25 Plant-Based Desserts for Every Occassion

When it comes to plant-based desserts you can have your cake and eat it too! From brownies, to cookies, to cakes, and ice cream, here you’ll find irresistible recipes everyone will love!

These plant-based dessert recipes are dairy-free, egg-free, and vegan friendly. Whether you’re looking for vegan dessert recipes or plant-based desserts, these recipes have you covered.

Can you eat sweets on a plant based diet?

Yes, you can eat sweets on a plant-based diet! As with all sweets and treats it’s best to eat them sparingly.

Depending on how you categorize your plant based diet, the types of desserts you allow yourself to enjoy may differ. Something simple like vegan baked apples are healthy and naturally sweet.

If you follow a vegan you can enjoy any dessert that doesn’t contain animal products. However, if you’re following a strictly whole food plant based diet you’ll need to take a closer look at the ingredients in your desserts.

What’s the difference between a vegan dessert and plant-based dessert?

Both vegan and plant-based desserts are free of animal products. That means that they do not include any dairy, milk, or egg products.

Vegan dessert recipes often include dairy-free vegan butters, oils, refined flours, and refined sugars.

Whole food plant-based dessert recipes exclude refined sugars, refined flours, and processed ingredients such as oil or vegan butters.

Instead whole food plant-based desserts use natural sweeteners, whole grain flours, or unrefined flour alternatives, and exclude oil.

Here at Keeping the Peas, the vegan desserts are most often plant-based.

What desserts can you eat on a plant-based diet?

You can truly enjoy any type of dessert when following a plant-based diet. You just need to make some adjustments to the recipe to make them refined flour, refined sugar, oil, dairy, and egg free.

From cake, to brownies, cookies, puddings, and more, you can virtually turn any recipe into a plant-based compliant dessert.

I have a big time sweet tooth. I think chocolate should be its own food group. However, I try to keep my sweet treats as healthy as possible using plant based ingredients.

You may have tried plant based desserts in the past and found them to be flavorless, dry, and unappealing. But when done right, they are not only way healthier than typical desserts, they are just as moist, flavorful and delicious.

It took me some time and many failed attempts before I figured out how to turn my favorite desserts into plant-based recipes. So if you’ve tried and had some missteps, these desserts have been tried, and tested to ensure they are absolutely the best.

Whether you’re making a dessert for one, your family, or a crowd, nobody will be any the wiser that these desserts are 100% plant-based!

Oil vs. No Oil

Most vegan desserts contain oil or vegan butter. Some common oils in vegan baking include canola oil, vegetable oil, coconut oil, and sometimes olive oil.

When making a plant based dessert you’ll need to make an oil substitute.

What oil substitutes can you use?

• Unsweetened Applesauce
• Pumpkin
• Banana
• Avocado
• Raw Almond Butter

Refined Sugar vs. Natural Sugar

Refined sugar is sugar that has been processed from sugar cane or sugar beets to extract the sugar. White sugar, and brown sugar are refined sugars. Plant based sweets do not use refined sugars or artificial sweeteners.

In order to add sweetness to plant based desserts you’ll need to use an unrefined sweetener.

What type of natural sweeteners can you use in plant based desserts?

• Pure Organic Maple Syrup
• Coconut Sugar
• Brown Rice Syrup
• Dates
• Turbinado sugar

Refined vs. Unrefined Flour

When making a plant based dessert you’ll need to avoid using refined flours. Refined flour has been processed so that it’s stripped of nutrients. Refined flours include all purpose four, white flours, bread flour, and pastry flour. and some gluten free flours.

You can still use flour in your desserts, but you want to use a type that is a whole grain and hasn’t been stripped of its nutrients.

What type of flour should you use?

• Whole Wheat Flour
• White Whole Wheat Flour
• Almond flour
• Oat flour
• Spelt Flour

Plant-Based Milks and Egg-Free Substitutes

Most mainstream desserts call for milk and eggs. When making a plant-based or vegan dessert you’ll need to find substitutes for these ingredients.

In baking recipes milk is used to improve the texture by moisture and creating a soft crumb.

Eggs provide structure and stability in a baking recipes. They also help add moisture and bind the ingredients together.

They are both essential ingredients in baking. When making a plant-based vegan dessert it is important to find an appropriate substitute that mimics the role they play.

What milk substitutes can I use in baking recipes?

Fortunately, there are many types of plant-milks on the market that can add moisture and texture to your baked goods.

Pro tip #1: Always use an unsweetened plant-milk in your baking recipes.

Pro Tip #2: Use a 1:1 ratio when substituting plant milk for regular milk in a baking recipe.

• Almond Milk
• Cashew Milk
• Coconut Milk
• Rice Milk
• Soy Milk
• Oat Milk

What egg substitutes can I use in baking recipes?

Eggs can be a bit trickier to find an appropriate substitute. It is also important to note how much of each egg substitute you need depending on how many eggs a recipe calls for.

The Most Common Egg Substitutes:

• Mashed Banana
• Applesauce
• Pumpkin Puree
• Ground Flax and Water
• Dairy-free yogurt
• Silken Tofu

Egg Substitutes for Cakes and Cupcakes

For each egg a recipe calls for use the following recommendations:

• ½ a medium Banana, mashed
• ¼ cup Apple sauce
• ¼ cup Silken Tofu

Egg Substitute for Brownies

For each egg a recipe calls for use the following recommendations:

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water

Egg Substitutes for Cookies

For each egg a recipe calls for use the following recommendations:

• 1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon water
• ½ a medium Banana, mashed
• ¼ cup Apple sauce
• ¼ cup Silken Tofu
• ¼ cups vegan yogurt

The BEST Plant-Based Desserts for Every Occasion

If you’re ready to have some fun in the kitchen and create dessert magic that will not only satisfy your sweet tooth, but will be healthy too, then you’ve got to give these tried and true recipes a try!

Plant-Based Desserts: Cookies

Soft and chewy? Thin and crunchy? How every you like your cookies there is a delicious plant-based vegan option! Here are a few of my favorites!

Plant-Based Desserts: Cakes and Cupcakes

If you’re looking to make something special for a birthday celebration, a holiday, or just because you feel like eating cake, these special treats are sure to make your mouth water!

Plant-Based Desserts: Puddings and Mousse

If you’re craving something creamy that’s still a bit on the healthier side, then these decadent puddings and mousse are perfect to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Plant-Based Desserts: Brownies

Fudgy and decadent, these healthy plant-based brownies are and easy and quick to make. They will disappear in no time!

Plant-Based Popsicles and Ice Cream

When it’s hot in the summer and you want something cool and sweet, these plant-based popsicles and ice cream are sure to please!

Looking for more plant based resources? Check out these other round ups!

• 37 Vegan Prep Meal
• 18 Vegan Pantry Meals Using Simple Food Staples
• 43 Healthy Vegan Snacks
• 15 Easy Vegan Desserts
• 24 Vegan Christmas Cookies

If you’ve tried any of these Plant-Based Desserts please let me know how they turned out by commenting below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more vegan plant-based family recipes your whole family will enjoy!