for 6 minutes, remove from the oven, and allow to cool on the baking sheet for 10 minutes…..
Move cookies to a wire cooling rack, and allow to cool completely before devouring…..
These cookies are firm, but gooey in the center. Best of all, they remain soft for days…assuming they last that long! 😉
I could have added a syrupy glaze to make them more like baklava, but then they would no longer be healthy. While they may not be low calorie, they are made with organic, natural ingredients. They are also egg-free, dairy-free, and can be made vegan if you substitute agave nectar or maple syrup for the honey.
Enjoy!!
Baklava Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar or evaporated cane juice
- 1/3 cup almond butter
- 1/3 cup coconut milk box (or almond milk)
- 1/3 cup honey sub agave nectar for vegan
- 2 Tablespoons sunflower or coconut oil
- 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 Tablespoon ground flax seeds
- 1 Tablespoon wheat bran
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
- 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the coconut sugar, almond butter, coconut milk, honey, oil, and extract.
- Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, flax seeds, and wheat bran.
- Once combined, stir in lemon zest, walnuts, and rolled oats.
- Using a small cookie scoop (Tablespoon size), drop onto prepared baking sheets. Bake for 6 minutes.
- Remove from the oven and let cool on baking sheets for 10 minutes.
- Transfer cookies to a wire cooling rack, and allow to cool completely.
Marlene @Nosh My Way says
March 13, 2014 at 8:24 amOH EM GEE LISA! So decadent. I want some of these cookies shipped to me stat.
Lisa Johnson says
March 13, 2014 at 8:44 amThank you Marlene. 🙂
marcie says
March 13, 2014 at 8:48 amI love this healthy cookie, Lisa — and I’ll eat baklava anything! 🙂
Teri @ The Freshman Cook says
March 13, 2014 at 8:49 amLisa,
These look amazing! What a great way to use the ingredients, I am looking forward to baking these!
Shannon R says
March 13, 2014 at 10:45 amYay! Another vegan recipe. Yep, I used agave, it’s so very easy to substitute. I’m totally bookmarking these cookies, they are right up my husbands alley!
Lisa Johnson says
March 13, 2014 at 11:33 amI’m glad you like them Shannon, thanks so much! 🙂
Jillian- News Anchor To Homemaker says
March 13, 2014 at 11:55 amI typically don’t prefer desserts that are not chocolate based EXCEPT for baklava. What a clever idea to put it in a cookie! Much simpler to eat. I love this recipe!
Lisa Johnson says
March 14, 2014 at 11:56 pmThank you so much Jillian! I usually make Choclova instead of Baklava, so those cookies will be coming soon…I prefer chocolate as well. 🙂
Sarah says
March 13, 2014 at 12:03 pmYum!! Baklava in portable cookie form!
Leslie says
March 13, 2014 at 3:04 pmYum! I tried baklava a couple months ago and fell in love with it. I love the texture, so these cookies would be amazing.
Amy at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes says
March 14, 2014 at 10:06 pmI am crazy for baklava — so these cookies are getting pinned asap!
Lisa Johnson says
March 14, 2014 at 11:43 pmThanks for the pin Amy! Warning, they are highly addictive. 🙂
Carrie @Frugal Foodie Mama says
March 15, 2014 at 7:40 amMy husband LOVES baklava! 🙂 I am going to have to make these for him soon. Love this idea, Lisa!
Lisa Johnson says
March 20, 2014 at 10:17 pmThank you Carrie!!
Tina @ Tina's Chic Corner says
March 15, 2014 at 9:47 amNo way! I’m 1/2 Greek and I can’t believe this is the first I’m hearing of these cookies! Brilliant idea!!!
Lisa Johnson says
March 20, 2014 at 10:16 pmThank you Tina. I hope they pass the Greek taste test. 😉
Cindy Eikenberg says
March 15, 2014 at 10:21 amLisa, WOW! I love baklava and genius idea to make these into cookies. LOVE, love, love! Pinned and buffered!
Lisa Johnson says
March 20, 2014 at 10:16 pmThank you Cindy. 🙂
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
March 15, 2014 at 11:32 amYum Lisa! These look delicious! The next time I make cookies I am giving these a try:)
Lisa Johnson says
March 20, 2014 at 10:13 pmThank you Shannon. You’ll have to let me know what you think. 🙂
Diane Roark says
March 16, 2014 at 7:54 pmThese cookies sound so yummy. I love baklava. Thank you so much for linking up to Saturday Dishes Snacks.
I pinned it.
Blessings,
Diane Roark
Rebecca @ Dorm Room Baker says
March 18, 2014 at 8:31 amThis is such a good idea! Baklava is such a delicious dessert and it’s awesome that you managed to convert it to a cookie form. Now I can dive right in without getting honey and syrup all over my face!
Lisa Johnson says
March 25, 2014 at 12:15 amThank you so much Rebecca, I’m glad I could help! 😉
Annamaria @ Bakewell Junction says
March 18, 2014 at 9:26 pmThis cookie looks delicious and lots easier than regular baklava.
Annamaria
Lisa Johnson says
March 25, 2014 at 12:16 amThank you Annamaria! 🙂
Adelina Priddis says
March 21, 2014 at 11:18 amYay! A new after school treat my kids will love!
Lisa Johnson says
March 25, 2014 at 12:18 amThank you Adelina, I’m sure they will love them…I do. 😉
Laura@Baking in Pyjamas says
March 23, 2014 at 12:15 pmThose cookie looks delicious! Thanks for linking up to Sweet and Savoury Sunday, stop by and link up with us again this weekend, I’d love to see you there Have a great weekend!