If you’re anything like me, you recently finished the latest season of The Great British Bake-Off and might be eager to bake a new tasty treat. The holidays are great to try out a recipe as you’ll have several friends and family members craving something sweet. I started trying out vegan baking recipes because my grandmother doesn’t eat dairy and I wanted her to be able to eat what I made. It ended up working out really well because every vegan baked good I’ve made has turned out better than when I’ve used dairy! And, as an added bonus, they are slightly more guilt-free. Here are some of my favorite recipes that I promise are easy to make and are sure to be a hit over the holidays.
1. Vegan Apple Pie with Coconut Oil Crust
Image via Sweet Simple Vegan
Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner would not be complete without a warm and gooey slice of apple pie with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. The great news about this recipe is that all the ingredients required for the filling are already vegan and should be easy to find either in your pantry or your local Trader Joe’s. The crust itself is only made of five ingredients. The only thing that might seem tricky is the 6-8 tablespoons of ice water needed but, as the author of this recipe suggests, you can get this by putting a glass of regular water in the freezer for half an hour.
Pro tip: If you’re in a time crunch and don’t have time to make the crust from scratch, Whole Foods or any health-based convenience store should have a premade option.
2. Vegan Gingerbread Cupcakes
Image via It Doesn’t Taste Like Chicken
While gingerbread is normally associated with cookies, I really like this cupcake recipe because it’s perfectly spiced and the frosting is both creamy and delicious. Gingerbread recipes might seem like a bit of a hassle because it involves so many spices but as long as you grab some ground ginger and an allspice blend, you’re good to go! The frosting for this recipe also reuses several of the ingredients that go into the cupcake mixture, which makes it easier. Pair this recipe with a steaming cup of hot chocolate and you have yourself the perfect holiday treat!
Pro tip: Because there are so many different spices involved in this recipe, it’s not a big deal if you’re missing an ingredient! Just sneak a taste of the batter before it goes in the oven and make any necessary substitutions.
3. Classic Pumpkin Bread (Vegan)
Image via The Simple Veganista
The best part of this recipe is that it’s both both tasty and healthy. With the exception of the pumpkin puree, most of these ingredients are easy to find at home and it’s a very quick recipe to make. Feel free to get creative with the toppings and add pumpkin seeds, nuts, raisins, or whatever you feel is the most aesthetically pleasing. This is a great dish to serve as a dessert for Thanksgiving and your family is sure to love it.
Pro tip: The author of this recipe notes that you can add flax eggs instead of water if you feel the bread needs it. Flax eggs are very easy to make. All they require is one tablespoon of ground flax seed mixed with three tablespoons of water. Let this mixture sit for about 15 minutes so that it thickens and then add it to your batter.
4. Vegan Chocolate Peppermint Crinkle Cookies
Image via My Darling Vegan
Chocolate and peppermint are a flavor match made in heaven and they come together in a moist and chewy way in these cookies. In order to get that perfect crinkle, it’s important to roll the dough in granulated sugar before rolling it in powdered sugar. The dough also needs to chill for at least four hours before baking so that it’s easier to work with and it retains its shape better. This is a recipe you can prepare ahead of time and freeze to bake just before your big holiday party!
Pro tip: This recipe calls for vegan peppermint candies, but if you have a tough time finding those you can just add more peppermint extract.
5. Vegan Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls
Image via Minimalist Baker
Not only is this recipe vegan, but it’s also gluten-free! Making it is the perfect holiday recipe especially if you have family members with dietary restrictions. They are equally good for a lazy Sunday morning or festive holiday bash. This recipe also only needs ten ingredients and the end result is delicious! I promise you that your family won’t even be able to tell that these are vegan and gluten-free.
Pro tip: The author of this recipe has their own DIY gluten-free flour blend and I highly encourage that you use that to make the cinnamon rolls. The ingredients needed for it aren’t complicated and it comes out infinitely better using this blend versus a store-boughtgluten-free flour.
Happy Holiday baking!