Who says vegan desserts can’t be delicious and easy to make? Think again! This article will debunk that myth, showcasing easy vegan desserts with few ingredients that taste divine.
Whether you’re a seasoned vegan, someone with a sweet tooth trying to eat healthier, or a curious baker, this guide is for you. Get ready to explore the world of simple, scrumptious, and easy vegan desserts with few ingredients that you can whip up in your kitchen.
Easy Vegan Desserts with Few Ingredients
Common Staples of a Vegan Pantry
In the realm of vegan desserts, some primary ingredients are consistently in use. Dark chocolate, getting its sweet notes from pure cane sugar rather than a dairy-based additive, often finds itself at center stage in vegan versions of chocolate cakes, fudge, and more. Nuts like almonds and cashews serve multiple roles, from creating creamy bases in cheesecakes to acting as a crunchy topping. Natural sweeteners such as dates, agave nectar, and maple syrup replace refined sugar, while flaxseeds and chia seeds, when soaked, become an efficient egg substitute. Last but not least, coconut — in its many forms of oil, milk, cream, or shredded — offers a dairy-free option to enhance richness and flavor.
Substitutes for Traditional Dessert Ingredients
Keeping a vegan diet doesn’t mean saying goodbye to traditional dessert textures and flavors; it simply involves creative ingredient swapping. For instance, pureed bananas, applesauce, or silken tofu can stand in for eggs, adding moisture to cakes and quick breads. In the dairy department, almond milk and coconut cream offer a replacement to cow milk, while cashews, once soaked and blended, provide a remarkably similar texture to melted cheese.
For gelatin, often hiding in unsuspected desserts, agar-agar derived from seaweed makes an effortless switch. Lastly, instead of butter, vegetable oils or even avocados ensure that richness and creaminess of desserts remain intact.
Recipes for Easy Vegan Desserts
Vegan Cookies With Three Ingredients
Unbelievably, it’s possible to bake scrumptious vegan cookies with just three ingredients: ripe bananas, quick oats, and vegan chocolate chips. Here’s how:
- Begin by mashing two ripe bananas until it’s smooth.
- Mix in one cup of quick oats and a half-cup of vegan chocolate chips evenly.
- Form cookie shapes and place them on a lined baking tray.
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until golden brown.
Relatively straightforward, baking vegan cookies brings forth chewiness from the oats, sweetness from the bananas, and indulgence from the chocolate chips.
Single-Layer Vegan Cakes
For those yearning for a hassle-free vegan cake recipe, the Single-Layer Vegan Cake is perfect. This option frequently involves flour, sugar, either almond or soy milk, vegetable oil or avocado, baking powder, and a dash of salt combined in just the right amounts.
As an illustrative example, consider an applesauce spice vegan cake:
- In a bowl, mix 1.5 cups flour, one teaspoon baking powder, half a teaspoon baking soda, one-fourth teaspoon salt, and a teaspoon of cinnamon.
- In a different bowl, mix half a cup of unsweetened applesauce, three-fourths cup granulated sugar, one-third cup vegetable oil, and half a cup of almond milk.
- Combine the dry and wet ingredients, mix until the batter is smooth.
- Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes.
No-Bake Vegan Desserts
Lastly, No-Bake Vegan Desserts can save time and reduce complexity. They’re often based around dates, nuts, and cocoa powder, and can come together in minutes.
A classic example is vegan chocolate date balls:
- Blend together one cup of almonds, two cups of pitted dates, and two tablespoons of unsweetened cocoa powder in a food processor until it forms a sticky dough.
- Roll the mixture into bite-sized balls and refrigerate to set.
- Optionally, coat them in shredded coconut, cocoa powder, or crushed nuts for added flavor.
Easy Vegan Desserts
There’s no denying the appeal of easy vegan desserts with few ingredients. They’re not just a treat for vegans but a delight for anyone seeking healthier, guilt-free options. With a handful of pantry staples, it’s possible to whip up a variety of scrumptious desserts, proving that vegan doesn’t mean bland or complicated.