Veganism is the practice of excluding all animal-based products from an individual’s lifestyle and diet – so they avoid eating eggs, meat, dairy as well as buying products with leather, fur or wool. Instead, vegans eat foods such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, grains and seeds, with the main focus on consuming plant-based foods. In the past decade, veganism has exploded to the extent that it has become one of the most popular cooking trends in the past years. Vegan baking has particularly emerged as a delicious indulgence for those following a vegan diet, or even anyone.
Vegan Cookies
Everybody loves a freshly baked cookie. But surprisingly, you actually don’t need butter or eggs to bake all of your favorites whether it is the classic chocolate chip, festive gingerbread, hearty oatmeal, or delicious snickerdoodles. Instead of egg, you might use ground flaxseed or condensed milk which are good for binding the batter. When it comes to butter, the easiest alternative of course is vegan butter, but you might also use applesauce, vegan yoghurt, coconut oil, olive oil, or mashed avocado. If you don’t want to bake from scratch and are looking for cookie mixes, Betty Crocker offers numerous options that you can simply replace the eggs and butter with.
Vegan Cakes
Vegan cakes also eliminate dairy products from their recipes, substituting them with plant-based products. Cow’s milk, for example, is easily replaceable with many alternatives, the most popular choices being almond, soy or oat. Often, vegan cakes can be quite dry and dense, so research which substitutes fit your specific recipe well. Eggs can be the most difficult product to replace, but some suggestions include mashed banana, applesauce, plant-based yoghurt, or buttermilk as a leavening agent. The majority of store-bought frostings are already vegan – Betty Crocker, Duncan Hines and Pillsbury – but make sure to check the ingredients as it does depend on the flavour. When it comes to recipes, it is better to use highly rated specifically vegan recipes or baking books, rather than trying to substitute products into a normal recipe. But if you are substituting, try and go for recipes that rely less on dairy products.
Vegan Dessert Bars and Brownies
Dessert bars and brownies are an especially popular sweet treat of choice for vegans. Sometimes vegan brownies and dessert bars can become disappointingly flavourless and dry. This is often the result of over-mixing, which particularly occurs in vegan baking. With brownies, one trick is to replace the egg with silken tofu which is a great replacement for producing a fudgier brownie. If you’re looking for that delicious crinkly top layer, use whipping aquafaba (chickpea water) and sugar. For extra flavour in your bars and brownies, try dates, nuts, or coconuts. There are plenty of recipes for vegan dessert bars, whether chocolate chip cookie bars, peanut butter blondies, or coconut raw bars. If you’re making a large batch, be sure to refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container. You can even freeze them and save these mouth-watering treats for even longer.
Vegan Pies
Nothing can beat a classic pie. With fruit pies, like a tasty apple or pumpkin one, all that is needed is to swap to vegan butter. Silken tofu works wonders as a replacement for butter and egg in a traditional pecan pie. The crust is a crucial aspect of a great pie. Use a large amount of fat – whether vegan butter or olive oil – and make sure to have minimal water or the crust will not become flaky. For whatever pie is your favourite, there is sure to be a vegan alternative out there.
Other Sweet Vegan Treats
There are various other sweet vegan treats, including sorbets, ice creams, and puddings, which can easily be found in stores. Wicked Kitchen, Oatly, and So Delicious, for example, are some popular vegan brands that offer a large selection to satisfy your ice cream cravings. If you wish to make your own, the key ingredient is simply to use coconut milk for that ice cream richness. Vegan pudding usually consists of sugar, cornstarch, and your preferred plant-based milk. Fruit is a fantastic option for vegan treats, and simple options like fruit salads, and smoothie bowls can be delicious and enjoyable. You can use fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and strawberries, which are so popular, they’re also the top choices for graphics in games like Sweet Bonanza. If you feel like baking something fruity, why not make a vegan fruit crumble?
Conclusion
The versatility and range of alternatives out there show how simple it is to adapt your favourite recipes to be entirely vegan. Regardless of whether you’re a long-term vegan or simply looking to eat a more plant-based diet, you definitely shouldn’t skip dessert! With a little bit of research and experimentation, you’ll find that there are plenty of tasty vegan options out there that can be just as satisfying as non-vegan desserts.
