Happy winter holidays, Cincinnati! Now is the time for all the holiday parties, gift-exchanging, work functions, traveling and spending time with friends and family. If you need to bring a treat to any get-together, try locally-made dessert. I recently had some delicious baklava in Cincinnati. If you’re in the area, you can get this baklava at two Whole Foods locations.

Doesn’t that look scrumptious? It’s vegan, but definitely not void of flavor!

Baklava is a pastry that is made of layers of filo dough and filled with chopped nuts. Honey or syrup holds it all together. This dessert is very rich and is perfect for sharing with a friend. Even a few bites feels like an indulgence, though it’s tempting to want to eat the whole thing, too!

I can attest from personal experience (AKA nomming my face off) that this stuff is delicious. Nasrien, the baker behind Cincinnati-based Yasmine Bakery, gave me the gift to try her vegan baklava before it hit stores. Admitedlly, I ate a whopping four pieces in a 24-hour period. Yupp. It was worth it, and yes, I made myself run pretty hard the next day to make up for it.

Anyway, the treat is now available at two Cincinnati -area Whole Foods locations: Rookwood Commons and Mason Montgomery.

Nasrien uses a mix of organic and all-natural ingredients to make this treat. Traditionally, baklava is made with honey. To make a vegan version, Nasrien makes her own syrup from organic sugar and makes the filling from walnuts.

Among all of the traditional Christmas cookies that will be on the table, this baklava will surely stand out!

Support a local bakery and try it out. I’m sure your friends and family will enjoy this dessert just as much as my mother and I did.

Happy Holidays and happy eating!

Speaking of Whole Foods Market, check out my post about the awesome vegan options at the Brooklyn location.