12 Holiday Recipes That Make Plant-Based Baking Easy
Baking is one of the great joys of the holiday season: the kitchen gets warm and toasty, the smell of cinnamon, ginger, and clove wafts from room to room, and there’s always a little leftover batter to lick from the spatula.
But for plant-based bakers, creating vegan versions of the holiday classics can be tricky. The absence of ingredients like eggs, butter, and dairy creates some obstacles to achieving that perfect texture, crumb, or color.
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Fortunately, some very clever cooks have developed BOTH plant-based alternatives to eggs and plant-based alternatives to dairy, and we welcome you to check them out before beginning your seasonal baking bonanza.
After a quick refresher, you’ll be more than ready to whip-up vegan versions of Christmas pudding, madeleines, gingersnap cookies, and caramel apple pies. These recipes will appeal to the whole family, and are guaranteed to bring some festive cheer to the holiday table.
Happy Holidays!
Gingersnap Cookies
Every holiday table needs a platter of freshly-baked cookies to keep pesky snackers at bay. Well, this recipe for gingersnap cookies from Loving It Vegan is a sure way to satisfy all of your guests. Ground cloves, allspice, ginger, and cinnamon give these cookies a gentle hint of spice that will continue nipping at your tongue even after the last bite.
For the Gingersnap Cookies, click here.
Gluten-Free Maple Coffee Cake
Using an alternative to wheat flour makes for a more compelling taste and texture in baked goods. These gluten-free cakes from USA Pulses use chickpea flour to bolster the cake’s nutritional profile, while giving it a pleasantly dense crumb. Use a vegan butter and egg alternative to make this recipe completely plant-based.
For the Gluten-Free Maple Coffee Cake recipe, click here.
Old-Fashioned English Tea Loaf
Very similar to the classic Christmas fruitcake, this recipe for old-fashioned English tea loaf from Bit of the Good Stuff is a pleasant accompaniment to after-dinner drinks. With only a few ingredients (all plant-based), baking this cake is a fun and easy way to channel the classic holiday spirit.
For the Old-Fashioned English Tea Loaf recipe, click here.
Snickerdoodle Cookies
A soft, chewy texture and a sweet cinnamon sugar topping put snickerdoodle cookies in a category all of their own. This recipe from Sharon Palmer can be made in no time, which is probably what you’ll be left with after dealing with the rest of the holiday preparations!
For the Snickerdoodle Cookies recipe, click here.
Strawberry Coconut Almond Coffee Cake
The name says it all. This recipe from Sharon Palmer hits your tastebuds from every angle: tart strawberries, crunchy almonds, soothing shreds of coconut. But the secret to making this coffee cake moist and delicious is the combination of aquafaba (chickpea water), plant-based milk, and coconut oil.
For the Strawberry Coconut Almond Coffee Cake recipe, click here.
Streusel Blueberry Muffins
Perfect for holiday mornings, this muffin recipe from I Can You Can Vegan is a beginner-baker’s best friend. Totally vegan, these muffins show how delicious plant-based baked goods can be. Fresh blueberries and a crumb topping are just the tastes you need to go with your first sip of coffee.
For the Streusel Blueberry Muffins recipe, click here.
Vegan Caramel Apple Pie
Yum. Yum. Yum. This recipe for vegan caramel apple pie from Make It Dairy Free is everything you could possibly want from a holiday dessert. Creamy vegan caramel made with plant-based butter, a crispy crust using vegan shortening, and a warm cinnamon maple apple filling should be enough to convince you to give this decadent dessert a shot.
For the Vegan Caramel Apple Pie recipe, click here.
Vegan Chocolate Brownies
What would a holiday table be without something chocolatey? Gooey, crunchy, and totally plant-based, these vegan brownies from Blondelish are a great way to add a fudgy bite to the dessert spread. These brownies stand out from the rest thanks to creamy coconut milk and a pinch of sea salt, making them salty, sweet, and luscious.
For the Vegan Chocolate Brownies recipe, click here.
Vegan Madeleines
Madeleines are dainty, elegant, and the perfect relief after a decadent holiday feast. This vegan version of the classic French dessert from Rhian’s Recipes is easy to make and only requires one bowl. The resulting cookie has a toothsome exterior and a tender inside.
For the Vegan Madeleines recipe, click here.
The Ultimate Vegan Christmas Pudding
Christmas pudding is in a dessert category of its own. Sticky, dark, murky, and sweet, this festive dish is served almost exclusively during the Christmas season. This vegan version of Christmas pudding from A Virtual Vegan is pretty traditional except for the addition of aquafaba (chickpea water) in place of eggs.
For the Ultimate Vegan Christmas Pudding recipe, click here.
Cranberry Poached Pears
Although they aren’t technically baked, poached pears are an iconic holiday dessert. This recipe from Veggie Converter uses a poaching liquid of cranberry juice infused with star anise, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves will make the pears tender and delicious and your kitchen smell divine.
For the Cranberry Poached Pears recipe, click here.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse
Although this recipe from Blondelish doesn’t require that you turn on the oven, we are still adding it to this list because it’s a delicious holiday dessert option that requires only a handful of plant-based ingredients. Dates, coconut milk, and peanut butter create the smooth and creamy foundation of the mousse, while dark chocolate chips and vanilla extract round out the flavor.
For the Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse recipe, click here.
Share your plant-based “egg” baking successes and let us know your tips. Tag @MeatlessMonday and #MeatlessMonday. Need some more #inspo? Check out this Blackberry Bran Muffin recipe from the Meatless Monday recipe gallery.