Potlucks are the epitome of community connection. These events bring people together, letting them show care for their neighbors’ well-being through dishes made with love.

You’re vegan, but you’re surrounded by carnivores. How do you prove your dedication while staying true to your beliefs and not adding to the already long list of stereotypes about plant-based meals?

These four treat ideas are here to save the day. They show that food made without animal cruelty can be just as nourishing, delectable, and gorgeous as their meat-and-dairy counterparts. Bring any of these delights to a potluck, and you won’t hear anybody craving milk chocolate cake.

That’s what we at Layla’s Delicacies are all about. We bring together flavors from all corners of the globe, delivering delectable goodies that nurture the body and the soul.

If you don’t have time to cook, order from our list of exotic vegan recipes. They’re easy on the eyes and a treat on the palate. As a happy customer said,

“All of the Layla’s Delicacies I’ve had were amazing. I really love that there are so many vegan treats. The Samsa pistachio is light and crunchy and so delicious. The flavor and texture are perfect and these, like the others I’ve tried, are sweet but not too sugary. And everything is so beautiful, and beautifully packaged.”
— Heather Harris 

Bringing a box of expert-baked treats is easier than preparing them yourself, that’s for sure. However, the beauty of potlucks lies in sharing food made in your kitchen with love and care.

Why not use our years of creative ideation, and bring your homemade version of our tried-and-tested exotic snacks?

We’re sharing four easy, nutritious, entirely plant-based recipes that are also sold in our store.

Order or cook—it’s up to you. Everybody will be reaching for a second serving.

Table of Contents

• #1: Pistachio Bites
• #2: Vegan Baklava
• #3: Almond Fingers
• #4: Vegan Kaak Warka
• Potluck Organization Cheat Sheet
• Nourished With Vegan Love

1: Pistachio Bites

Originating in Northern Africa, these crunchy triangles deliver a soft inner layer and a moist filling that melts in your mouth. The nutty ingredients make this treat healthy and delicious, delivering something much different than your traditional American sweet bite.

Here’s how you can make your version of our Samsa Pistachio.

Bake time: 15 minutes
Temperature: 320° F
Serving size: 15 bites

Ingredients for the filo pastry sheet:

• 2 cups of wheat flour
• 5 tablespoons of olive oil
• ½ tablespoon of salt
• 1 cup of warm water

Sauce ingredients:

• 2 oz. of ground hazelnuts
• 2 oz. of ground almond
• 2 oz. of ground pistachio
• 2 tbsp. of icing sugar
• 3 oz. of sesame paste
• ½ a lemon 

You’ll start by mixing and kneading the dough. Leave it to sit for two hours and then divide it into small bowls, which you’ll individually roll and stuff with the filling.

Mix the almond, hazelnut, and icing sugar in a large bowl. Combine with the sesame paste and blend until you get your stuffing.

Spoon the filling onto the dough pieces and wrap them into triangles. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges turn golden. Leave the pastry to cool while you prepare the pistachio syrup.

Once cooled, soak your triangles with the cold syrup. Cover with ground pistachio and serve this delectable bite-sized snack. 

SAMSA PISTACHIO

2: Vegan Baklava

Baklava is a sweet pastry dish originating from the Ottoman Empire. Our version contains crunchy bits of pistachio in an almond paste for a nutty twist, but there are so many ways you can make this dessert food, most of which are vegan by design.

We prefer this nut combination because it adds a smoother creaminess to this very sweet palate punch. If you like the sound of that, here’s how you can make it yourself:

Bake time: 45 minutes
Temperature: 355° F
Serving size: Around 10 pieces

Ingredients for the baklava:

• Filo pastry (store-bought or homemade) 
• 1 cup of melted vegan butter
• 2 cups of almond butter
• 2 cups of chopped pistachio
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Ingredients for the syrup:

• 2 cups of sugar
• 1 cup of water
• 1 large orange
• ¼ teaspoon of salt
• Vanilla extract to taste

Preheat your oven and lay the first layer of the pastry on the bottom, covering generously with vegan butter.

For the nut mixture, combine the almond butter, pistachio, salt, and cinnamon, then blend well. Cover the first pastry layer with around a quarter of the filling.

Repeat two more times until you’ve reached three layers of the baklava, with the filling on top. Add the final layer of filo and bake it in your oven. Once out, leave the pastry to cool and make your syrup.

Grate your orange and drop both the juice and the zest into a large pan. Add the sugar, water, salt, and vanilla and boil for around 10 minutes, mixing continuously so nothing sticks.

Soak the baklava with the syrup and sprinkle more chopped nuts on top if you’re feeling fancy.

3: Almond Fingers

This sweet Moroccan pastry brings out the creaminess of almond, which acts as the ideal fill to the crispy filo sheet that covers it. It’s perfect with coffee or dark chocolate, delighting adults and kids visiting the potluck.

Almond fingers are a sensitive dessert, requiring precision for you to reach that superb blend of crunchy and creamy. Here’s how you can do it in your kitchen.

Bake time: 45 minutes
Temperature: 350° F
Serving size: 8 fingers

Ingredients:

• Filo pastry (store-bought or homemade)
• 2 cups of hazelnuts
• 2 cups of almonds
• 1 cup of sugar

It all starts with the filo pastry. You want to bake it just enough so it’s crispy but malleable. Seven seconds too much, and you won’t get the sweet creaminess that makes this recipe so delicious.

In that vein, bake for around 35 minutes, but don’t be afraid to check your sheets. Once baked and cooled, cut them into eight rectangles to fill with the paste.

The filling itself is simple enough. Blend the hazelnuts, almonds, and sugar until they form a thick cream and spoon it onto the dough. Roll into the filo and leave to cool.

Sprinkle the fingers with chopped almonds and vegan dark chocolate for bonus points and enjoy.

ALMOND FINGER

#4: Vegan Kaak Warka

This Tunisian staple pastry is moist, with hints of rosewater adding a special twist to its soft texture. Subtle and sweet, it doesn’t overpower the senses but leaves a fresh aftertaste that keeps your appetite revving.

Our original recipe includes butter, but a vegan version is possible. Using a butter replacement lets people from all sides of the food spectrum enjoy these doughnut-shaped pastries.

Bake time: 20 minutes
Temperature: 350° F
Serving size: Around 12 pastries

Ingredients for the dough:

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour
• 1 cup of melted vegan butter
• 1 cup of warm water

Ingredients for the stuffing:

• 2 cups of ground almond
• 1 cup of powdered sugar
• 4 tablespoons of rosewater

You’ll start by making the dough. Combine the flour and butter. Use your hands to knead, slowly adding warm water until you get a uniform texture. Let it sit for around four hours.

While the dough rests, you’ll make the filling. Combine the ground almond and powdered sugar, and add the rose water one spoon at a time. The paste should be thick but creamy.

Cut the dough into twelve squares and paste into twelve sticks. Roll the dough around the filling and make little doughnuts. Bake them for 20 minutes and leave to cool before serving.

Note: the below picture shows our non-vegan version.

KAAK WARKA

Potluck Organization Cheat Sheet

Potlucks are casual events, and you can bring just about anything to one. Still, there are some rules to follow, especially if you’re the one organizing the event.

In the spirit of this cheat sheet, here’s what you need to know about organizing a potluck.

Options	Even an all-vegan potluck should have various food options. Think about gluten, allergies, and spices
Courses	You could delegate savory and sweet meal preppers for a two-course event
Drinks	Provide alcoholic and non-alcoholic options. Put out a pot of hot water and tea bags for an easy drinks buffet
Snacks	Big meals are the star of the show here, but serving bite-sized snacks gives more options to the guests

VEGAN LIMITED EDITION, 30 PC.

Nourished With Vegan Love

Potlucks are the perfect opportunity to share your food values with your loved ones. What better way to display care for the well-being of others than by providing them with foods that nurture their bodies and delight their senses?

Remember the following rules while organizing a vegan potluck for your non-vegan loved ones:

• Don’t be afraid to purchase. Home-cooked dishes are the norm for this event type, but not everybody has the time and energy for that. 
• Don’t make everything super healthy. Dates and nuts are sweet and tasty, but sometimes, we need a bit of chocolate in our lives. 
• Deliver sweet and savory options. Don’t stop at these treats. They’re a fantastic starting point, but a wholesome vegan meal will amaze your community just as much.

Order our original recipes to take your potluck dinner to the next classy level. Try these recipes that everybody will love at home, and forget about trading your beliefs for delectability.