Baklava (Vegan, Gluten Free)

Delicious Mediterranean/Middle Eastern dessert with homemade phyllo dough. This same dough can be used as wraps for spring rolls. Any nuts (or even seeds) can be used for the filling. Phyllo 1/2 cup brown rice flour 1/2 cup millet flour 1/2 cup tapioca flour 1/4 tsp xanthan gum 2 cups water Filling 2 cups finely ground nuts (pecans, walnuts, or pistachios) 1 tsp cinnamon ¾ cup vegan butter (melted) Syrup ½ cup water ½ cup sugar ¼ cup agave 1 tsp vanilla extract ½ tsp cinnamon (or cinnamon stick) 1) Combine ground nuts and cinnamon. Set aside 2) Combine ingredients for phyllo dough in a mixing bowl. Mix well and beat for a minute until thickens a little. 3) Melt ¾ cup vegan butter, and brush some on bottom of an 8X8 inch baking dish. 4) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 5) Preheat a non-stick skillet over low heat. Lift skillet off heat, and brush phyllo batter in a large square on the pan. Place back on heat, and turn heat up to medium. Once edges start to curl up, peel off of pan and place on bottom of baking dish. Remove pan from heat to cool, and brush melted butter on top of phyllo layer. Wipe skillet with a paper towel to remove and residue, and brush more batter on for next layer. Continue to layer phyllo and brush with melted butter for 4 more layers. 6) After 5th layer of phyllo, sprinkle ground nuts on top of buttered phyllo. Continue sprinkling nuts on top of each layer until all nuts have been used (around 10 more layers). 7) Continue layering the rest of the phyllo layers with only melted butter brushed on top until all batter has been used. Brush butter on top of final layer. 8) With a sharp knife, slice through all layers diagonally at 1 inch intervals. Slice vertically at 1 inch intervals. Bake for 50 minutes. 9) While baklava is baking, make the syrup. Place all ingredients in a saucepan, and simmer for 10 minutes. 10) Once baklava is removed from oven, spoon syrup on top. Let cool, then slice through layers to make sure they are completely separated. Makes around two dozen pieces.