Traditional bakers have been able to create a vast variety of foods over the last several hundred years of baking evolution. It’s surprising when you realize that everything from puddings to cakes to cookies vary little in the range of ingredients used. Versatile ingredients such as flour, sugar, fat and eggs make this sort of variation possible. These are the building blocks of pastry. Vegan baking is easy when all you have to worry about is manipulating flour, sugar and fat. So what are we do to do in regards to replacing the almighty egg? There is a legend that the Romans believed in chicken eggs so much, they mixed them into their concrete. To first understand what we need to replicate this building block we need to understand what an egg does in the world of baking.

This Vegan Apple Pecan Granola recipe brings on the apple flavor with the help of both apple chunks and apple sauce. Cashew butter forms its base and packs extra protein so you'll have sustained energy throughout your morning. I go low on the sugar for this same reason and to give the other ingredients a chance to contribute flavor. Nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon work to highlight the apple. Chopped pecans toast during baking and add a welcome nutty crunch. Once you've chosen your preferred apples and baked this granola to perfection you can add it to ice cream, splash it on non-dairy milk or top it with a dollop of non-dairy yogurt.

Making this Easy Vegan Granola recipe is only slightly harder and much more fun than scooping it out of the bulk bins at the local health food store. It features almond butter for its base, rolled oats, cinnamon and nutmeg and just the right amount of walnuts and pecans to round out the crunch. A touch of raisins add a welcoming sweetness. 

I prefer to not overload with sugar in the morning so my granola recipes tend to err on the side of reduced sweetness which is a contrast from most store-bought granola. If you like your granola sweet then you may consider adding a few Tablespoons additional sugar. The reduced sweetness allows other flavor nuances to come through. The almond butter toasts during baking which brings on a rich flavor. A small amount of unrefined coconut oil increases flavor complexity further. Use this granola recipe as a base for future granola recipes. Enjoy it with non-dairy milk, top it with non-dairy yogurt or crumble it over ice cream.

Traditional flour is ground endosperm powder which is the result of the flour mill removing most of the hard pieces and hence, nutrition from the wheat berry. I'm a huge fan of whole sprouted grains because they're more flavorful and contain significantly more nutrients than bread made with traditional flour. This Flourless Sprouted Whole Wheat Bread recipe utilizes sprouted wheat berries that are then ground into a purée. This requires a substantially hardy food processor. If you're not sure if your food processor is powerful enough, look on the bottom. It should say at least 6.5 Amps or "6.5 A". 

This bread was difficult to design due to the nature of the wheat berry. This hardy seed contains the germ which is the heart and soul of the seed. The germ is the embryo of the plant in its dormant state. It's accompanied by the starchy endosperm which acts as fuel for the germ when it sprouts or germinates. This package is encased in a firm fibrous shell called the bran. This protects the seed kind of like an egg shell protects an egg. 

Strawberry and rhubarb are joined together in holy matrimony with orange zest and a touch of sugar in these Vegan Strawberry Rhubarb Pancakes. I opted to not make these pancakes too sweet because I like real maple syrup or a liberal topping of strawberries to drive the sweetness. If you like your pancakes sweet you may want to consider adding a couple Tablespoons more sugar. Or top them with sweetened vanilla yogurt for a new take on strawberry shortcake. I repeat: you can con your friends into enjoying something really close to strawberry shortcake for breakfast! Either way it’ll be a breakfast to remember.

Curdled soy milk produces a buttermilk tang that's perfect in this Vegan Buttermilk Waffle recipe. The cornmeal allows them to attain a nice balance between crispy exterior and moist interior. Avoid making this recipe with anything other than soy milk; other non-dairy milks lack the protein content to curdle effectively which is paramount to rich buttermilk flavor. Try these waffles with a slathering of almond butter, vegan butter, fresh fruit or maple syrup.

This Vegan Nine Grain Whole Wheat Bread recipe is unique in that it sports nine grains and contains 100% whole wheat flour for the rest of the ingredients which adds a superb flavor and texture not found in many other breads. Baking a bread with both of these features involves a little more effort but I think you'll agree that it's time well spent. This bread differs from a regular bread recipe in two ways: First, the grains are soaked so they soften and integrate into the loaf. Second, since we're using 100% whole wheat flour for the rest of the flour we need to soak it overnight so the bran softens. This softened bran will enable a more efficient rise because the bran won't cut gluten strands. It will also allow for a more supple crumb. These soaked flour and grains are technically referred to as, what else? A soaker. I suspect the bread baker who coined this term was having a creativity block the day he named this method.

My grandmother used to make the best cookies I've ever tasted. They were oatmeal raisin cookies that had a barely crisp exterior that gave way to a chewy, rich center, releasing the most amazing oatmeal flavor. I asked her for the recipe once and she said she just made them by heart. How did people ever do that? It's amazing to me when something as exact as baking can be done without a recipe and be consistently amazing every time.

This Vegan No Knead Whole Wheat Sandwich Bread is now my go-to vegan bread recipe because it's simple to make and is a great example of how wet doughs can create wonderfully light and spongy breads. The higher water content allows the gliadin and glutenin in the flour to align into tight gluten bonds over time so you can forget about all that kneading drama. The result is a fluffy, chewy loaf that's perfect for sandwiches. Feel free to use this bread as a starting point and substitute a ½ cup of the flour for things like wheat germ, wheat bran or oat bran. It's important to note that due to the wetness of this dough it's only suitable for baking in a loaf pan.

This Vegan Buttermilk Pancake recipe takes advantage of soy milk's ability to curdle when exposed to acids. You can choose lemon juice or even cream of tartar as your acid of choice but I prefer the additional flavor complexity that apple cider vinegar contributes. Buttermilk flavor is also enhanced by adding Vegan Butter or margarine to the batter which also adds moisture and fluffiness. Hemp and almond milk will curdle to a certain degree but not as much as soy milk. Coconut milk and rice milk are not recommended for this recipe because they lack sufficient protein and will not curdle at all. Top these vegan pancakes with maple syrup, berries and/or a dollop of almond butter.

This Sprouted Wild Yeasted Whole Wheat Bread recipe is a nod to how the first breads probably got their start. Wheat berries were probably softened with water, ground and left out in the elements where they were then populated by airborne yeasts and bacteria, causing the dough to rise slightly. Placing this dough on hot rocks in or near a fire probably resulted in a fine vegan treat like nothing else available at the time.

One of my favorite breakfasts is this Vegan Gingerbread Waffle recipe accompanied by a cup of strong coffee and veggie sausage on the side. Just when you''re thinking that you may be eating dessert you'll notice a savoriness that will assert that this is indeed breakfast. Slather these vegan waffles with a touch of almond butter, a splash of maple syrup and a sprinkling of Balsamic Candied Pecans to make this a truly memorable experience.

This Vegan Sourdough Pancake recipe is one more reason to keep a sourdough starter in your refrigerator at all times. They're wild yeasted which gives them a fascinatingly complex flavor not normally found in either vegan or traditional pancakes. They require advance preparation of a sourdough starter that is used as the foundation of the batter. If you already have this batter around, these pancakes will be even easier to make than Easy Vegan Pancakes. If you keep your starter in the refrigerator, it doesn't need to be removed several hours before using as it does in bread baking. Feel free to mix 1 cup of berries or ½ cup chopped nuts into the batter before pouring. Top them with maple syrup and/or a dollop of almond butter.

I veganized this Oatmeal Whole Wheat Quick Bread from a recipe found here. All I can say is WOW! Moist, full of texture, earthy and oh so delicious.

There's nothing quite like home made bread. This hearty Easy Vegan Wheat Bread recipe is easy to whip up if you have a few hours and it's really simple. In bread baking, longer rise cycles at lower temperatures usually result in more flavor compounds that are generated due to the yeast extracting and break down more starches in the flour and converting them into sugars which will then get caramelized during baking. Some doughs call for an overnight rise in the refrigerator so optimum flavor can be developed. In this vegan loaf you have the option of doing an overnight slow rise in the refrigerator or a regular rise. The two first rise cycle is for the main fermentation of the dough where the yeast eats the most sugars and rises the bread with CO2. The last rise is called proofing in where the dough rises after it's been molded into it's desired shape or placed in it's specific mold.

Some of us may remember chia seeds from those ch-ch-chia pet commercials in the 80's. Well they're back! It turns out that ch-ch-chia can b-b-bind. They work similarly to flax seeds in that when ground, the mixture forms a mucilage, also known as goop, and pulls together when heated. Perfect as an egg replacer in things like vegan cakes, cookies or anywhere else you'd want to substitute an egg. Like flax seeds they also contain protein, fiber and are an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids.

Just be sure to use white chia seeds. The darker varieties will be visible in your finished product. White chia seeds can be found online if they're not available at your local health food store.

I used to own a vegan baking company called Enchanted Oven Baking Co. This Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie was one of the cookies I sold, individually packaged, to health food stores around the San Francisco Bay Area around 2003-2005. Here it is in all its glory. This recipe has been modified from a 200 cookie batch so please excuse the wonky measurements.

Brown rice syrup, cinnamon, vanilla and just the right amount of chocolate chips really brings out the best in these dense, chewy peanut butter cookies.

This Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola recipe brings possibly one of the best flavor combinations known to man to the granola world. This allows this vegan granola to be extremely versatile, being equally good for breakfast, sprinkled on top of ice cream or enjoyed all by itself for a mid day snack.

This Vegan Protein Power Granola recipe is great for a hearty first meal of the day because it's low in sugar, high in protein and high in flavor. It gets the bulk of its protein from hemp protein powder. It then utilizes natural sweeteners like maple syrup, chopped dates and raisins for a complex sweetness profile that won't send blood sugar levels through the roof, if you don't drown it in maple syrup anyway. Walnuts and pecans round out the crunch department in this vegan granola while providing a tasty contrast with the hemp powder.

This Munchable Vegan Multigrain Granola recipe has a complex, hearty flavor due to the high protein grains such as amaranth, quinoa and buckwheat that it features. Walnuts and pecans increase the protein level and add a welcome crunch, making this vegan granola perfect for breakfast before a day of world domination.

This Vegan Tropical Paradise Granola recipe features shredded coconut, coconut oil, dried pineapple and dried mango. Cashew butter makes a creamy base that ties it all together. Savoring this vegan granola is kind of like going on vacation. Except without palm trees. And it's cheaper. And it tastes better.

This Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Granola recipe is a great way to start the day due to its bright lemony sweetness and crunchy almonds that go perfectly with the non-dairy milk of your choice.

This Hearty Vegan Waffle recipe makes light and fluffy vegan waffles sporting a nice crispy exterior and a soft, moist interior due to the use of toasted cornmeal. They're delightful topped with a touch of almond butter, fruit and/or real maple syrup.

This Vegan Lemon Poppy Seed Pancake recipe features lemon juice, lemon extract and lemon zest combined with poppy seeds to create a bright lemony flavor that's a great way to start the day. These vegan pancakes are delightful topped with a touch of almond butter, fruit and/or real maple syrup.

Growing up, my Dad would make pancakes every Sunday. On the rare occasions he made waffles, I knew he was pulling out all the stops for Sunday breakfast. Inspired by the waffles I grew up with, I created this Vegan Multigrain Waffle recipe that features rolled oats, whole wheat flour and your choice of toasted corn meal, oat bran or wheat germ. Top it with real maple syrup or fresh organic berries to be transported back to my dining room circa 1985.

This Vegan Pumpkin Buckwheat Pancake recipe features pumpkin enhanced with barley malt syrup, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Buckwheat flour then lends an earthy, nutty richness. They're delightful topped with a touch of almond butter, fruit and/or real maple syrup to brighten up any morning.

This Vegan Protein Pancake recipe is perfect for breakfast if you really want to make sure you get an adequate dose of protein during the first meal of the day. They utilize your choice of just the right amount of hemp protein powder or soy flour and feature chopped walnuts to further increase the protein ante and add to the flavor department. Cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger give these vegan pancakes a satisfying flavor that goes great with a splash of maple syrup (or fresh berries if you're hyperventilating at the idea of consuming too much sugar).

This is your simple, standard Easy Vegan Pancake recipe that strikes a good balance between fluffiness and thinness. They feature enhanced nutrition in the form of whole wheat flour and your choice of oat bran, wheat bran or wheat germ. Feel free to mix 1 cup of chopped fruit or berries into the batter before pouring. Top these vegan pancakes with maple syrup, Agave Maple Syrup and/or a dollop of almond butter.

This Vegan Ginger Carrot Raisin Pancake recipe isn't your conventional vegan pancake recipe because it features carrots for a subtle butteriness, raisins for a little extra bonus sweetness and ginger for a hint of spicy finish. it's a great combination of flavors that is further enhanced with a drizzle of maple syrup or Agave Maple Syrup.

This Vegan Blueberry Buckwheat Pancake recipe features blueberries and buckwheat flour which lends them a tart sweetness along with an earthy, nutty richness. You also have the choice of adding either oat bran, wheat bran or wheat germ. These vegan pancakes are delightful topped with a touch of almond butter, additional fruit and/or real maple syrup.

This easy to make Vegan Banana Walnut Pancake recipe features both banana purée and banana slices for maximum banana flavor. Walnuts add an earthy complexity. Top these vegan pancakes with a touch of almond butter, fruit and/or real maple syrup.

Chopped apples lightly caramelized in Vegan Butter with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice help make this Vegan Apple Spice Pancake recipe become part of an unforgettable breakfast. Especially when these vegan pancakes are topped with maple syrup and/or a touch of almond butter. 

This Vegan Carrot Bran Muffin recipe features carrots which lend sweet, buttery notes. These flavors are further enhanced by just the right amount of molasses and your choice of wheat germ, wheat bran or oat bran. Raisins are added for additional sweetness and flavor depth and a touch of vanilla extract ties the flavors together into a dense and hearty muffin.

This Hearty Vegan Breakfast Muffin recipe was created because I wanted a healthy, hearty vegan muffin that provided good energy for the first meal of the day without giving me a mega-dose of sugar like most other muffins often do. These fruit sweetened muffins contain no refined sugar, more protein, complex carbs and fiber than most other muffins because they feature ingredients like dates, raisins, walnuts, rolled oats, hemp protein powder or soy flour, maple syrup and molasses. These ingredients lend a delightfully complex taste and contribute to a dense hearty texture. They're easy to make and provide about one week of breakfasts. Try them topped with almond butter.

There's something about bananas and walnuts that just makes a perfect quick bread. This Vegan Banana Walnut Muffin recipe delivers it to your tastebuds thanks to the help of cinnamon, nutmeg a touch of vanilla extract. A slice of these vegan muffins topped with almond butter is a great thing.

This Vegan Banana Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe takes advantage of the binding and flavor enhancements of all those bananas you have in your freezer. These vegan cookies also feature cashew butter, almond butter, rolled oats, a touch of vanilla extract and a generous addition of chocolate chips.