There’s just something about buttery shortbread that’s otherworldly. How does that rich, savory-sweet, toastiness, sweep into your palate with buttery wave after buttery wave? How does it exist with such a crispy texture? That snap when you bite into it unleashes a lingering aroma that takes over you and lets you know that you’ve arrived. Everything is going to be okay now. As long as you don’t hog all the shortbread.
I’m pretty picky about my shortbread. I believe it should be a celebration of the flavor of butter. Any other flavors present need only be there to play a supporting role. As you bite in, it should yield with a snap and infuse the senses with buttery richness. But this is vegan baking. How do you do all these things as well as showcase butter?
This super easy Vegan Coconut Almond Truffle recipe will satisfy that late night chocolate craving without the excess sugar and empty calories of other desserts. This perfect blend of coconut, chocolate and almond will keep you coming back for more.
These Vegan Vanilla and Almond Crescents are an incredibly delicious biscuit with just the right amount of sweetness and lots of rich flavours from the almonds and vanilla. My choice of coconut oil for this (and most of my cooking) is the more refined kind, which is refined by filtering it through clay to remove the coconut taste and smell. This gives a ‘buttery’ flavour and texture to the baked good with all the goodness of coconut oil, but without being overwhelmed by coconut flavours.
I’m a huge fan of linzer cookies which are sandwich cookies featuring an almond pastry crust sandwiching a tart raspberry jam center. I’m also a huge fan of gingerbread paired with orange. The tart orange pairs well with the spicy, bright flavors of ginger. These Vegan Gingerbread Marmalade Sandwich Cookies were borne out of a desire to combine the best qualities of these cookie styles, featuring a cookie that also delivers a crispy exterior, giving way to a chewy, jam layered center.
Since this recipe features gingerbread, it relies on placing the dough in the refrigerator between steps to ensure the dough is stiff and easy to work with. It’s worth clearing space in your freezer for two baking sheets before you start. I recommend using small cookie cutters for these cookies because the dough will spread out considerably during baking, making the cookies larger. I ended up using a small flower cookie cutter and an apple corer to cut the center holes. Adding about 4 drops of orange extract to the marmalade will ensure it has enough strength to stand up against and optimally pair with the gingerbread.
For those difficult times when you can’t decide whether to make a vegan apple pie or a cheesecake, do both! This Vegan Caramel Apple Cheesecake recipe utilizes soy yogurt that is left with pureed almond and non-dairy milk for up to 24 hours so the Lactobacillus cultures in the yogurt can enhance the flavors of the mixture. In order for this to work as effectively as possible it’s important to use unsweetened non-dairy soy yogurt containing Lactobacillus and with as little additives and thickeners as possible. Lactobacillus cultures are bacteria that ferment sugars in the food and produce complex flavors and acids such as lactic acid.
Vegan crusts are the foundation of many desserts so it’s important to treat them seriously. When making a crust for a springform pan, it’s important to have options that pair nicely with your dessert. One example is that you'd want to use a gluten-free crust with a gluten-free cheesecake. Regular cheesecakes go great with a graham cracker crust recipe but what if you’re not going the traditional route? That Vegan Apple Caramel Cheesecake might be better paired with a ginger snap cookie crust or a walnut crust. What if you’re doing something entirely different from a cheesecake or maybe you have a gluten intolerance? Maybe you want to take it to the next level and make a Vegan Chocolate Mouse with a hazelnut crust! Now you can do almost any type of spring form crust if you have access to dry cookies or nuts based on the recipe below.
“See those bananas over there?”, I asked, tilting my head towards the end of the aisle at the health food store. “I’ll buy fifteen of ‘em for half price”, I suggested confidently. The cashier paused for a moment, not knowing whether to believe me. Why would anyone want to buy bananas that were almost more suitable for the compost bin than the kitchen for any price? “Sure”, he sighed. He knew they were garbage unless I took them in. I laughed to myself when I realized how excited I was to buy bananas that most people wouldn’t even think of eating. I started to feel bad about not liberating the others but I had to get home; there was work to do! How cool would it be to peel the bananas, purée them and slow cook them into a thick syrup to use as a base for fruit sweetened banana bread? Finally, something to do with all those bananas laying around in your freezer!
Trying cake batter ice cream recently I was intrigued of the concept of blending two completely different types of desserts. I loved how the ice cream takes on the unexpected flavor of cake batter but still has the consistency of ice cream. What could I get away with in an attempt to blend flavors and textures that would contrast but also compliment each other? I have a flavor experience burned in my memory from some point in my life where I had vanilla ice cream oozing over a ginger snap cookie. I realized that this was what I must try. Should I grind the ginger snaps and steep them in non-dairy milk or just blend them in the ice cream recipe before processing in the ice cream maker? Would I still need to add the same ratios of ingredients as my Vanilla Ice Cream recipe?
When working on this Vegan Double Chocolate Fudge recipe I learned that in order to master fudge, you need to thoroughly understand caramelization. Luckily, after dozens of fudgy failures, I now understand caramelization well enough to the point of where I can proudly share my recipe for all to enjoy, because you, dear reader, are worth more than marshmallow fluff. This recipe is easy as long as you follow it closely.
This Vegan White Chocolate Matcha Bonbon recipe is a great example of the possibilities that can be achieved with white chocolate and ganache. The ganache is enhanced with matcha green tea powder and a touch of rum, enrobed in a white chocolate coating then dusted again with matcha powder for a beautiful confection with subtle green tea overtones. Cocoa butter has a very small temperature range between being too runny and too solid so remember to keep this in mind before rolling the ganache into balls and later coating them in the white chocolate.
This Vegan Pumpkin Cinnamon Roll recipe takes every opportunity to pack itself with pumpkin and then become enhanced with a delicate balance of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and cloves. Barley malt syrup can be a little tough to find but it's an essential flavor booster that puts the pump in pumpkin for these vegan cinnamon rolls. Rum Spice Icing is literally icing on the cake.
This Vegan Vanilla Icing recipe is a great companion for drizzling on Vegan Cinnamon Rolls, danishes, or Vegan Pop Tarts. It features confectioners sugar as its base and just a touch of non-dairy milk and vanilla extract to bring it all together.
This Vegan Rum Spice Icing recipe is a great companion for drizzling on spiced versions of Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls, danishes, or Pop Tarts. The vegan icing features powdered sugar for its base, dark rum, cinnamon, cardamom and cloves to move the spice factor forward. Feel free to cut back on the rum or eliminate it completely if you're concerned about alcohol consumption.
This Vegan Hazelnut Coffee Ice Cream recipe takes advantage of hazelnuts, also known as filberts for its base and to enhance coffee flavors. Early trials of this vegan ice cream used toasted hazelnuts which brought out slightly deeper hazelnut flavors but left minuscule granules in the ice cream which affected creaminess. If you have a VitaMix, go ahead and toast them. If you have a regular blender leave the hazelnuts untoasted so creaminess isn't affected. The ice cream will be delightful either way, especially when topped with Vegan Double Chocolate Sauce.
This Vegan Coconut Rum Raisin Ice Cream recipe is a great example of how suitable coconut milk can be as a rich, creamy base in vegan ice creams. The coconut flavor is further enhanced by the addition of toasted shredded coconut then complimented by just the right amount of rum soaked raisins. It's important to note that adding more than 2 Tablespoons of rum is discouraged because it will drastically increase the freezing temperature resulting in ice cream that's too soft.
This Vegan Double Chocolate Brownie Chunk Ice Cream recipe was going to be called Triple Chocolate Brownie Chunk Ice Cream due to it's use of two different types of chocolate and brownie chunks mixed in. Then I realized that things were starting to get out of hand and I had to look out the window and count to ten. Its still full of chocolate though; This Category 1 chocoholic wouldn't lie. It's a great way to use up those extra Ultimate Vegan Brownies you have lying around that you've desperately been trying to eat. Wishful thinking, no? Drizzling some Double Chocolate Sauce over the top is highly recommended.
Ultimate is not something that I throw around lightly, especially for vegan brownies. I've had my share of vegan and regular brownies and been baffled by how lacking vegan versions are. Growing up on my Grandmother's brownies, I learned that a good brownie should be dense, fudgy and soft; not light, cakey and dry. Why is it so hard to emulate a traditional brownie recipe that simply consists of a few simple ingredients? Hint: it's due to the egg, which emulsifies, binds, slightly leavens then bakes up as part of the actual base of the brownie itself. To emulate this takes an expedition deep into the innards of brownie science, oh and for me, about seven years of failing until figuring this out.
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.
If pirates ate brittle (and you know they did) this Vegan Coconut Macadamia Nut Brittle would be the flavor and this is how they'd describe it:
Yaaar ya kitchen dwellin' landlubber! Coconut, caramelized sugar and macadamia nuts be tied together with a splash o' rum t' make this t' brittle o' t' pirate seas, matey! So whip up a batch and hand 'er over before ya be plank walkin'!
They might also marvel in the fact that this vegan brittle recipe uses coconut milk, coconut oil and shredded coconut for maximum coconut flavor, except it would be hard to hear yowled in that thick pirate accent.
With this Vegan Peanut Butter Bomb recipe I captured the essence of fine, natural peanut butter, combined it with some lightly caramelized sugar and Regular Vegan Butter or margarine, then covered it in a dark chocolate exterior, completing an irresistible vegan chocolate bonbon.
Ever since the eighties when two people were walking down the street in opposite directions, one eating a chocolate bar, the other eating peanut butter out of a jar, we've known that the two go together really well. We know this because the two people allegedly collided exclaiming, “hey you're chocolate's in my peanut butter!” “My peanut butter's in your chocolate!” This has been documented as a true occurrence because I saw it in a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup commercial. I'm so thankful they just happened to have TV cameras rolling to get that on film. But what is up with the peanut butter in those things? It always tastes like it's deemed at the factory to be too low quality to actually make it into the panut butter jars. And the chocolate seemed like typical mass produced American chocolate fare, over-sweetened and chalky which barely qualifies as chocolate to this chocaholic.
Pistachios paired with cardamom then kissed with rum makes this Vegan Pistachio Cardamom Brittle recipe stand out. Cover it in melted dark chocolate to transform it into pistachio chocolate bark if you want to give it another flavor dimension.
One of the reasons marzipan goes back ages is because it's extremely versatile. It can be used for anything from cake decorations, fillings in cookies and pastries or in this case, a center in this Vegan Bonbon recipe. A touch of almond extract brings out some extra flavor so it can compete on the same level as the chocolate. This recipe uses a chocolate mold. If you don't have one, place the marzipan balls in the freezer for an hour or so, roll them in melted chocolate, then place them on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet before returning them to the freezer for about another hour.
This Vegan Chocolate Orange Bomb bonbon recipe packs a seductive orange one two punch: They involve candied orange peel pureed with a kiss of Grand Marnier, mixed together with chocolate, then enrobed in a chocolate shell. This is a great vegan bonbon to have on hand when assembling your own box of chocolates for a special occasion.
Marzipan is almond meal that's been added to caramelized sugar which makes it similar to frosting in consistency. It's origins come from present day Iran or Spain according to theory but its true origins, as well as where the term 'marzipan' originated from are shrouded in mystery. It's extremely versatile, making a fantastic filling for cookies and pastries, a center for chocolates like Marzipan Truffles or rolled into stollen. It can be colored, flavored and formed into candies or used in cake decorating. You can even use other nuts besides almonds like macadamia nuts, cashews or brazil nuts. Marzipan can also be mixed with fruit and served in squares. In the vegan recipe below I didn't remove the skins of the almonds so it came out a light brown.
Hazelnuts, also known as filberts, are toasted to give this Vegan Chocolate Hazelnut Bark recipe a great crunch. Frangelico, a hazelnut liqueur, ups the ante with the hazelnuts for a deep, rich flavor. This vegan brittle is further enhanced with orange zest and then smothered in chocolate.
This Vegan Cashew Egg Nog recipe is super easy to make and doesn't actually contain eggs. It's just a great 'nog to put a splash of bourbon or rum into. It's even good on it's own. Using the arrowroot powder or tapioca flour is important to achieve the creamy texture and emulsify the fats with the rest of the liquids. Perfect for a lazy evening next to a crackling fire space heater. Legend has it that egg nog originated in England where it consisted of a mix of milk, eggs and either brandy, Madeira or sherry. It wasn't until it was brought over the the United States that it started to get mixed with bourbon, a reaction to other liquor's scarcity during the American Revolutionary War.
I used to get so grossed out at the mere thought of accidentally eating orange peel while eating an orange. Then I had candied orange peels and appreciated their candy form and created this recipe. Candied orange peels are a very versatile delicacy. Use them in Panettone, Stollen, Hot Cross Buns, pair them with almonds and cover them with chocolate or mince them and use them for topping on ice cream. Feel free to use other citrus peels in place, or in addition to orange such as lemon or lime. Just be sure to use organic peels because non-organic ones often have high concentrations of pesticide residues.
This Vegan Apple Walnut Stuffing recipe is great inside Stuffed Seitan or alongside some Cranberry Sauce during holiday feasts. Apples give it a light flavor-enhancing sweetness which is a great accompaniment to the textures of water chestnuts and walnuts.
Pumpkin Cheesecake is one of my favorite desserts during the holidays. This vegan recipe variation pairs pumpkin with Easy Vegan Caramel Sauce for a great way to end a feast. It also features barley malt syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon and ginger powder to help marry bold pumpkin flavor with vegan creaminess. I recommend opting for non-hydrogenated vegan cream cheese so you can avoid trans fats. This vegan cheesecake also goes great with a dollop of Vegan Vanilla Ice Cream.
Bread pudding is probably the most comfortable comfort food. What other type of food has a moist pudding-like texture paired with a soft cake-like feel? Take some barley malt syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves. Now add some pumpkin and bourbon to the mix and you have this Vegan Pumpkin Bourbon Bread Pudding recipe to warm your soul. In one bite all your worries are forgotten for a few minutes. Preparing this bread pudding is really easy, provided you already have pumpkin purée. For the base, you can use any bread that is light in color and neutral in flavor.
When this Vegan Sweet Potato Pecan Ice Cream recipe is mentioned to passerby one of two things usually happens: people either express great joy or wince and convulse. Sweet potatoes are pumpkin 2.0 people! They have a much more complex flavor than pumpkin so I just cut to the chase and paired them with candied pecans to make this vegan ice cream. You could substitute pumpkin purée if you really wanted to but it's not recommended unless you're stuck on a dessert island with nary a single sweet potato in sight.
These chewy Vegan Pecan Caramel Chews are reminiscent of those little caramels you used to get from trick or treating when you were little, except they're packed with pecans and dipped in chocolate! Be sure to use a candy thermometer with this vegan caramel recipe for best results. If you like your caramel extra soft or extra hard, adjust the caramelization temperature 10F (6 C) lower or 10F (6 C) higher respectively.
This Vegan Gingerbread Pecan Biscotti recipe showcases the winning combination of candied ginger, pecans, molasses and just the right amount of spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. The result is a vegan biscotti armed with a deep, complex flavor with a spicy finish that helps kick out those winter blues.
Peanut butter and maple syrup have this amazing relationship. I think they might be in love with each other. This Vegan Peanut Butter Maple Fudge recipe is really easy to make and you have the option of adding chocolate chips if you want to crank up the flavor/passion levels even more.
These Vegan Sugar Cookies are perfect for the Holidays or any time you feel like treating yourself. This recipe is on the shortbread side of things so they're nice and crispy. They can be rolled and cut with cookie cutters or pressed out of a cookie press. Dust them with coarse sugar, cinnamon, cardamom or all three if you're feeling frisky.
This Vegan Bourbon Baked Apple recipe is a great way to get that ridiculously good apple flavor without resorting to the time intensive sport of pie making. It's kind of like an apple pie but without all the crust drama. The core of the apple is removed and replaced with a delectable mixture of pecans or walnuts, raisins, maple syrup, cinnamon and nutmeg. The whole deal is then doused with bourbon and baked to perfection. I won't tell if you drink some of the bourbon to make sure it's okay.
This Creamy Vegan Cashew Cheesecake recipe is a natural take on a vegan cheesecake that doesn't use space age ingredients like cheesecakes using store bought vegan cream cheeses often do. I tried to strike a good balance between unprocessed ingredients and high quality flavor. This cheesecake uses a cashew base enhanced with apple cider vinegar, lemon juice and just the right amount of sugar and vanilla extract to tie it all together.
Pumpkin purée gives this Vegan Pumpkin Gingerbread Cookie recipe extra Halloween street cred. These cookies also pack a combination of barley malt syrup and molasses enhanced with ginger, nutmeg, cloves and just the right amount of vanilla extract for a scary good flavor.
Feeling lonely this season? In under an hour you can have an arsenal of several tasty Vegan Gingerbread Cookie Buddies that won't even complain if you bite off their heads. These vegan cookies feature a touch of molasses, barley malt, ginger and just the right amount of nutmeg and cinnamon for deep gingerbread flavor. This recipe also works for fabricating gingerbread houses.
This Sassy Vegan Shortbread Cookie recipe is easy to make and has lots of possibilities for customizing. The buttery vegan cookies pack a generous helping of Vegan Butter with just a touch of vanilla extract for a delectable flavor and a satisfying crunch.
This Vegan Mulled Wine recipe uses maple syrup as its primary sweetener then utilizes allspice berries, cinnamon bark, orange peel and clove berries for a smooth, spicy wine that will soothe those winter blues. This vegan spiced wine is great for holiday parties because it's easy to make and it gets things started.
This Vegan Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Pie recipe combines probably the three best flavor combinations in the entire dessert world. These three prominent flavors are then brought together in this vegan pie with brown rice syrup, non-dairy milk and a touch of salt. Use Flaky Pie Crust for best results.
I always thought properly made pumpkin pie was amazing until I tried sweet potato pie. Sweet potatoes are sweeter and the flavor is considerably more complex than pumpkin purée so that's why I was so excited to develop this Vegan Sweet Potato Pie recipe. This vegan pie is further enhanced with cashew butter, barley malt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves to create a flavor that will leave pumpkin in the dust. Try making it with Flaky Vegan Pie Crust.
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 Chocolate Truffle recipe utilizes the flavor combination of two different types of chocolate for maximum flavor depth. These vegan truffles are then enhanced further by the addition of vanilla extract, touch of salt then rolled in the coating of your choice to make them truly delectable. For certified choco-holics only.
This Vegan Peanut Butter Maple Ice Cream recipe takes advantage of the alchemy that happens when peanut butter and maple syrup are combined in holy matrimony. These flavors are further bound in this vegan ice cream with the addition of non-dairy milk and a touch of vanilla extract.
This Vegan Pumpkin Spice Muffin recipe has a wonderful warm, buttery flavor that is enhanced by barley malt syrup, lemon juice, cinnamon, ginger and a touch of cloves. Pecans add flavor complexity and a delightful crunch. These vegan muffins are equally good with baked sweet potato purée substituted for the pumpkin as well.
This Golden Vegan Corn Bread Recipe takes advantage of nutritional yeast flakes and a touch of maple syrup which gives it a rich, buttery flavor while corn kernels enhance its hearty texture. It's a Northern style corn bread so it features a mixture of corn flour and all-purpose flour. It's baked in a square baking pan instead of a cast iron skillet and designed to be a little sweeter and more moist than its Southern counterpart.
This Vegan Buttermilk Biscuit recipe makes great vegan dinner rolls that pair well with American feast-style dinners on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. They feature just the right amount of tahini and lemon juice to accurately impart buttermilk flavors.These biscuits are also great served as a snack with a smear of margarine or almond butter. Serve them warm.
Sweet potatoes are sweeter than pumpkin and the flavor is considerably more complex. This allows sweet potato pie to beat the living daylights out of pumpkin pie if the two were to battle in a flavor war. This Celebration Vegan Sweet Potato Pie recipe is living proof, especially when it's enhanced with maple syrup, nutmeg cinnamon and ginger. Flaky Pie Crust is recommended for this pie.
This Celebration Vegan Pumpkin Pie recipe features barley malt syrup to considerably push pumpkin flavors forward. Cinnamon, ginger, cloves and a touch of lemon juice are also effective flavor enhancers in this easy to make vegan pie. Flaky Pie Crust is recommended.
Making your own vegan pie crust is time consuming but a homemade crust tastes about 23 times better than a store-bought one. You can make multiple batches and freeze the rest for later use. Home made pie crust has that irresistible flakiness and gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you made the whole pie. This Flaky Vegan Pie Crust recipe can be used for any pastry such as Vegan Pop Tarts, turnovers, English pasties or anything else you'd like to envelop in tender, flaky goodness.
In a pie crust the goal is tenderness and flakiness. This is achieved by a high level of fat and a low level of water. The fats serve two purposes: The Vegan Butter in this recipe breaks into small pieces, coating the flour and inhibiting gluten from forming. The shortening is cut into larger pieces so it doesn't break down as much when it's cut into the flour. This is so the shortening forms thin layers as the dough is rolled. These thin layers catch evaporating water as the crust bakes which causes the crust to form thin, flaky layers similar to what's found in puff pastry.
I thought I didn't like pecan pie until I had this Vegan Pecan Pie. The questionable brown mush experienced in normal pecan pies is replaced by barley malt, maple syrup and enhanced with cinnamon, ginger and a touch of cardamom in this version. Flaky Vegan Pie Crust is recommended.
Studies have shown that vegan apple pie transfers flavors to the taste buds faster than the speed of sound. Ok, maybe not but you would think so right? This vegan Apple Pie recipe calls for tart green apples such as Granny Smith for prominent apple flavor. Apple notes are further enhanced with ingredients such as Vegan Butter, molasses, calvados or brandy, cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of allspice. Flaky Vegan Pie Crust is recommended.
This Cranberry Sauce recipe is enhanced with a touch of orange juice and ginger. It's tart and sweet flavors contrast nicely with a slice of savory Stuffed Seitan.
This Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cake recipe takes advantage of barley malt syrup's ability to really drive pumpkin flavors. This vegan cake is then enhanced with cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and a touch of lemon juice, making it perfect for special occasions during the Fall season.
This Vegan Double Chocolate cake recipe has been specifically designed to deliver maximum chocolate flavor. It utilizes cocoa powder, semi-sweet chocolate and espresso for maximum flavor depth. Some of the flour is offset by cocoa powder, which would normally reduce the overall gluten content of the cake, making it crumbly. Using bread flour which has a higher than normal amount of gluten brings things back in balance, allowing us to pack this vegan cake with as much deep, complex chocolate flavor as possible. Pictured with Rich White Chocolate Frosting and Vegan Double Chocolate Sauce.
This is the classic vegan cheesecake recipe of dinner party legend. It relies on the amazing flavors of your favorite vegan cream cheese enhanced with a touch of non-dairy yogurt, non-dairy milk and just the right amount of flour for optimum flavor and texture. It's worth buying a spring form pan for.
This Vegan Carrot Cake recipe is similar to the one here but it's designed for 8 inch cake pans. It's loaded with carrot-forward spices such as pineapple, molasses, cinnamon and cardamom. A touch of raisins and walnuts give this vegan cake a slightly more complex flavor and texture that is sure to please. Try it slathered with Cream Cheese Frosting.
This Vegan Choc-tacular Brownie recipe utilizes coconut oil to make them dense and rich, arrowroot flour and brown rice syrup for a dense chew factor and vanilla extract for delicious unification. Use unrefined coconut oil instead of refined coconut oil if you're interested in imparting a subtle coconut flavor in these vegan brownies.
There’s just something about buttery shortbread that’s otherworldly. How does that rich, savory-sweet, toastiness, sweep into your palate with buttery wave after buttery wave? How does it exist with such a crispy texture? That snap when you bite into it unleashes a lingering aroma that takes over you and lets you know that you’ve arrived. Everything is going to be okay now. As long as you don’t hog all the shortbread.
