Vegan baking can be a challenge, compared to regular baking.. That means no eggs, butter or milk, as well as some sugars and honeys as well. A lot of times, regular baking calls for a lot of artificial and heavily processed foods whereas vegan baking usually uses better-for-you alternatives to less-than-healthy ingredients.
Let’s go over all of the ways that vegan baking has a leg-up on non-vegan baking when it comes to our health. From techniques to ingredients, vegan baking recipes show us that they can be much healthier and just as fun to make as the alternatives!
Benefits of Vegan Baking
Lots of fiber.
Most vegan baking recipes include nuts and dates, which both have a good amount of fiber. When you eat more fiber, you feel full longer and it’s great for your gut health.
Less cholesterol.
Vegan baking substitutes the usual butter and eggs for more healthy options. For eggs, use ground up flax or chia seeds with a little splash of water. For butter, you can sub out for nut butters like peanut or tahini.
Gives cows a break.
No milk is used in vegan baking of course, but don’t fret, there is a world of possibilities when it comes to milk substitutes. Options include soy, almond, oat and a variety of other nut milks that will make batter creamy for a cake that tastes just as moist as any you’ve had before. You can even try your nut milks sweetened to ease up on the sugar usage in your recipe.
Go raw for even more nutritious baking.
A lot of vegan recipes are raw, which means they are free of any processed ingredients and contain whole-food alternatives like nuts, fruit, and natural syrups instead of tons of sugar.
Some recipes are gluten-free as well
Vegan baking is great for people with celiac disease or lactose intolerance issues. Gluten-free and dairy-free baking is much easier when you are familiar with vegan baking. Gluten is the protein found in wheat, so those recipes call for wheat flour substitutes like rice or chickpea flours. Dairy-free baking is easy because if you cook/bake vegan, you already have knowledge of all the milk substitutes like nut milks.
You know exactly what you are putting into your body.
Since vegan baking makes you extremely well versed on each ingredient being used, you know exactly what you are consuming and its health benefits. A lot of ingredients are fresh and unprocessed. Make sure to use foods that are as unprocessed as possible to keep your baking healthy, vegan or no. Sugar is also a hidden baddie in the kitchen. You can use it of course, just make sure you don’t use too much or your healthy vegan dessert could turn unhealthy fast.
Have fun learning and baking with the kids.
No matter if your family is on a strict vegan diet or you just like to play around with recipes and baking, vegan cooking is a great way to teach your kids about their health. It can also show them the advantages of putting good, ethical foods in their bodies. You can teach your kids which food gives you what vitamin or health benefit. And at the end, you all get dessert! Now that’s a win-win situation!
Don’t have to give up any dessert you love.
Craving cookies, cakes, sweet breads, cupcakes, carrot cakes, lemon bars and more? Well, you can have all of those and more when you bake vegan. You won’t have to say goodbye to your favorite dessert, you just get to learn a new way to make it!
Ethical of course!
Vegan products use a lot less land for farming, don’t drain natural resources nor do they cause nearly as much pollution as their animal product substitutes. Not to mention the animals get a little break as well.
Beware fats and sugars.
Just like regular baking, vegan baking can have the issue of too much fat (margarine/coconut oil) and sugar (granulated) so make sure to always sub out when applicable and watch your portions. Vegan baking can be just as bad for you if you don’t watch what you are cooking with.
No matter what your diet, make sure to always eat your vegan desserts in reasonable portions. Share your oven-baked masterpiece and jaws won’t just be dropping because of how good it tastes, but to get another bite as well.
Interested in getting started with vegan baking or want to level up your skills in the kitchen?
Outrageous Baking has been crafting delicious gluten-free vegan breads as well as well as gluten-free / dairy-free sweet breads in Boulder, Colorado since 2006. All of our products are all free of gluten, dairy, nuts, and soy. They are free of all preservatives and additives because we believe that the best ingredients are the wholesome, natural ones.
Our motto is ‘made with love,’ and it’s been the special ingredient ever since we make our first loaf of bread. Check out our website to order dry ingredients to assist you in your baking, buy our ready-baked sweet and savory breads or even search our store locator to find our goods in local markets near you!
