I have always had a love for baking, and since becoming vegan, it has not stopped. People continue to ask me, “How do you bake if you’re a vegan? Is that even possible? How does that work?” Thankfully, there are many alternatives to using eggs, butter and milk when baking cookies and cakes. Some of these substitutes are unusual and will most likely surprise or confuse you, but they do the job just fine – without the cruelty. Keep reading to find out some of my favorite, go-to vegan dessert recipes. Hopefully you will try them out, love them, and learn that you can bake yummy treats without harming any animals in the process.
1. Coconut Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies (Paleo, Vegan + Nut-Free)
This recipe from Bakerita uses coconut flour to make these cookies gluten-free, and tahini (sesame seed paste) instead of nut butter to make it nut-free. They taste just as sweet as regular chocolate chip cookies, just without the dairy – a flax egg is used in place of an actual egg. These are definitely my go-to vegan cookies!
2. Vegan Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
I have tried several vegan banana bread recipes, but none of them were as perfect as this one from hot for food. The ingredients are mostly the same as what would be used in a non-vegan recipe, except a flax egg and non-dairy milk are used instead of chicken’s eggs and cow’s milk. You cannot even taste the difference with these vegan subsitutes – my mom (who is not a vegan) said this was the best banana bread she had ever tasted.
3. Vegan and Gluten-Free Almond Butter Brownies
These brownies from The Conscious Eater are so delicious and are made with one of my very favorite ingredients – almond butter. There are less than ten ingredients, and take only 30 minutes to make. They’re gluten-free, using only cacao powder, salt and baking soda as dry ingredients. Another plus is that these brownies are oil-free and are sweetened with maple syrup instead of processed sugars, making them a little healthier than your typical brownie.
4. Homemade Twix Bars (GF, Paleo + Vegan)
Worried about not being able to enjoy your favorite candy bars if you become a vegan? Worry no more! Bakerita’s vegan version of Twix bars taste just like the real thing, except without the animal products. the “caramel” is made with almond butter, maple syrup and coconut oil instead of butter and sugar. Be sure to try these out for a tasty, guilt-free and cruelty-free treat.
5. Double Chocolate Chip Cookies (GF, Vegan)
Holistic Hormone Help brings us these yummy gluten-free and vegan cookies packed with chocolate. Instead of eggs, this recipe uses something called aquafaba as a binding ingredient. Aquafaba is the water from a can of chickpeas, and has the same properties as egg whites. I know, it sounds disgusting, but trust me – it has no flavor and you cannot tell a difference in these chewy, delicious cookies.
The next time you are in the mood to bake something, I hope you try at least one of these recipes out and see for yourself that baking tastes just as good without the animal products. Creating, enjoying and sharing food without contributing to animal cruelty has never tasted so sweet.