Stout Choklava

Baklava is quite tasty, but the last time I made it I got to thinking, what if I added

some chocolate and stout to the mix? I'm sure that chocolate baklava has been made before, but isn't "choklava" the must fun word ever?! I'd like to think that I created the term, but a quick Google search proves otherwise. Many of the other recipes simply dip the baklava in chocolate, but mine offers a boozy chocolate glaze - yum!

Stout Choklava [Vegan]

Ingredients

Filling Ingredients:

• 1 c. walnuts
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 T. unsweetened cocoa powder, or carob powder

Layers:

• 1/2 c. coconut oil, melted
• 30 sheets of phyllo dough, cut to size

Stout Syrup:

• 2 T. (heaping) of unsweetened cocoa powder, or carob powder
• 1/4 c. vegan stout, or other dark beer
• 1/2 c. pure maple syrup
• 1/4 c. organic cane sugar

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Line the bottom of a pan with parchment paper.
2. You can decide which size to make it; I chose 8x8, but some phyllo dough will fit a 9x12 pan.  I cut mine to fit my pan.  It's important to keep the phyllo dough covered with a damp towel so it doesn't dry out.
3. In a food processor, combine the nuts, cinnamon, and cocoa and process them.  Set aside.
4. Next, take a sheet of dough and lay it on top of the parchment.  With a brush, wipe coconut oil across the sheet.  Repeat this 9 times.
5. Before the next layer, sprinkle about 1/2 of the nut mixture across the dough.
6. Add 10 more layers, brushing coconut oil between each one.  Sprinkle the second 1/2 of the nut mixture on the layer.  Add the last 10 layers.
7. Brush coconut oil on top of the final layer of phyllo.  With a sharp knife, cut the dough into a grid, slicing the baklava in a diagonal pattern through the grid lines.  I was lazy on this batch; I made the pieces much larger!
8. Bake it in the oven for about 20 minutes.
9. In the mean time, combine the stout syrup ingredients in a small sauce pan.  Bring it to a boil and lower the heat to a simmer until the mixture coats a spoon.  This can take anywhere from 10-20 minutes.
10. When the baklava is done, pour the syrup on top.  You might need to take your brush and distribute the syrup as evenly as possible.  Mine dried very evenly.
11. I topped mine with raw cacao nibs - what an amazing combination!

 

Notes

Not sure if your stout is vegan? Check Barnivore.com to find a good one.

https://www.onegreenplanet.org/vegan-recipe/stout-choklava/