Craving Sweets? These 34 Vegan Desserts Will Make You Forget That Dairy Even Exists
With all the plant-based egg substitutes (here are eight of them) and butter substitutes (check out these six!) available in stores today, vegan baking has never been easier. From banana bread to cupcakes, it's just a matter of making a few key switches to turn your favorite baked goods into vegan treats. And with these 34 no-fail recipes, there's no need to sacrifice taste along the way. Have your (warm, gooey, plant protein-filled) vegan cake, and eat it, too!
Date-Sweetened Cookies
Skip the processed sugar with these perfect vegan cookies, which get their natural sweetness from medjool dates.
Get the recipe: date-sweetened cookies
Black Bean Brownie Bites
Don't knock it till you try it! These rich brownie bites are fudgy, chewy, and packed with protein and fiber from their secret ingredient: black beans.
Get the recipe: black bean brownie bites
Apple Pie Peanut Butter Mug Cake
We swear this vegan mug cake tastes like apple pie and peanut butter put together, aka perfection. And since it's a mug cake, you can whip it up right in your microwave in less than two minutes.
Get the recipe: apple pie peanut butter mug cake
Chocolate Banana Protein Muffins
Give your overripe bananas a second life with these protein-packed chocolate muffins, the perfect solution for your morning sweet tooth.
Get the recipe: chocolate banana protein muffins
Chocolate (Cauliflower) Cake With Peanut Butter Frosting
With rich chocolate flavor, creamy peanut butter topping, and a spongy cake base, you'd never guess that this vegan cake is hiding a secret healthy veggie: cauliflower!
Get the recipe: chocolate (cauliflower) cake with peanut butter frosting
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Pumpkin tastes just as good in cookie form as it does in cake, and it's a lot easier on your calorie count, too. Bonus: this recipe is also grain-free and low-carb!
Get the recipe: pumpkin chocolate chip cookies
Elderflower Cake With Lemon Curd and White Chocolate Frosting
Believe it or not, this vegan elderflower actually calls for mashed potatoes to give it a light, spongy texture. Once you dig in, you won't even be able to taste them.
Get the recipe: vegan elderflower cake with lemon curd and white chocolate frosting
Iced Lemon Pound Cake
How does a cake taste this buttery without any actual butter? We won't question it, especially because a slice of this one comes in at only 270 calories — 200 less than the Starbucks version it's based on!
Get the recipe: iced lemon pound cake
Iced Sugar Cookies
Don't let the snowflake shape fool you — these vegan sugar cookies are perfect for any time of year, especially since one cookie (with icing!) only has six grams of sugar.
Get the recipe: iced sugar cookies
Peanut Butter Brownie Bites
Just one of these tiny peanut butter brownie bites packs in five grams of protein, and they're a cinch to prepare.
Get the recipe: peanut butter brownie bites
Chocolate Cupcakes With "Buttercream" Frosting
More surprise ingredients working their vegan magic: the secrets behind this creamy frosting are two ripe avocados, because we all need more healthy fats!
Get the recipe: chocolate cupcakes with "buttercream" frosting
Vegan Samoas
Curb your Girl Scout cookie cravings with this healthy vegan take on the Samoa, a perennial favorite. Compared to the boxed version, these cookies have 36 fewer calories, and you save a couple grams of sugar too.
Get the recipe: vegan Samoas
Double Fudge Brownies
Pureed zucchini creates a smooth, creamy consistency that makes these vegan double fudge brownies as tasty as they are healthy.
Get the recipe: double fudge brownies
Vegan Lemon Poppyseed Muffins
These fresh, lemony muffins are perfect for Spring! With seven grams of protein per muffin and a bit of fiber, too, they're the perfect sweet treat to start your morning off right.
Get the recipe: vegan lemon poppyseed muffins
Thumbprint Cookies
At just 125 calories per cookie, these pecan-packed thumbprint treats are a great way to lighten up and vegan-ize a classic dessert that's not too sweet.
Get the recipe: thumbprint cookies
Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
Learn to make your own dairy-free chocolate kisses, and whip up some decadent, melt-in-your-mouth treats with this simple cookie recipe.
Get the recipe: peanut butter kiss cookies
Paleo Apple Pecan Bars
These vegan apple pecan bars are supersweet, but all that sugar is natural, coming from dates and raw honey. The result? A sticky, nutty delight that won't break your clean eating habits.
Get the recipe: Paleo apple pecan bars
Gluten-Free Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
With just five ingredients and a 10-minute bake time, these protein-packed cookies (thank you, chickpeas) come together in no time.
Get the recipe: gluten-free vegan chocolate chip cookies
Vegan Guinness Triple Chocolate Brownies
Yep, Guinness beer is vegan, and yep, it goes perfectly in this triple chocolate brownie recipe, giving it a rich, earthy flavor to offset the whole triple chocolate part.
Get the recipe: vegan Guinness triple chocolate brownies
Three-Ingredient Chocolate Pie
Pies can be nightmares for the novice baker, but this three-ingredient chocolate vegan version makes it easy as, well . . . you know. And you won't believe the ingredient that gives this treat its silky texture — tofu!
Get the recipe: three-ingredient chocolate pie
Banana Almond Protein Bread
Throw some protein powder in this healthy vegan banana bread recipe, and just like that, you have eight grams of it per slice! Combining protein with soy yogurt and flaxseed meal, plus three sweet, ripened bananas, this satisfying baked bread is as nutritious as they come.
Get the recipe: banana almond protein bread
Not-Carrot Cake With Lemon Frosting
This vegan "carrot cake" (spoiler alert: no carrots) is made with mangoes and butternut squash, featuring a cashew-coconut frosting with a tangy lemon zest.
Get the recipe: vegan not-carrot cake
Low-Calorie Chocolate Oat Brownies
Think of these fudgy treats as a cross between oatmeal cookies and brownies, with a healthy dose of protein and fiber and just five grams of sugar per square.
Get the recipe: low-calorie chocolate oat brownies
Chocolate Doughnuts
Chickpeas — yep, chickpeas — give these vegan doughnuts protein, fiber, and that perfect, soft texture that you can't go without. Dust off your doughnut pan, and get baking.
Get the recipe: chocolate doughnuts
Chocolate Gingerbread Layer Cake
This vegan chocolate gingerbread cake (topped with extra gingerbread cookies!) tastes as luscious as it looks. Another plus: it takes less than an hour to prep and bake.
Get the recipe: vegan chocolate gingerbread layer cake
Peanut Butter Vegan Cookies
Cinnamon applesauce and organic peanut butter sounds like the flavor combination we never knew we needed. Add maple syrup, vanilla, and gluten-free flour to make these simple and delicious vegan cookies.
Get the recipe: peanut butter vegan cookies
Carrot Cake Cupcakes
This isn't the healthiest vegan treat out there (it has 14 grams of sugar per cupcake), but with just half the calories of an average slice of carrot cake, it's a healthier option to satisfy that sweet craving.
Get the recipe: carrot cake cupcakes
Paleo Gluten-Free Vegan Crinkle Cookies
The hint of peppermint in this delicious (and gorgeous) crinkle cookies makes them perfect for the holiday season or whenever you want a minty, refreshing treat. (So, all the time.)
Get the recipe: Paleo gluten-free vegan crinkle cookies
Chocolate Caramel Popcorn Cake
Flex your baking muscles and get ready for this layered sponge cake, which features creamy, caramel-infused buttercream frosting and a caramel drizzle, topped with a handful of toffee popcorn. Are you drooling yet?
Get the recipe: chocolate caramel popcorn cake
Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Trade in your mug of hot cocoa for a cupcake sheet. These rich, chocolatey treats bring all your favorite warm and creamy flavors to your favorite bite-size cake form. Bonus: the frosting uses aquafaba, "chickpea water" that holds everything together like a dream.
Get the recipe: vegan hot chocolate cupcakes
Sweet Potato Vegan Breakfast Cookies
Hey, if you can make cookies as healthy as these — full of nuts, chia seeds, and soft sweet potato — why wouldn't you have them for breakfast? They're the perfect bit of crunch to go along with your morning cup of coffee.
Get the recipe: sweet potato vegan breakfast cookies
White Cake With Chocolate Frosting
Swap out your fave white cake recipe with this vegan alternative, which is also grain- and gluten-free and offers four grams of protein per serving.
Get the recipe: easy vegan white cake with chocolate frosting
Vegan Carrot Cake Bars
That creamy frosting on top of the carrot cake bars comes from soaked cashews, maple syrup, and a hint of vanilla — the winning combination to give you that cream cheese frosting taste minus the dairy.
Get the recipe: vegan carrot cake bars
Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Vegan Cookies
The pumpkin puree adds so much creaminess to these vegan cookies that you won't even miss the eggs. Subbing in coconut sugar instead of regular white or brown gives them a luscious caramel flavor, too!
Get the recipe: chocolate chip pumpkin vegan cookies