Sweet Vegan Varieties
Introduction
More and more people choose vegetarian or vegan diets for various reasons—health, ethical concerns, or personal preference. A vegan diet uses only plant-based ingredients, replacing refined sugar with natural sweeteners like maple syrup, agave nectar, or stevia.
Vegan vs. Vegetarian vs. Raw-Vegan
- Vegetarian: Excludes meat but may include eggs and dairy; often linked to ethical or religious traditions.
- Vegan: Excludes all animal products; focuses on plant-based foods and natural sweeteners.
- Raw-Vegan: A vegan subset that avoids heating foods above 48 °C to preserve nutrients; high in fiber, low in sodium and saturated fat.
All these diets have pros and cons—balance and nutrient variety are key.
Top Vegan Dessert Recipes
Semi-Raw Vegan Layer Cake
This refreshing cake has two layers: a fruit cream and a chocolate cream. For the crust you’ll need:
- 1 tbsp cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp coconut flakes
- 400 ml coconut milk
- 200 g frozen strawberries
- 200 g frozen cherries
- 2 bananas
- 2 tbsp almond butter
- 2 tbsp honey (or maple syrup)
- 100 g vegan biscuits
Blend biscuits for the base, press into a springform pan, then layer fruit cream and chocolate cream. Freeze until firm, then let sit 10 minutes before serving.
Chocolate Almond Tart
A rich tart with almond crust and silky chocolate-tofu filling. For the crust combine:
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
- Coconut oil
- Medjool dates
- Almonds
Process into a dense base. For the filling blend silken tofu, dark chocolate, lime juice, vanilla, coconut milk, and maple syrup. Chill and optionally top with pecans.
Energy Bites
Quick, healthy snack balls packed with:
- Dried cranberries
- Goji berries
- Coconut flakes
- Peanut butter
- Tahini
- Honey (or maple syrup)
- Protein powder
- Dates
Blend, roll into balls, and chill. Customize with your favorite nuts or dried fruit.
Gluten-Free Apple & Blueberry Pies
Ready in under an hour, perfect for gatherings or fasting periods. You’ll need:
- Gluten-free yeast
- Gluten-free flour
- Salt, raw sugar, water, olive oil
- Apples, walnuts, blueberries, lemon juice
Prepare dough, fill with fruit mixture, and bake until golden.
Vegan Tiramisu
This plant-based twist on the Italian classic takes 20 minutes prep + 2–3 hours chill. Ingredients:
- Gluten-free ladyfingers
- Coconut cream
- Rice milk
- Dark chocolate
- Cocoa powder
- Agar-agar
- Brewed coffee
- Stevia or sweetener of choice
Layer soaked ladyfingers and two contrasting creams, then refrigerate until set.
Additional Sweet Ideas
- Seed & date bites
- Semolina pudding with jam (vegan)
- Tapioca pearls with mango purée
- Granola bars with coconut oil & dried fruit