Seventeen of the best vegan desserts nobody will guess are plant-based, from brownies and cookies to a mug cake for one and no-bake chocolate bark. Baked and no-bake picks for every sweet tooth.
I’m a firm believer in dessert, not just as a reward or a treat-yo-self kind of thing. That is to say, there’s not much wrong with enjoying food that tastes good! And I’ve found the best vegan desserts to bring to the party, Thanksgiving table or an appearance during girls’ night.
Why choose vegan options on the dessert table? Things like animal proteins and dairy often cause my body to feel sluggish and sore, so I choose vegan options when I can. That’s where plant-based desserts come into the picture. And don’t worry! When you see how easy it is to make a decadent, Cherry Chocolate Bark without an oven you’ll fall in love, too.
I’ve discovered through baking this way for years that eggs, cream and butter don’t need to be in something to make it indulgent, tasty or a dessert.
Baked Vegan Desserts
These plant-based desserts show how easy it is to bake something full of flavor using plant-based ingredients that are still real. I tend to stay away from butter substitutes and powdered eggs and instead work with real things like coconut oil, cacao and natural sweeteners.
1
Chocolate Mug Cake
5 (1 vote)
This vegan chocolate mug cake stirs together cacao powder, oat milk, maple syrup and gluten-free flour right in your mug, then microwaves for about 90 seconds. Rich, fudgy dessert for one, with a few dark chocolate chips if you like.
These vegan peanut butter cookies are soft and chewy with no butter or eggs. Coconut sugar, a splash of oat milk and a little maple syrup do the work, a pinch of cinnamon adds warmth, and 24 cookies are ready in 23 minutes.
These gluten-free brownies are thick and fudgy, made with almond flour, cacao, coconut sugar and a flax egg, with vegan chocolate chips melted on top. Nobody guesses they are vegan. One pan makes 16 squares, and chilling them gives clean cuts.
Aquafaba stands in for eggs in these vegan banana muffins, and they still rise high with a tender, bakery-style crumb. Spotty bananas, coconut sugar and a cinnamon streusel top make them feel like dessert you can eat at breakfast.
These treats have graced my home for years and my kids’ friends don’t bat an eye when I pull out my vegan dessert recipes that rival the classics.
5
Salted Date Caramel
4.89 (9)
This salted date caramel blends sweet Medjool dates and creamy cashew butter with vanilla and sea salt into a thick, rich sauce with no dairy or refined sugar. Five ingredients, and you will want to drizzle it on everything.
For these sweet fried plantains, ripe plantains pan-fry in unrefined coconut oil until golden, then get tossed in coconut sugar and cinnamon for that caramelized edge. A dollop of coconut cream on top, and they are ready in 11 minutes.
This healthy Rice Krispie treats recipe uses almond butter, brown rice syrup and a little cinnamon to hold chewy, crispy bars together, with no marshmallows, no corn syrup and no oven. One pan makes 16 squares, and sunflower butter makes them nut-free.
This chocolate peanut butter fudge starts with Medjool dates, creamy peanut butter and coconut oil blended into a silky base, studded with mini peanut butter cups and topped with chocolate and flaky sea salt. Set the bites in the freezer and keep a stash ready.
These lemon fat bombs, or melt-aways, make a great quick afternoon snack. I should warn you, you really have to like lemons to enjoy these tart treats.
This chocolate bark starts with melted vegan chocolate chips topped with sliced almonds, dried tart cherries and flaky sea salt, then chilled and snapped into shards. Four ingredients, no oven, and it boxes up beautifully for holiday gifts.
These frozen chocolate banana bites sandwich creamy almond butter between banana slices, dipped in melted chocolate with a little coconut oil for a snappy shell. Four ingredients, 10 minutes of hands-on work, and a freezer stash ready for any craving.
These chilled recipes are designed to allow the natural sweetness from the real fruits to shine, with minimal added sugar. I focus on creaming them up with non-dairy milk.
12
Coconut Smoothie Bowl
4.60 (25)
This vegan smoothie bowl blends frozen banana, cacao and almond butter with coconut milk until so thick your spoon stands up. A cup of spinach disappears into the mix, and sliced almonds, coconut flakes and cacao nibs add crunch on top.
Blackberries, canned coconut milk, cane sugar syrup and a squeeze of lemon blend into a creamy, deep purple coconut sorbet with no ice cream maker. Stir a few times as it freezes and you get a thick, scoopable dairy-free dessert.
Canned coconut milk is the secret to this thick strawberry vegan milkshake, blended with frozen strawberries, maple syrup and vanilla. No ice cream needed, and it passed the taste test with my kids and their friends.
Thick, tangy and a little spicy, this mangonada recipe blends frozen mango, orange juice and fresh lime, then gets swirled with sweet chamoy and rimmed with Tajin. Add a tamarind straw for a Mexican-inspired treat.
No ice cream maker and no churning needed: frozen mango and peaches blend with orange juice into a creamy, scoopable mango sorbet in 5 minutes. The fruit is sweet enough that the maple syrup is completely optional.
Spoonable and silky, my chocolate smoothie bowl whips frozen avocado, cacao powder and coconut milk into a pudding-like base. Top with strawberries, raspberries and cacao nibs, and it serves two.
It’s not hard to make desserts without items like dairy, eggs and gelatin, yet sometimes it can be tricky finding replacements for baking staples so I’m here to help! Here are some things I use in making and baking vegan desserts that help make them tasty, animal-free and wonderful:
Cashew Cream: This is a tasty replacement for traditional sour cream. It can be made sweet or savory and used as a dip, cream, or inside baked goods.
Vegan Yogurt: I love eating this with healthy granola yet you can use it to replace yogurt with sweet treats.
Coconut Whipped Cream: Anything you top with regular whipped cream try topping with this! You can enjoy it as is, or add in cinnamon or cocoa powder to change up the flavor.
FAQs
What sweets can you eat as a vegan?
Often people think that eating vegan means eliminating everything “normal,” yet this just isn’t true! You can easily enjoy ice cream, cake, cookies, brownies, milkshakes and more using plant-based ingredients. It’s not hard once you learn how to substitute for dairy and eggs, and you might find a recipe you like better that’s vegan!
What type of desserts do vegans eat?
When I show up to a party, I often set my brownies and ice cream out without a word (unless I know there is an allergy of some kind!). I let people rave about the creaminess, fudgy bits, and praise me for making these items from scratch. Then I let them know there is no dairy or eggs in any of it! All this to say, vegans can eat all kinds of sweet treats. It’s not hard to make something animal-free and often tastes just as amazing.
Why are vegan desserts healthier?
Vegan desserts aren’t always healthier, yet they can be. When baking something without cream and eggs, I often also switch out the refined sugar for maple syrup or honey and the flour for a nut based flour. This helps with inflammation, and adds a bit more fiber into a dish than traditional baking does. I really just focus on fueling my body with real, whole food ingredients so even my desserts are made with plants.
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I’m the mom who swapped Lucky Charms for green smoothies— and never looked back. Here you’ll find smoothie recipes and plant-based recipes made simple and tasty.
I absolutely love a great green smoothie, but I have yet to venture into plant based desserts. I must say though, this looks really good! I can’t wait to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try 🙂
We love hearing when someone steps out of their comfort zone with our recipes. It always ends well and you learn to love something that you never thought you would before!! Yay!!
Is there a brand or type of non-dairy ice cream that you recommend?
Yum!! Can’t wait to make this!
Thanks for your feedback Jenny!
Sounds yummy!
Thanks for your comment Debbie!
I absolutely love a great green smoothie, but I have yet to venture into plant based desserts. I must say though, this looks really good! I can’t wait to step out of my comfort zone and give it a try 🙂
We love hearing when someone steps out of their comfort zone with our recipes. It always ends well and you learn to love something that you never thought you would before!! Yay!!
Is there a brand or type of non-dairy ice cream that you recommend?
This sounds tasty!
Let us know what you think when you give it a try!