From earthy greens and golden yellows to bright pinks, deep reds, and soft purples, we guarantee that you’ll be blown away by these creative culinary possibilities. It’s amazing how fun it can be if you allow nature to take center stage in the kitchen.

Are you ready to discover all the earth has to offer when it comes to rainbow colors? Keep reading!

Is Food Coloring Vegan?

Like many everyday kitchen staples, there are some that simply fly by our radar and are not vegan-friendly. Vegan food dye can be created from either natural or synthetic, animal-free ingredients. While synthetics are seemingly less expensive, it’s been found that large quantities can be harmful to our bodies. If you’re able to find dyes based on more natural, plant-based ingredients, all the better!

Common Non-Vegan Ingredients:

• Inks (Octopus, Scuttlefish, and Squid are used for their black excretions.)
• Insects (Cochineal beetle and lac are crushed to obtain red coloring.)
• Snails (Murex sea snails are often used for their purple color.)

Living creatures are not only killed needlessly for the incidental dye that they produce but the finished products are usually tested on other animals, causing even more harm. Luckily, you don’t have to rely on animal-based dyes anymore. There are much better, more humane plant-based options!

Best 100% Vegan Food Coloring Brands

We’re lucky that the current market for vegan food coloring has a variety of exceptional brands that cater to both your creative and culinary needs. These brands offer a wide range of ravishing colors to brighten up your recipes. From vegan gel food coloring to vegan food dye, we’ve got you covered!

RawNice

This phenomenal fully vegan brand offer a rainbow of colorful superfood powders that can be used as natural food coloring agents in baking and cooking.

Color Garden

Color Garden food coloring is a natural and plant-based option, celebrated for its commitment to using real fruits, vegetables, and plant extracts to achieve delightful and vibrant shades. With a focus on wholesome ingredients, Color Garden provides a guilt-free and creative way to add enchanting colors to your culinary endeavors.

Watkins

Watkins is a time-tested favorite, celebrated for its long-standing tradition of producing high-quality, plant-based colorings using pure and simple ingredients. With a reputation for delivering consistent and vibrant colors, Watkins offers a touch of culinary nostalgia while bringing out the best in modern creations with reliable and versatile color options.

Americolor

This brand is a popular choice among bakers and decorators, known for its concentrated gel formula that delivers vibrant hues without altering the consistency of your creations. With a wide range of shades available, Americolor offers precise control over color intensity, making it a versatile tool for adding eye-catching colors to cakes, cookies, and other treats. Though this is a chemical-based food coloring, it’s free of animal-derived ingredients and is cruelty-free.

Chefmaster

This brand is a trusted companion for culinary artists and bakers alike, valued for their high-quality, plant-based Natural Liqua-Gel that infuses baked goods and confections with vivid, consistent colors. Chefmaster is known for its fade-resistant and easy-to-blend formula, allowing home bakers to craft visually stunning creations that everyone will love.

Nature’s Flavors

This standout choice is perfect for anyone seeking organic and natural options, as it features a wide selection of USDA-certified organic and vegan-friendly colorings derived from real sources like fruits, vegetables, and spices. With a dedication to purity and sustainability, Nature’s Flavors inspires chefs and home cooks to elevate their dishes with colors that reflect a commitment to both taste and ethics.

TruColor

TruColor sets itself apart with its unique water-based powder formula, designed to effortlessly blend into many different recipes while maintaining their texture and flavor. Well-known for their consistency and versatility, TruColor also offers a large spectrum of vibrant and fade-resistant shades, which we love.

Value Talks

This economical brand offers reliable color to any of your cooking and baking recipes. ValueTalks focuses on affordability and variety, making it a budget-friendly choice for both novice and experienced cooks. Though primarily chemical-based, they are free of animal-derived ingredients and animal testing.

Brands with Vegan-Friendly Food Coloring Options

If you’re out and about grocery shopping or scrambling for a last minute food coloring option on Amazon, these are the brands to search for. Though they are not entirely vegan, they may be more accessible. These are your best bets:

• Betty Crocker (Decorating Gel Food Color)
• Colour Mill (All colors except the following are vegan: Baby Pink, Raspberry, Rose, Lilac, Lavender, Burgundy, Blue Bell, and Midnight)
• Sugarflair Colours (Pastel Paste line is vegan)
• Sweetapolita (set of vegan gel food coloring in seven bright and bold colors)

Natural Food Coloring Ingredients

Food coloring can vary in its vegan-friendliness, with some synthetic options containing animal-derived ingredients. Plant-based sources like fruits, vegetables, and spices are popular alternatives, ensuring vibrant and ethical hues for your dishes.

Here are some easy-to-find colors in your kitchen pantry:

• Beets – vibrant pink or maroon
• Blueberries – lilac shade
• Matcha Tea – soft green
• Spinach – olive color
• Turmeric – sunny golden yellow

Beets, Beet Juice, Beet Puree, or Beet Powder

Beets, nature’s vibrant pink gem, yield a rich and captivating pink or maroon hue that adds an exciting pop of color to your dishes. Whether you’re aiming for a bold dessert or a colorful salad, beet juice or purée can be your go-to vegan food coloring option. Incorporate it into frosting for cakes, salad dressings, smoothies, or even pasta dough for an enticing and natural touch of vibrancy.

Example: the pink frosting on this vegan birthday cake made by blending beet powder into vanilla (white) frosting.

Matcha Tea

Elevate your culinary endeavors with matcha tea, offering a soft and serene green tone that can transform your recipes into edible works of art. Beyond its distinct flavor, matcha contributes a soothing green color to cakes, cookies, smoothies, and even savory dishes like noodles or sauces, ensuring a visually appealing and appetizing experience.

Our Matcha Buttercream Cupcakes are a perfect example!

Spinach (or Spinach Powder)

Unveil the earthy beauty of spinach by utilizing its natural olive hue to invigorate your dishes. Blended spinach provides a subtle, muted green that pairs exceptionally well with savory creations such as pasta, dips, bread, and even dumplings. This vegan food coloring option not only enhances the color palette but also enriches your meals with an extra dose of nutrients.

Example: our secretly healthy Green Blender Muffins made with spinach!

Blue Spirulina Powder

Harness the captivating power of blue spirulina to infuse your creations with a mesmerizing azure hue. Sourced from nutrient-rich blue-green algae, blue spirulina offers a natural and vibrant color that elevates everything from smoothie bowls to baked goods. Its stunning blue shade adds a touch of aquatic enchantment to your dishes, making it a sought-after choice for those looking to create visually striking and healthful culinary masterpieces.

Whether you’re blending it into frostings, beverages, or homemade energy bars, blue spirulina promises not only a stunning color but also a nutritional boost that aligns perfectly with your wellness journey.

Turmeric

Infuse a radiant burst of sunshine into your recipes with the golden magic of turmeric. Renowned for its vibrant color and health benefits, turmeric can be used to create an inviting golden yellow shade in a variety of dishes.

Whether it’s curries, rice, sauces, tofu scramble, or even plant-based cheeses, turmeric adds a warm and cheerful touch while delighting your taste buds.

Butterfly Pea Flower Powder

Derived from butterfly pea flowers, this powder produces a mesmerizing blue color that can shift to purple with changes in pH. It’s commonly used in beverages, desserts, and cocktails.

Cocoa Powder

Unsweetened cocoa powder can be used to create deep brown shades in baked goods, desserts, and other dishes.

Blueberries

Transforming your culinary creations into shades of lilac is made simple with the delightful blueberry. These small but potent berries lend a gentle and inviting color to a variety of treats. From muffins and pancakes to yogurt and ice cream, blueberry juice or purée introduces a delicate lilac tint while infusing a burst of natural flavor.

Superfood Powders That Are Natural Food Coloring Superheros

Using superfood powders and herbs is definitely the key to the best natural food coloring. Brands that we love to use to enhance color include:

• Ellie’s Best (Blue spirulina, pink pitaya, barley grass, turmeric, butterfly pea, and beetroot)
• LaTerra (Butterfly pea flowers)
• RawNice (Spirulina, pitaya, butterfly pea, activated charcoal, beet, matcha, purple sweet potato, curcumin, black carrot, black goji, black cacao, and acai berry)
• Suncore (Spirulina, butterfly pea, taro yam, purple sweet potato, ebony carrot, prickly pear, pitaya, raddish, beet, pandan leaf, matcha, passionfruit, golden berry, sweet potato, elderberry, red cabbage, acai berry, bluebery, maqui berry, and purple corn)
• Unicorn Superfoods (Blue spirulina, pink pitaya, acai berry, beetroot, black goji berry, and matcha)

Remember, experimentation is key when using natural food colorings. Adjust the quantities to achieve your desired shades, and have fun exploring the endless possibilities of creating visually appealing and appetizing vegan dishes without relying on artificial dyes.

5 Fun Ways to Use Vegan Food Coloring

Besides creating fantastic food coloring formulations for baking or making super colorful smoothies, there are several other ways to use vegan food coloring. All of these can be entertaining for both adults and children alike. If you’re crafty, you may even come up with more interesting ideas!

• Vegan Easter Egg Dyeing: Since you wouldn’t use animal eggs for this project, consider substitutes such as chalk or porcelain eggs instead.
• Vibrant Vegan Frosting: Whether store-bought or homemade, you can always add a few drops of your favorite color to match the occasion. Mix up a number of small batches of colored frosting to create a layered rainbow effect!
• Plant Experiments: Fill a few tall glasses with water. Add a different color to each. Add a flower (or plant) to each glass. Check if there’s any change in the flower’s color after 3-5 days. Keep notes as you go along. Lots of fun for kids, especially during the spring and summer months.
• Homemade Water Colors: Add several drops of food coloring to a few ice cube trays, particularly red, yellow, and blue. Once frozen, add each ice cube to a small glass or plastic cup. Either wait until the ice cube melts or add a little bit of warm water to help liquify the ice cube. Use as you would any watercolor paint. The color may be lighter, but it will still work well.
• DIY Beauty Recipes: Consider adding vegan food coloring to scrubs, lip balms, and even lotions! The dazzling color can truly enhance an otherwise neutral-colored recipe.

Plant-Based Food Coloring FAQs

More Brilliant Baking Links to Love

• Add another level of awesomeness to your next delicious cake (or cupcakes!) with a decorative dose of sassy Vegan Sprinkles.
• Looking to add some chocolatey goodness to your next batch of cookies or brownies? Then, you’ll love these guides on Vegan Chocolate Chips and White Chocolate Chips.
• Ever wonder if Cream of Tartar, Marshmallows, or Cocoa Powder are vegan? Click to find out!
• Have you been itching to make some vegan-friendly meringues, but have no idea where to start? How about checking out this guide to Aquafaba and make the most mouthwatering plant-based almond meringues you’ve ever had?

As you dive into the world of vegan food coloring, don’t just add color—add a splash of your own personality to every dish! So go ahead, let your inner artist roam free in the kitchen, and paint your plates with the joyful shades of nature, creating not just meals but edible expressions of your values and tastes.

The post 20+ Vegan Food Coloring Options (Plant-Based & Natural) appeared first on World of Vegan.

We are blown away by the sheer number of sensational vegan bakeries that exist online. Not only do the shops sell the most delectable desserts and super cute sweets, but they also feature freshly baked breads, rolls, and even appetizers. We love how each vegan bakery style is unique, with oodles of options!

Many of these vegan bakeries offer gluten-free, soy-free, nut-free, sugar-free, and allergen-free options. 

How Do I Find A Vegan Bakery Near Me?

Local vegan bakeries are emerging in cities around the world. In nearly every major urban area, one can discover a vegan-friendly bakery or even several exclusively vegan bakeries.

If you travel to one of the hottest vegan cities like New York, San Francisco, Austin, Chicago, Seattle, Cleveland, Berkeley, Oakland, London, or Chile, you’ll have more vegan bakeries nearby than you can fit in a weekend.

We love the Happy Cow phone app which is similar to Yelp but specifically geared toward vegan and vegan-friendly establishments. If you’re traveling—or just looking for the best local vegan bakeries or eateries near you—Happy Cow can point you to them.

When you open the Happy Cow app on your phone, you’ll immediately find a list of the closest vegan hotspots, complete with star ratings, reviews, and the exact distance from your location. Additionally, the app offers a map with directions, making it incredibly convenient to navigate your way to the bakery or eatery of your choice.

Mainstream chains are also beginning to recognize the growing demand for vegan baked goods. Whole Foods Market, for instance, is an excellent option for vegans as they offer custom-made vegan cakes for all types of celebrations, as well as cupcakes, cookies, doughnuts, puddings, and more.

100% Vegan Bakeries That Ship Nationwide

Tens of thousands of people are searching for a “vegan bakery near me” or “vegan desserts near me” every month. Let’s celebrate the best vegan bakeries and vegan bakers meeting these needs and serving plant-based treats to the people!

Below, you’ll find a lengthy list that will help you choose the best vegan bakery for your needs. They all offer nationwide shipping and home delivery! We’ve included the location, just in case you’re able to visit or pick up in person. Select shops also offer specialty services or personalization on their cookies or cakes. 

Fat Badger Bakery

They have delicious, individually wrapped vegan cookies that ship in cute boxes by the dozen and fun seasonal flavors like maple glazed pumpkin cookies for fall and a special winter holiday box with the most chewy delicious vegan brownies. They also have a wide variety of year-round cookie collections and gift certificates. Great for gifts, events, and company parties. Their vanilla bean cookies are our favorite!

Karma Baker

This bakery always has gluten-free vegan cakes, cookies, donuts, pies, and tarts. They have really fun vegan dessert boxes that make great gifts. Our favorites include their cake in a jar, cakesicles, pink donuts with sprinkles, and cake pops. They all travel very well and can be frozen for up to three months after they arrive.

Southern Roots Vegan Bakery

This bakery transforms southern recipes into healthier vegan versions without lacking in taste. You’ll find cakes, cookies, donuts, brownies, rolls, gift cards, and merch.

Abe’s

Abe’s has everything from muffins to coffee cake to cakes and newly released vegan cupcakes. They are allergen-friendly and make without milk, eggs, nuts, sesame, soy, and pea protein. And yet they are absolutely delicious. The World of Vegan team loves Abe’s and turns to them often for events and home enjoyment. Abe’s muffins and baked goods are available both online and in many grocery retailers such as Whole Foods Market. They are proudly vegan and it’s always exciting to see the big “Vegan” label as you walk through the grocery store!

Coco Luv Plant Based Bakery

They are a family-owned vegan bakery making delicious treats without preservatives, dairy, eggs, soy, and refined sugar. You can get gourmet cookies that taste homemade and are made with LUV! Here you’ll find cakes, rolls, pies, breads, danish, fritters, brownies, cookies, cookie cakes, lemon bars and more!

Erin McKenna’s Bakery

This vegan and gluten-free bakery is perfect for those who are health-minded. They use natural sweeteners sparingly and allow those with allergies to indulge in delicious treats without worry! Here you’ll find refined sugar-free, gluten-free, wheat-free, soy-free vegan cupcakes, cakes, donuts, loaves, cookies, muffins, mounds, brownies, and soft serve.

Hale Life Bakery

Started by a mother-son duo, they turned their Celiac’s diagnosis into an opportunity to be the first ever gluten-free, vegan, and allergy friendly bakery in Tampa, FL. What they offer: gluten-free, allergen-friendly vegan bread, waffles, rolls, donuts, cookies, brownies, buns, and bundt cakes.

Maya’s Cookies

America’s #1 Black-Owned Gourmet Vegan Cookie Company, this bakery offers both classic and unique flavors of cookies. You’ll also find merch, accessories, gift cards, and gluten-free options here.

Naturally Sweet Desserts

Here, you’ll find delectable vegan desserts that contain no refined sugars, flours or preservatives. They have an assortment of brownies, cookies, cupcakes, donuts, muffins, hand pies, and cheesecake.

Sinfull Bakery

The first vegan bakery in Houston, you’ll find a wide menu of assorted quality baked goods made with all-natural, mostly organic ingredients, free of artificial flavoring and preservatives. This includes bars, cookies, granola, cinnamon rolls, pies, loaves, cupcakes, muffins, and platters.

Sticky Fingers Eats & Sweets

The founder, Doron Petersan, is a two-time winner of the Food Network’s Cupcake Wars! Here you’ll find Bake-It-Yourself and Decorate-It-Yourself kits as well as Ready-To-Eat cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and bistro items if you’re local!

The Naughty Cookie

This vegan bakery uses organic and cruelty-free ingredients, free from preservatives and baked fresh daily. Here, you’ll find a variety of luxury vegan cookies with traditional and unique flavors like the Ooey Gooey S’mores Cookie and Confetti Cookie.

Yvonne’s Vegan Kitchen

Founded by French-trained chef, Yvonne Ardestani, you’ll find vegan and gluten-free options for those who are looking to eat healthier without compromising on flavor. They offer cakes, cookies, donuts, brownies, pies, baking mixes, kits, vegan cheeses, healthy snacks, and platters.

Have you ordered vegan baked goods online from any of the vegan bakeries listed above (or others not listed)? Let us know what you loved (or what you didn’t)! Did we miss your favorite vegan bakery? We invite you to share in the comments below. 

Online Bakeries With Vegan Options

Chip City Cookies

Calling all cookie monsters! Chip City has been serving up delicious decadent cookies at 18 locations throughout New York and New Jersey for years—and they can now ship nationwide! The vegan flavors are marked with a cute cow symbol, and they recently released three delicious vegan cookie flavors nationwide via Uber Eats.

Whether you’re in the mood for classic dairy-free chocolate chip, a cinnamon twist with their horchata flavor, or the ultimate mash-up of brownie and cookie with their brookie, you can now get your fix no matter where you are in the country. You can order a 6-count or 12-count box of these mouthwatering vegan treats and have them delivered straight to your doorstep.

Vegan Desserts Nearby

The passionate vegan bakeries above are all phenomenal small businesses worthy of support, but let’s face it, sometimes we just want to swing by our local grocery store and pick up some vegan cupcakes or a last-minute vegan birthday cake. If you don’t have time to place an order in advance and wait for delivery, here are some great brands and options you can find in stores:

• Abe’s Muffins (delicious vegan muffins, cakes, and pound cakes made without eggs, nuts, milk, sesame, or soy)
• Better Bites Bakery (chocolate covered vegan cookie dough, vegan hostess cupcakes, and cakes that are certified vegan, plant-based, non-GMO, kosher, and gluten-free)
• Eat Pastry (store-bought vegan cookie dough)
• MadeGood (soft baked mini cookies in snack packs for kids)
• Maxine’s Heavenly Cookies (naturally sweetened and gluten-free)
• No Cookie (chewy vegan cookies without gluten, dairy, eggs, and hydrogenated oils)
• No Whey Chocolate – Lakewood, NJ (free of dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, gluten, eggs, and soy with no artificial flavors or colors, kosher, candies, chocolates, gift boxes, snacks, seasonal)
• Sweet Loren’s (vegan cookie dough that’s dairy-free, gluten-free, tree nut free, peanut free)
• Tubby’s Taste – (cookies full of bold flavors like Grapefruit Pineapple Hibiscus cookies and Mocha Oat Chocolate Chip)
• Uncle Eddie’s Vegan Cookies – Online and many locations across several states

Vegan-Friendly Bakeries Nearby

This list is of bakeries that provide vegan options but keep in mind that not all of their baked goods are vegan.

• Baked by Melissa – New York (vegan cupcake gift boxes)
• Creek House Chocolates – Etsy (vegan gourmet chocolate gift boxes)
• Cute as a Cupcake – Merrillville, IN (3 vegan cupcakes)
• GoldBelly – New York, NY (gourmet cakes, jars, breads)
• Greyston Bakery – Brooklyn, NY (vegan brownie pack)
• Guilt-Free Pastries – Memphis, TN (cinnamon rolls, donuts, merch, gift cards, custom orders)
• Madeline & Pearl – Los Angeles, CA (some vegan cookies, brownies, loaves, bars)
• Southern Girl Desserts – Los Angeles, CA (7 options for vegan cupcakes)
• The Cupcake Collection – Nashville, TN or New Orleans, LA (1 vegan option for a celebration cake or cupcake)
• The Cake Bar – Denver, CO (100% vegan cakes, cake jars, and cupcakes)

Whether you’re searching for the perfect treat for a treasured friend or trying to curb your own cookie cravings, these online vegan bakeries are the bomb! Just a couple of clicks brings your cupcakes one step closer and can (and must be!) purchased in your My Little Pony pajamas.

You’re not only supporting small businesses but also making a conscious decision to choose vegan and cruelty-free desserts. Comment below and share your favorite online vegan bakeries or even just your experience shopping for sweets online. We’d love to know which decadent desserts bring you the most delight!

Best Reasons to Buy from Vegan Bakers & Bakeries

Last-Minute Vegan Gifts

Just found out about Erin’s engagement or Jacob’s new job promotion? Gifting a dozen congratulatory cupcakes is a fast and fantastic way to show your support.

Birthday Blunders & Last-Minute Vegan Birthday Cakes

Let’s admit it. Sometimes we forget and we need a gift PRONTO! Vegan birthday cakes are not always the easiest to find locally—and you may not have time to bake a vegan cake from scratch—so online shops are a splendid solution.

Supporting Small Vegan Businesses

You’re not only satisfying a serious cookie craving, but also helping to keep a small business alive. Let local vegan bakeries know that they’re the best by supporting them through online orders.

Love Variety? Leave it to the Professional Vegan Bakers!

I’ll be honest. I can make a nice vegan cookie, brownie or cupcake. Are they amazing? Yes. Do I enjoy them? Of course! But once in a while, I want a cookie that takes all of my cares away without the work—with enough gooey richness to cause a cookie coma for days to come. That, my friends, can only be gifted by a brilliant baker.

“Thinking of You” Thoughtfulness

Every now and then, it’s kind to send a gift for no reason at all. Just a tiny token to say “I’m thinking of you.” Rest assured your recipient will really appreciate your loving gesture.

The Holidays!

A gift of scrumptious sweets and perfect pastries is guaranteed to be a hit for any holiday. Not only will the person enjoy every bakery bite, it also helps to keep down the pile of not-so-perfect presents that might be headed to the charity shop.

You can also order baked goods for your own holiday celebrations! Whether you’re shopping for Christmas, Hanukkah, Easter, Halloween, or any other occasion, vegan holiday cookies and treats are always a winner. 

Too Busy to Bake from Scratch

Sure, you can probably bake your own cookies or cupcakes. Maybe even vegan doughnuts. But, let’s face it, every so often, we just can’t be bothered. Once in a while, use your lazy laptop to select your sweets. (Impatiently waiting by the door and drooling until they arrive…)

Conscious Choice to Shop Vegan

To me, this is the best reason to buy from an online vegan bakery. Our actions tell the world, in a direct and serious way, how important this issue is to us. With our hearts and minds, we are choosing to 100% support those who care for animals and their welfare.

Frequently Asked Questions

And, don’t forget to show your thanks to the delivery drivers who bring these tasty baked treats to your door. Turn it around and leave a few treats for them in return. Find out more with our Gratitude Snack Cart guide!

Vegan Baked Good Recipes

If you’ve got the time and access to a kitchen, we highly recommend whipping up some of these delicious vegan desserts. These are a few of our favorite vegan baked good recipes!

• Basic Vegan Birthday Cake
• Vegan Pop Tarts Recipe
• Fudgy Vegan Brownies
• Vegan Crumb Muffins
• Pumpkin Muffins with Chocolate Chips
• Vegan Lemon Olive Oil Cake
• Vegan Sufganiyot Jelly Donuts
• Best Vegan Pumpkin Pie

Best Homemade Vegan Cookies

What’s better than the sweet smell of fresh bakes cookies? Here are a few of our favorite recipes to try. 

• Easy Vegan Chocolate Chips Cookies
• Best-Ever Vegan Oatmeal Cookies
• Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Vegan Sugar Cookies
• Easy Vegan Gingersnap Cookies

Pssst…are you a chocolate lover? Don’t miss our vegan chocolate guide where you can find a list of vegan-friendly brands and the best vegan chocolate options for fellow chocoholics. 

The post Vegan Bakery Guide — The Best Vegan Bakeries That Will Ship To Your Doorstep appeared first on World of Vegan.

Made with simple ingredients I always have on hand, I love that I can easily whip up a batch of these muffins any time. After several iterations to perfect these, I’m excited that this recipe is finally ready for you! So, what are you waiting for? Grab your whisk and get in the kitchen!

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Banana Crumb Muffins

• Irresistible Banana Bliss: These vegan banana muffins are infused with the rich and comforting flavors of ripe bananas, offering a delightful taste that’s both naturally sweet and satisfying.
• Guilt-Free Indulgence: Made entirely without any animal products, these muffins are a guilt-free treat for vegans and those seeking to reduce their environmental impact. Enjoy every scrumptious bite knowing you’re making a compassionate choice for animals and the planet.
• Crumbly Cinnamon Sugar Topping: The delectable crumbly cinnamon sugar layer on top adds a tantalizing crunch and a warm, aromatic touch to each muffin, elevating them to a whole new level of deliciousness.
• Easy and Quick to Make: With a simple and straightforward recipe, these vegan banana muffins can be whipped up in no time, making them a perfect go-to treat for breakfast, snacks, or dessert. You’ll love how effortlessly they come together!

The Perfect Crumbly Muffin Top

Once you make muffins with that sweet crumb topping, you may never go back! For the longest time I was intimidated by the crumb top, but that was just silly. It’s easy, and it takes just a few additional minutes of prep to dramatically increase the wow-factor of your homemade muffins.

The trick to the perfect crumb topping is “cutting in” the butter without melting it. There are several different techniques you can use to do this. The simplest way is using a pastry blender, but if you don’t own one, don’t fret. You can use a sharp knife, a fork, and even your hands if they’re dry, not too warm, and you work quickly to avoid melting the butter.

You’ll know you’ve achieved the perfect crumb topping mixture when it comes together when squeezed between your thumb and forefinger but otherwise crumbles apart. When you’re adding it to the top of the muffin batter, make sure you pat it into the batter so it sticks. It’s okay if it’s very powdery, just load on a good amount!

It’s so satisfying pulling them out of the oven, feeling like a master baker. You’ll feel like a contestant on The Great British Bake Off! Don’t worry, there will be no soggy bottoms here. I’m sure even Paul Hollywood would approve.

Star Ingredients

For The Muffins

• All-Purpose Flour: For a healthier twist, you can replace some or all of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour or a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
• Mashed Banana: Two medium-sized ripe spotty bananas, mashed well with a fork, lend the primary flavor and moisture to the muffins, making them irresistibly moist and naturally sweet.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds the perfect touch of sweetness to the muffins to complement the natural sweetness from the bananas. You can substitute coconut sugar, just keep in mind it will make the baked muffins appear darker.
• Soymilk: Other non-dairy milk options like almond milk or oat milk will work equally well in this recipe.
• Fuji apple: Adding a delightful burst of flavor and texture, diced Fuji apples complement the bananas and offer a subtle tartness to balance the sweetness. If you don’t have Fuji apples you can use other varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples, but make sure they are diced into small pieces for even distribution in the muffins.

For The Crumb Topping

• Brown Sugar: Provides a rich caramel-like flavor that perfectly complements the cinnamon.
• Ground Cinnamon: Adding warmth and depth to the muffins, ground cinnamon complements the banana flavor and provides the signature touch of aromatic spiciness.
• Vegan Butter: Chilled vegan butter is key to creating a crumbly texture for the topping. You can also use vegetable shortening as an alternative, keep in mind the result may be slightly different in taste and texture but will still yield a delicious crumb topping.

Top Tips

• Chill the vegan butter. When making the crumb topping, it’s essential to keep the butter or substitute cold, as this helps create the desired crumbly texture. If the butter becomes too soft while mixing, refrigerate the topping mixture for a short while before sprinkling it over the muffins.
• Choose ripe bananas. Use ripe, spotty bananas for the best flavor and natural sweetness. Overripe bananas are ideal as they mash easily and add a more intense banana taste to the muffins.
• Don’t over-mix the batter. When combining the wet and dry ingredients, be gentle and avoid overmixing. Over-mixing can lead to tough and dense muffins. Stir just until the ingredients are combined and no large lumps remain.

How To Store

To maintain freshness, store the muffins in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

For longer storage, freeze them in a freezer-safe container or resealable bag for up to 3 months. To reheat, allow to thaw in the fridge overnight, then microwave for 15-second increments until warmed through.

Perfect For Any Occasion

These muffins are super versatile, and you can dress them up with fun cupcake liners and other accouterments. Here are some of the celebrations and everyday uses they would be perfect for:

• Vegan Easter Brunch
• Vegan Valentine’s Day
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas
• Birthday Celebration (instead of cupcakes)
• School or work events
• Meal prepping
• Everyday breakfast or dessert

I just had a baby and I love making a batch of these vegan banana muffins while my little one is sleeping, and then freezing most of them so that I have quick treats to turn to throughout the week. It’s a great recipe for busy moms, vegan professionals, vegan students, and kiddos alike!

More Vegan Baking Recipes

You can’t go wrong with a batch of traditional and wildly tasty Vegan Crumpets, Vegan Cinnamon Rolls, or Raspberry White Chocolate Scones to accompany a tasty tea party or brunch buffet. For the young-at-heart, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins and Vegan Chocolate Chips Cookies are always a hit.

Sweetly spiced Vegan Pumpkin Muffins and whole food, plant-based Homemade Granola Bars are an excellent choice for lunchtime treats, hiking snacks, or anyone who is on-the-run most days.

These fresh and fruity Blackberry Muffins are moist and bursting with blackberries. You’ll fall in love with the flavor!

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Vegan Banana Muffins + Easy Crumble Topping

These vegan banana crumb muffins are a favorite in my house. Made with banana, apple, and cinnamon, they carry a banana bread vibe with cinnamon-sugary goodness that will have you reaching for seconds. Good thing they're so easy to make!

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine Amercan

Keyword crumb muffin recipe, vegan banana muffins, vegan crumb muffins

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 50 minutes minutes

Servings 10 muffins

Calories 280kcal

Author Michelle Cehn | World of Vegan

Ingredients

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 cup mashed banana approximately two medium-sized ripe spotty bananas mashed well with a fork
• ½ cup canola oil
• ⅓ cup soymilk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• ½ cup diced Fuji apple skin can be left on

Crumb Topping

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 2 tablespoons chilled vegan butter

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line cupcake tin with cupcake liners.
• In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder and mix well.
• Form a well in the flour mixture and add the mashed banana, canola oil, soymilk, and vanilla extract. Gently mix together with a fork or spoon. Fold in the diced apple chunks.
• Prepare your crumb topping. Add the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt to a small bowl and mix well. Cut in the cold butter. To do this, slice the butter into small pieces with a knife, add it to the bowl, and then using a fork, mash the butter in with the dry mixture until combined. If necessary, you may use your hands briefly to combine, but you don't want the butter to warm and melt. The resulting crumb topping should be crumbly just barely sticking together when squeezed.
• Fill your cupcake liners with batter (all the way to the top, which should make 10 muffins). Top with crumb topping, pushing it firmly into the top of the batter so it adheres to the muffin.
• Bake for 27-30 minutes, or until the muffins start to get lightly golden on top and a toothpick comes out of the center of the muffin clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool before enjoying!

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 211mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 50IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 69mg | Iron: 1mg

Vegan banana crumb muffin recipe and photos by Michelle Cehn, copyright of World of Vegan, all rights reserved.

The post Vegan Banana Muffins with Easy Crumble Topping appeared first on World of Vegan.

Banana bread has taken the world by storm in recent years because it’s easy enough for a novice baker to whip up with ease and is made with only basic pantry ingredients. These vegan chocolate chip banana muffins are treats well beyond breakfast too, perfect for dessert, a snack, or anytime sweet cravings strike.

If you want a comforting meal on the go, baking a batch of muffins along with your other meal prep is a great way to save time during the week. Despite making a generous dozen muffins per batch, you can double the recipe to bake for a crowd. Leftover muffins freeze and thaw beautifully, so you’ll never run out.

Why You’ll Love These Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins

• Quick and easy. If you have 10 minutes, you could have muffins in the oven and ready before the sun rises. In fact, this recipe is so easy that you could probably make it in your sleep!
• Versatile. Prefer nuts over chocolate? Done. Want a serving of whole grains? No problem with spelt flour. This basic formula is highly adaptable based on your needs and taste preferences.
• Affordable. Forget all the fancy, expensive specialty ingredients. A properly stocked pantry probably has everything you need already.
• No refined sugars. You’re already sweet enough; no need to sugar-coat it! Bananas lend natural sweetness into the mix, amplified by pure maple syrup. This combination is lower on the glycemic index than processed white sugar, so it won’t spike your blood sugar, leading to a rush and then crash later.
• Portion control. Individual servings make it a snap to keep portions in check. It’s also great for serving a crowd since there’s no cutting needed for everyone to get their fair share.

Make These Vegan Muffins Mini, Jumbo, or Any Size!

Whether you want just a one-bite pick-me-up or a full loaf, it’s easy to adapt this recipe for any size of baking pan you prefer.

• Mini muffins: lightly grease 36 mini muffin cups and bake for 10 – 13 minutes.
• Jumbo muffins: lightly grease 5 jumbo muffin cups and bake for 30 – 35 minutes.
• Loaf: lightly grease an 8×4-inch loaf pan and bake for 50 – 60 minutes.
• Snacking cake: lightly grease and 8-inch round cake pan and bake for 25 – 30
  minutes.
• Bundt cake: lightly grease a 10-inch bundt pan, double the recipe, and bake for 75 –
  90 minutes.

Essential Vegan Muffin Ingredients

All-purpose or light spelt flour

All-purpose flour is the gold standard for soft, tender, yet sturdy baked goods. If you want to add in a serving of whole grains, light spelt flour is an excellent alternative, containing much more fiber and a subtly nutty wheat flavor. If you want to make gluten-free muffins, you can substitute this with a gluten-free flour mixture that measures the same as conventional flour.

Cinnamon

It’s hard to beat that warm, cozy spice, especially paired with the fruity sweetness of bananas. To really amplify the flavor, try toasting your ground cinnamon in a dry skillet for about 5 minutes. As a bonus, the whole house will smell amazing!

Bananas

The most popular fruit in the entire world, bananas are always in hot demand. The trouble is that they ripen so quickly, it’s easy to end up with a surplus on hand. This recipe is a great way to make use of those super ripe, spotty bananas, so don’t even dream of tossing them out!

Maple Syrup

Offering much more than just straight sweetness, maple syrup has a distinctly woodsy, earthy flavor and gorgeous amber-brown color. It also contains more minerals, nutrients, and vitamins than other common sweeteners.

Non-Dairy Milk

Take your pick from almond, soy, hemp, oat, rice, flax, and beyond! Any non-dairy milk works wonderfully here.

Coconut Oil

Though solid at room temperature, coconut oil melts easily at 77°F (30°C). Virgin coconut oil has a subtle tropical taste, whereas refined coconut oil is completely flavorless.

Vegan Chocolate Chips

Everything is better with a little bit of chocolate, right? Bittersweet or dark chocolate works best in this recipe to balance out the sweetness in the batter, but you can use any vegan variety you’d prefer. For even bigger chunks of chocolate in every mouthful, use a roughly chopped chocolate bar instead.

How to Bake The Best Muffins

Muffins are an easy way to get started if you’re new to vegan baking. You can’t go too far wrong with this fool-proof recipe, but there are a few simple tricks to remember for baking up the best batch yet.

1. Pour the wet ingredients into the bowl of dry ingredients. This is called the “muffin method” specifically because it’s the most efficient way to combine the two mixtures without having flour go everywhere when you start to stir.

2. Don’t overmix the batter. Though it’s tempting to beat out all the lumps, it’s better to leave a few once the rest of the batter is smooth. Avoid creating extra gluten by mixing too much, which makes tougher baked goods.

3. Use the center rack in the oven. Too close to the bottom or the top, and they’ll burn before they’re cooked all the way through. Keep the pan in the middle of the oven for more even cooking.

4. Don’t overcook the muffins. Start checking at the earliest estimate for the baking time range, inserting a toothpick into the center of the muffins. If it pulls out cleanly, with maybe just one or two moist crumbs sticking to it, they’re all done! If it comes out coated in wet batter, they still need a few more minutes.

Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe Notes & Pro Tips

If you want to increase the nutrition, feel free to switch out all-purpose flour for something like light spelt flour. You can also add chopped walnuts to the batter, or completely omit the chocolate chips and only use walnuts instead. Also, if you’d like the recipe to be oil-free, you can swap out the coconut oil for unsweetened applesauce.

Make sure to always use super ripe bananas! You might think that a spotty banana with a lot of black marks is bad, but this kind of banana is absolutely perfect for these vegan chocolate chip muffins. A recipe like this is a great way to use bananas that are about to go bad. If you don’t have the time or ingredients to make muffins right away, you can freeze ripe bananas and save them for your next baking day.

More Marvelous Vegan Muffin Recipes to Try

• For something savory, these Vegan Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins are a must-try! They’re the ultimate party-perfect treat or a delightful companion to a comforting bowl of soup!
• Love blueberries? Discover the ultimate delight in every bite with our easy Vegan Blueberry Muffins that combine sweet, plump blueberries and a pillow-soft base for a heavenly treat suitable any time of day!
• Take your muffins up a notch with these Vegan Crumb Muffins! The crumb topping is irresistible!
• Swap bananas and use pureed pumpkin instead to make these incredible Vegan Pumpkin Muffins With Chocolate Chips!
• Give your breakfast routine a makeover with these fantastically fluffy Vegan Crumpets made with super simple ingredients.
• For something healthy and kid-friendly, these Green Toddler Blender Muffins are the perfect snack!
• And if you need something extra sweet and delicious don’t sleep on these Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes! They are crowd-pleasing and foolproof!

Equipment You’ll Need

• Muffin Tin (Cupcake Tin)
• Measuring Spoons
• Measuring Cups
• Potato Masher
• Mixing Bowl
• Rubber Spatula

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The Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins

Want to make your breakfast extra special? Bake up some of these delicious chocolate chip banana muffins! The combination of chocolate chips and banana is unbeatable and offers the perfect pick-me-up for a weekday slump. 

Course Breakfast, Dessert, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword dairy-free muffins, vegan banana muffins, vegan chocolate chip muffins, vegan muffin recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Servings 12

Calories 219kcal

Author World of Vegan

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour or light spelt flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 3 medium very ripe bananas or 4 small
• ⅔ cup maple syrup
• ⅔ cup non-dairy milk unsweetened and at room temperature
• ¼ cup coconut oil melted
• 1½ tsp vanilla extract
• ⅓ cup vegan chocolate chips

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Line a 12 cavity muffin tray with muffin liners.
• Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
• In a large shallow bowl, mash 3 medium bananas or 4 small bananas very well with a potato masher. Add the maple syrup, milk, coconut oil, and vanilla extract and mix until smooth. There will still be some clumps from the bananas and this is completely normal.
• Combine the wet and the dry ingredients and whisk gently to combine.
• Fold in the chocolate chips. I used mini chocolate chips but you can use larger ones.
• Distribute the batter between the 12 muffin liners. Bake for 22-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Let the muffins cool in the muffin tray for at least 15 minutes. Remove the muffins from the tray and allow them to cool completely. Enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 219kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 278mg | Potassium: 169mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g | Vitamin A: 19IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 87mg | Iron: 2mg

Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins photos by Kathy Chrzaszcz for World of Vegan. Recipe and photographs copyright of World of Vegan, all rights reserved.

The post Vegan Chocolate Chip Muffins appeared first on World of Vegan.

Sadly, the most common tea party sandwiches contain dairy and animal products. We’re convinced that eliminating the dairy and meat only enhances the flavor, while also saving the animals! Woo! We guarantee that these vegan tea party recipes will tempt and tantalize even non-vegan friends and family. (Shh…if you don’t say anything, we won’t either!)

Wishing you the most wonderful and magical vegan tea party adventure! Let us know in the comments below what you’ll serve at your next afternoon tea. We’d love to hear all about it!

How Should I Prepare For a Vegan Tea Party?

The most important elements of a tea party are the freshly brewed tea, fabulous food, and decadent desserts. And, of course, your closest friends! But, there are a few overlooked details that can transform a regular old beverage and buffet into something really special.

• Lacy tablecloth, cloth napkins, and tea cup strainers
• Fancy silverware, teapots, teacups, and plates (you can easily find inexpensive sets at your local thrift store!)
• Vegan candles and fresh picked flowers
• Pretty containers for serving plant-based milk, sugar, vegan honey, and jam

Another helpful tip is to make the desserts and baked goods ahead of time. It will save you time and stress the day of your festive tea.

What Is the Best Time for a Tea Party?

The most common time for an afternoon vegan tea party is between 3:00 and 5:00 pm. That way, it’s more of a treat and, as hostess/host, you are not required to do a lot of cooking. If you’d like to prepare a “high tea”, it would be similar to a dinner and would take place around 5:00 pm. With this type of tea party, you should include more substantial food, such as a warm main dish.

Our favorite high tea main dishes include:

• Vegan Chicken Pot Pie for a creamy, comforting, and nostalgic dish.
• Vegan Cottage Pie if you’re craving potatoes and veggies.
• Mushroom & Veggie Wellington is always a hit when you’re searching for an old-fashioned favorite, vegan-style.

How To Serve Vegan Finger Sandwiches

Traditional finger sandwiches are simply sandwiches cut into slim triangles or rectangles (also called “fingers”). All you need to do is to make a batch of vegan tea sandwiches and do a bit of careful slicing with a sharp knife. Ideally, you should count on one full sandwich per person. In case your guests are extra hungry or thinking the tea party is more like lunch, it’s best to add an extra sandwich count to the list.

Serving these dainty, itty-bitty sandwiches is super fun. The time-honored way is to display your delicious food on a three-tiered tea party tray. But, feel free to use anything you have on hand such as pretty platters, a variety of plates, or even a couple of cake stands. Whatever you decide will be just right.

Here is how to arrange the foods in each tier:

• Top Tier: vegan candies, chocolates, and cakes
• Middle Tier: scones, creams, and preserves
• Bottom Tier: tea sandwiches

Must Have Recipes for a Vegan Afternoon Tea

It’s very exciting to create a mouthwatering menu for a tea party, especially a vegan one. These heavenly recipes will have your guests hankering for more! Choose at least 2-3 different choices for each tier.

Desserts (Top Tier)

• Cakes: Vanilla Sponge, Lemon Olive Oil, or Carrot Cake
• Cookies: Sugar, Florentine, or Almond Meringues
• Cupcakes: Lemon Buttercream, Chocolate, or Matcha
• Sweets: Stuffed Dates, Caramel Squares, or Chocolate Truffles

Baked Goods (Middle Tier)

• Muffins: Crumb Topping or Blackberry
• Scones: Raspberry and White Chocolate
• Donuts: Chocolate or Jelly
• Toppings: Strawberry Chia Jam, Heavy Cream, or Vegan Butter (TIP: To create something similar to clotted cream, mix 2 tablespoons of powdered sugar and 5 tablespoons of vegan butter. Whip until smooth and creamy. Add in 6 ounces of heavy cream and whip for 2-3 more minutes.)

Sandwiches (Bottom Tier)

• Vegan Chicken Salad
• Vegan Tuna Salad
• Carrot Lox with Vegan Cream Cheese
• Avocado Cucumber Sandwich (recipe below!)

When you’re making the sandwiches, make sure to use vegan bread (preferably white) and dairy-free cheese. Slice the finished sandwiches into 4 delicate triangles (or “fingers”) and layer in sections onto the bottom tier of the tea tray. Always make your sandwiches fresh right before serving. No one likes stale or dry sandwiches!

Don’t Forget the Tea!

To make the very best beverage, use loose leaf tea. Fill the kettle with cold, filtered water, bring to the desired temperature (on package instructions), and brew for the suggested amount of time.

Vegan Tea Party Locations

If you’re just not into planning, decorating, and spending time in the kitchen, consider going out for a tea party celebration. Although there aren’t too many (yet!) that specialize in vegan tea parties, here is a list to check out:

• Stanford Inn By The Sea (Mendocino, CA)
• Brook Farm Inn (Lenox, MA)
• The Marlton (New York, NY)
• Muir’s Tea Room (Sebastopol, CA)
• Alice’s Tea Cup (Brooklyn and New York, NY)
• Babe’s Tea Room (Denver, CO)

If you’re lucky enough to be in London, there are some incredible vegan afternoon tea restaurant options!

More Vegan Sandwiches To Try

• Try a Eggplant Bacon BLT when you’re craving something salty and comforting.
• This Vegan Air-Fryer Thanksgiving Sandwich is the perfect way to use up holiday leftovers.
• Our Artichoke Vegan Tuna Salad Sandwich is our appetizing take on this classic sandwich.
• A savory Pizza Burger can be delicious any day of the week!
• Vegan Falafel Pitas never disappoint. Great for on-the-go lunches!

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Vegan Avocado Cucumber Tea Sandwich

Traditional tea party sandwiches with a plant-based twist! Instead of a cholesterol-laded lunch, try this cool and creamy, cruelty-free sandwich instead. You'll adore these avocado-filled, savory sandwiches. Dress up fancy, drink your tea, and dive into deliciousness.

Course Brunch, Lunch

Cuisine American

Keyword vegan sandwich recipe, vegan tea sandwich, vegan tea sandwiches

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 finger sandwiches

Calories 54kcal

Author Michelle Cehn | World of Vegan

Ingredients

• 2 slices white bread
• ¼ avocado thinly sliced
• 5 rounds cucumber thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon green onions finely sliced
• dash salt
• dash pepper
• dash garlic powder optional

Instructions

• On top of one slice of bread, add the avocado slices. Then, layer with slices of cucumber.
• Sprinkle with green onions, salt, pepper, and garlic powder (optional).
• Top with the second slice of bread, press down gently. If desired, slice off the crusts and cut into 4 triangles.

Notes

• Substitute vegan mayo for avocado, if desired. 
• Feel free to add more or less avocado and cucumber to your taste.
• Swap the green onion for red onion, if you like that type better.

Nutrition

Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Sodium: 61mg | Potassium: 81mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 34IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 29mg | Iron: 1mg

The post Vegan Tea Sandwiches & Tea Party Tips appeared first on World of Vegan.

How to Celebrate A Vegan Easter

If you’re wondering, it’s easy to celebrate a vegan Easter without any ethical compromises or personal sacrifice. Plus, this holiday is a great opportunity to teach your kids about the importance of living with kindness and consideration in all aspects of life. I’m happy to share some cruelty-free options for your plant-based Easter celebrations this year.

Vegan Chocolate Bunnies 

It makes me so happy to see that several online chocolate shops now offer a selection of vegan Easter-themed goodies—including vegan Easter bunnies. Chocolate bunnies are iconic for Easter, as well as shiny, foil-wrapped chocolate eggs. Just be sure to double check that items are vegan, as some companies that make vegan chocolates also offer products that aren’t vegan.

• No Whey Chocolate (100% vegan)
• Moo Free (100% Vegan)
• Vegan Treats (100% Vegan)
• Amanda’s Own
• Divvies
• Lake Champlain

Etsy is also home to many craftspeople who sell homemade vegan chocolate bunnies. Plus, you’ll be supporting a small business! 

Vegan Cream-Filled Chocolate Eggs

If you’re a lover of the ooey-gooey, cream-filled Cadbury eggs, you’re in luck. Several companies have started to replicate this using all vegan ingredients. No Whey Chocolate and Moo Free make vegan Cadbury eggs and they are awesome. You can also find foil-wrapped vegan chocolate eggs (as well as bags, boxes, and vegan chocolate bunnies) at Amanda’s Own.

Making your own vegan cream-filled chocolate eggs might be fun, too! Here are a few recipes that are super close to the original. If you don’t mind taking the time, they’re worth it. Each cream egg recipe is slightly different in texture, flavor, and shape, so choose whichever looks best to you.

• Vegan Chocolate Creme Eggs by It Doesn’t Take Like Chicken 
• DIY Vegan Chocolate Eggs With Raspberry Cream by Vancouver with Love
• Vegan Cream Eggs by A Virtual Vegan
• Cadbury Vegan Creme Eggs by Hell Yeah, It’s Vegan!

Vegan Easter Baskets

Suggestions for a beautifully filled vegan Easter basket

Easter Basket Sweets:

• Vegan chocolate bunny
• Vegan cream eggs
• Other vegan chocolates
• Vegan candies or lollipops

Small Toys and Candy-Free Easter Basket Gifts:

• Stuffed animal
• Stickers
• Small children’s book
• Dino egg bath bombs
• Coloring pages
• Sketchpad
• Art supplies
• Bunny pasta
• Small puzzle
• Small lego set
• Shiny coins or money 

Peep! While you’re carefully considering what to add to your vegan Easter baskets, please remember not to purchase Peeps. Although they are sweet, soft, and squishy, Peeps are made with animal skin and bones (gelatin). Yuck! Instead, try out this super cute vegan marshmallow peeps recipe from LiveKindly.

Sustainable Easter basket Swaps:

• Instead of using plastic eggs that open, choose colorful little canvas drawstring bags for storing small gift items.
• Wrap your basket with a patterned print fabric and cloth ribbon. The clear plastic gift bag and ribbon that are traditionally used creates a good deal of waste at the end of the day.
• Have a hide-and-seek game with chalk eggs! After all of the eggs are found, each child can receive a little chalkboard to draw on or have a section of the driveway to create original pieces of artwork. So much fun!

More Eco-Friendly Options

We all want to be more Earth-friendly, so I wanted to list some awesome alternatives that will save you money and also save you from using so much plastic waste. As always, only do what you can, you don’t have to be perfect. Even a small swap will make a big difference in the long run. 

• Don’t Buy New Baskets – Reuse baskets you already have at home or go to the thrift store to find baskets in good condition. I’ve bought at least five baskets this way and they only cost $1 each! Choose natural materials over colorful plastic so that you can use the baskets all year long for different holidays and seasons.
• Say No to Decorative Straw – This is a hard one. I know that the translucent green (or pink!) filler is incredibly appealing, but it’s horrible for the planet. I have two suggestions, though. If you really must have this straw, buy it once and save it from year to year. Because it’s plastic, it can be rinsed or washed if necessary, but you can just throw it in a storage bag to use the next year. A better option (if you haven’t already bought any filler) is to find paper green “grass”. You can even get recycled paper grass at Five Below stores, which can be saved, composted or recycled when you’re done. 
• Earth-Friendly Fun – Pass on the plastic when purchasing vegan Easter toys and gifts for your baskets. Buying a ton of cheap plastic trinkets will only add up to more unwanted junk in your house, and will also leave more refuse for the landfill. Choose wooden puzzles and toys, books, coloring pages, crayons (these are even egg shaped!), art supplies, construction paper, and maybe some vegan yarn and wooden knitting needles.

Vegan Easter Eggs (For Painting)

Before you reach for that carton of eggs, consider this. Every conventional egg subjects a hen to 24 hours in a battery cage (or similarly miserable conditions). The poor hens! Instead of painting chicken eggs, look for more creative and caring alternatives.

• Wooden Easter Eggs: Buy a set of lovely wooden eggs and adorn with acrylic paints, stickers, or cover with your favorite fabric. Visit our vegan art supplies guide for inspiration. There are endless, creative ways to make this activity fun for children.
• Paper Egg Cutouts: Cut egg shapes out of pretty patterned card stock and accent with fun, sparkly stickers. Or, use pastel construction paper and color them with markers. You can hang them on the fridge and save them for years to come. Add a small picture of your family to the front and you also have a fun family heirloom, too!
• Avocados: Paint an avocado! Or cover it in a piece of fancy foil and boom—the ultimate vegan Easter egg. Just make sure that it’s not overripe!
• Cookies: Bake a batch of egg-shaped vegan sugar cookies and decorate them with vegan royal icing or frosting made with vegan butter! Check out this Vegan Food Coloring guide for more rainbow-color inspiration.

Vegan Easter Brunch Menu Ideas

Easter brunch is one of the highlights of my Italian Grandma’s family celebration. She can spend weeks deciding what to make, which cookies to bake, and which candies to buy. Though meals will differ from family to family, here’s a list of my favorite vegan recipes that can easily be substituted for traditional Easter meals. They’re delicious! What are your family favorites for Easter?

Plant-Based Easter Appetizers

• Huge, crispy salad
• Savory hummus board 
• Fresh sweet tart fruit salad
• Crispy home fries
• Creamy deviled potatoes 

Vegan Easter Main Meal

• Veggie Meatloaf, Mushroom Wellington, or any of these phenomenal vegetarian roast recipes. 
• Fluffy Vegan Frittata or savory Vegan Quiche
• Easy Vegan Sheet Pan Pancakes
• Lovely Lemon Asparagus With Shallots
• Creamy Asparagus and Mushroom Soup
• Glazed Vegan Ham With Amber Ale Glaze
• Pasta Salad (made with bunny-shaped pasta)
• Steaming Dinner Rolls

Delicious Vegan Easter Desserts

• Decadent Vegan Carrot Cake
• Lucious Lemon Olive Oil Cake
• Creamy Vegan Lemon Custard
• Dreamy Vegan Snickers
• Rich, chocolatey Florentine Cookies
• Protein-packed Lemon Pistachio Quinoa Cookies
• Fluffy Vegan Crumb Muffins
• Chewy Vegan Scotcharoo Bars
• Adorable Vegan Easter Chickpeep Cupcakes With Buttercream Frosting

Easter Drinks

• Sweet-tart Strawberry Mint Lemonade
• Sparkling Strawberry Peach Spritzer
• Refreshing Orange Juice Smoothie
• Zesty Lemon Smoothie

Searching for egg substitutes or more plant-based egg recipes? Our Vegan Egg Guide is the perfect place to start!

Easter PSA: Please Don’t Buy Live Rabbits

If you’ve made a thoughtful and long-term decision to welcome an adorable bunny into your home, that’s wonderful! But please be sure to adopt and keep in mind that some bunnies are high maintenance, especially Angora bunnies. They can also be pretty destructive and love chewing on electrical cords and furniture. Sadly, most rabbits given as Easter gifts wind up neglected and unwanted when the novelty wears off. 

Different breeds of bunnies also have numerous health issues. It’s a good idea to do some research ahead of time to be certain that you have the time and energy to commit to this sweet, sensitive animal. If you feel that you’re 100% committed, you can find many resources for adopting at the House Rabbit Society.

Rabbits can live up to 12 years, and the estimated cost of caring for a rabbit over that time is between $3,000 and $4,000 dollars. If that doesn’t fit in your budget, then visit an animal sanctuary or head to your local animal shelter to volunteer and play with bunnies instead. Volunteering is far more rewarding with no expense or obligation. 

I hope this guide will help you celebrate a compassionate and caring vegan Easter for years to come! 

Photos by Michelle Cehn. Content copyright World of Vegan, all rights reserved.  

The post Vegan Easter Guide {Chocolate Bunnies, Easter Eggs, & Brunch Ideas!} appeared first on World of Vegan.

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, so we’re thrilled to bring you the most delicious green cupcake recipe you’ll ever try. They’re made with a simple vegan chocolate cupcake base and topped with an insanely delicious frosting colored green with something way better than food coloring. The age-old antioxidant-rich green tea: matcha.

If you’ve never tried or perhaps never even heard of matcha, don’t let this recipe intimidate you! Read on to learn more about this incredible superfood, and then get your sweet tooth ready for these unbelievable cupcakes.

What Is Matcha?

We love matcha—not only for the incredible health benefits but also the delicious taste!

Matcha is the delicately ground powder of green tea leaves that can be dissolved in water and enjoyed as a beverage or used in recipes for a bright green, caffeinated, antioxidant-rich kick. Matcha has been a beloved ingredient for centuries, and a popular superfood all around the world. There are many brands of matcha, but their quality can vary greatly. In this recipe, I used Ujido matcha.

If it’s a new flavor for you, these cupcakes are a perfect way to get acquainted. It’s a very mild matcha flavor in this cupcake frosting. Plus, who doesn’t love cupcakes?

Matcha powder is traditionally a vibrant green color which reflects its high levels of phytonutrients and antioxidants. It also has a very nice, fine texture, which enables you to add it to recipes or sip on matcha tea without having to worry about tea leaves.

Matcha has numerous health benefits. It’s truly a magnificent superfood! Numerous studies have proven matcha to have astounding benefits. There’s nothing better than a healthy and tasty superfood!

Matcha Health Benefits

Some of the benefits matcha is known for include:

• Contain upwards of 130 times the antioxidants of brewed green tea
• Scores 1,573 on the ORAC antioxidant scale (this is a very high level compared to Goji berries: 253, Dark Chocolate: 227, Pomegranate: 105, Wild blueberries: 93, Acai berries: 60, Broccoli: 31)
• High in chlorophyll
• High in L-Theanine which reduces physiological and psychological stress & relaxes and refreshes the body
• Natural source of caffeine
• Can improve focus
• Great source of EGCG (a cancer-preventative polyphenol)

Now that we know a little bit about all of the amazing benefits of matcha, let’s get these cupcakes baking in the oven!

And if you want to go all-out, you can serve these up with a frothy matcha latte made with your favorite plant-based milk and a touch of maple syrup. Cheers to that!

Best Type of Matcha

I used ceremonial grade matcha which is considered to be the highest quality and also has a slightly deeper green hue. Ceremonial grade matcha is made from the youngest tea leaves and is appreciated for being slightly sweeter, smoother, and less bitter. That said, you can also use culinary grade matcha which is less expensive and is intended for cooking.

How To Use Matcha As Natural Food Coloring

We just love that you can whip up vibrant colorful foods using the power of nature. No artificial colors are used to make this beautiful green frosting. The color simply comes from the natural chlorophyll in the matcha tea which creates a deep green pigment.

A lot of food coloring is either not vegan or is made with artificial ingredients. But fret not! You can use matcha powder in many different types of recipes if you want a natural green food coloring.

To make your frosting a uniform green color, add all the matcha and mix until the green color is well distributed. If you’d like to create a white and green blended frosting effect (as pictured), keep half of the frosting white (as is), and mix a single teaspoon of matcha into to the other half of your frosting.

If you prefer a deeper green and stronger flavor feel free to add more matcha to the frosting. I recommend adding half of a teaspoon at a time and tasting as you go. The color of the frosting will be more vibrant if you add more matcha, and it will be so pretty!

How To Make These Vegan Matcha Cupcakes

These cupcakes are super-easy to make. The only equipment you need other than your oven is a mixer to make the delicious and vibrant green frosting. You can use a stand mixer or a hand mixer—both will work perfectly.

Make The Cupcakes

Step One: Start by sifting the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl to prevent clumps. Set aside while you gently melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl.

Step Two: Combine the apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract with the melted butter, then, creating a well in the dry ingredients, pour in the melted butter mixture. Add the room temperature water and gently fold all the ingredients together.

Step Three: Distribute the batter evenly in a lined cupcake pan and bake on the center rack of a preheated oven set to 350 degrees F for about 22-30 minutes. When a toothpick inserted into the center of a cupcake comes out clean, they’re done.

Step Four: Remove from oven and allow the cupcakes to cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool fully. While you wait for them to cool completely, make the matcha frosting.

Make The Frosting

Step Five: Using soft, room temperature vegan butter, whip the butter with a stand mixer or handheld mixer for a couple minutes. Add the powdered sugar half of a cup at a time and mix until it begins to form a frosting. Add the vanilla extract and whip until the frosting is smooth.

Step Six: For a uniform green color, add all of the matcha powder and mix well until it’s uniformly green. For a blended green and white frosting (as pictured), separate half the frosting to keep white and mix a single teaspoon of matcha in the other half.

Step Seven: Once the cupcakes are fully cooled, use a piping bag to pipe the matcha frosting onto the cupcakes. Feel free to use a knife to spread the frosting if you don’t have a piping bag.

How Can I Get the Swirled Frosting Rose Effect?

You’re welcome to smear the frosting onto the cupcakes with a knife, of course, but if you want to get fancy, here are some tips!

To get the rose frosting effect pictured, you’ll need a piping bag (I like these reusable silicone piping bags) and an extra large rose piping tip. This specific nozzle will enable you to transform your frosting into a lovely rose atop your cupcake by simply starting in the center of the cupcake and swirling outwards. A few quick YouTube tutorials will get you going in no time. That’s how I learned!

If you’d like to get a white and green swirl effect in your frosting, it’s easy. Instead of adding matcha powder to the full batch of frosting for a uniform green look, you can keep half of your frosting white and swirl the two together! To do this, simply smear the white frosting on one side of your piping bag and the green matcha frosting on the other half, and frost away!

Perfect Treat For St. Patrick’s Day

These dreamy chocolate cupcakes pair beautifully with this vanilla matcha buttercream frosting that has just a hint of matcha flavor. Enjoy these wickedly delicious cupcakes to celebrate a vegan St. Patrick’s Day, or any time of the year!

You can even make a batch of these cupcakes ahead of the big St. Patty’s Day party if you’re tight on time. Your friends will seriously love them and they won’t have a clue that this recipe is vegan.

You can also add some vegan sprinkles for and extra festive touch!

More Green Vegan Treats

Can’t get enough of matcha or looking for more green treats to serve for St. Patrick’s day? Here are our top picks:

• Vegan Matcha Chip Ice Cream adds the perfect subtle matcha to this delicious homemade ice cream.
• Make breakfast more fun with these beautiful green Vegan Matcha Pancakes!
• Try Banana Spinach Muffins which can easily be prepared in a blender and are a kid-approved way to eat more greens!

Print

Vegan Matcha Cupcakes

This delicious matcha buttercream frosting is perfect for piping on your cupcakes. It holds its shape beautifully! It's thick and deliciously sweet and creamy with just a hint of matcha flavor. 

Course Dessert

Cuisine American, Japanese

Keyword matcha buttercream frosting, matcha frosting, vegan matcha cupcakes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 12 cupcakes

Calories 130kcal

Author Michelle Cehn | World of Vegan

Equipment

• Handheld Mixer or Stand Mixer

Ingredients

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes:

• 1½ cups all purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch salt
• 6 tablespoons vegan butter melted but not hot
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup water room temperature

Matcha Buttercream Frosting:

• 1 cup vegan butter
• 3 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons matcha powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line a cupcake pan with 12 liners. Set it aside.
• To prevent clumps, sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large mixing bowl and set aside. 
• Gently melt the vegan butter until it is just melted (but not hot). Combine in a small bowl with the apple cider vinegar and vanilla extract. 
• Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients mixture as well as the room temperature water.
• Use a silicone spatula to gently fold the ingredients together until combined. The batter will appear slightly bubbly. Use a whisk to gently mix out any clumps if needed. 
• Distribute the batter evenly between the cupcake liners and bake on the center rack for 22 – 30 minutes. Check for doneness but inserting a toothpick into the center of a cupcake—if it comes out clean with no wet batter, they're done.
• Remove the cupcakes from the oven and let them cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

For the Matcha Frosting:

• Measure 1 cup of vegan butter and place it in a bowl. Let it sit on the counter to allow it to get to room temperature. If you're in a hurry, set it near the oven and watch it closely until it's softened to room temperature, but don't allow it to melt.
• When the butter is soft, transfer it to the bowl of a stand mixer (a hand mixer will work too) and whip it for a couple of minutes.
• Add the powdered sugar half of a cup at a time and mix until it begins to form a frosting. Add the vanilla extract and whip until the frosting is smooth.
• If you’d like all your frosting to be a uniform green color, add all the matcha and mix until the green color is well distributed. If you’d like to create a white and green blended frosting effect (as pictured), keep half of the frosting white (as is), and mix a single teaspoon of matcha into to the other half of your frosting. Feel free to add more matcha if a stronger matcha flavor or deeper green color is desired.
• Once the cupcakes are fully cooled you can use a piping bag to pipe frosting onto the cupcakes. This frosting recipe generously frosts 12 cupcakes. If you don’t have a piping bag, you may use a knife to spread the frosting onto the cupcakes.

Notes

Store the cupcakes in the fridge or at room temperature for up to a few days.

Nutrition

Calories: 130kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 3g | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 4mg | Sugar: 0.04g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Calcium: 1mg | Iron: 0.1mg

Vegan Cupcakes With Matcha Buttercream Frosting recipe and food photography by Michelle Cehn. Content copyright World of Vegan, all rights reserved. 

The post Vegan Cupcakes With Matcha Buttercream Frosting appeared first on World of Vegan.

From hearty and wholesome mains to tantalizing desserts, these green-inspired dishes not only honor the traditions of the day but also showcase the vibrant flavors and colors of nature’s bounty. So, whether you’re an ardent vegan or simply looking to add more green goodness to your celebrations, join us on a culinary journey that proves you can revel in the luck of the Irish while staying true to your compassionate and cruelty-free lifestyle.

The Green Season

Green is appropriate in March not just for the luck of the Irish but also because it brings the first sprouts of new life. Spring is a time of renewal and rejuvenation—so refresh yourself with some energizing green foods.

Eating a colorful diet helps to ensure a balanced intake of a wide variety of nutrients. When it comes to nutrition, the color green is a powerhouse! Chlorophyll is the energizing green pigment in plants responsible for harnessing the energy of the sun—what’s more rejuvenating than that? St. Patrick’s Day brings out the green in all of us! 

Superhero Green Veggies

Leafy greens like kale, collard, mustard, dandelion, romaine, and spinach are packed with lutein, which helps to keep eyes healthy. Lighter green fruits and veggies like zucchini, avocado, and kiwi are also rich in lutein.

Additionally, leafy greens are rich in folate, which is an essential nutrient especially for women of child-bearing age as it helps to prevent neural tube defects.

Cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts have sulfurous compounds that are powerful in cancer prevention.

Vitamin K is another nutrient found widely among dark green veggies. Vitamin K helps blood to clot and keeps bones healthy.

Potassium, a particular nutrient of concern since the standard American diet is so sodium-heavy and potassium-deficient, is plentiful among green fruits and veggies. Eating a diet rich in colorful fruits and vegetables and minimizing processed food intake helps to ensure an excellent sodium-potassium balance and healthy blood pressure.

The Best Vegan St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

Continuing the green theme, here are our best vegan recipes with vibrant green colors that are perfect for serving on St. Patrick’s Day!

MosKale Mule

This mash-up of the classic, gingery cocktail is made using kale juice to turn the vegan cocktail a gorgeous shade of green. Skip the typical copper mug and opt for a clear glass instead to show off the vibrant green color!

Green Frosted Cupcakes

Turn vegan chocolate cupcakes with buttercream frosting into a beautiful green treat for St. Patrick’s Day! Matcha powder easily adds a lovely green color to the frosting with just a hint of matcha flavor.

Creamy Green Pea Soup

This green pea soup may be loaded with veggies, but we promise it doesn’t taste green! It’s extra flavorful and will quickly become your new favorite way to eat greens!

Green Detox Soup

If you’re feeling sluggish from the winter blues, this soup is for you! A healthful green detox soup with leeks and veggies will nourish your body and soul! It’s great for a light lunch or a side to your dinner!

Green Spinach Banana Muffins

Sneak veggies into delicious muffins perfect for picky eaters! The batter blends up easily and takes no time at all to make. Kids of all ages will gobble up these secretly healthy spinach banana muffins as a snack.

Spicy Green Beans

These sizzling green beans are spicy, satisfying, and oh-so-addictive! They make a great side dish and are ready in just 20 minutes.

Spinach Tofu Curry (Palak Tofu)

This vibrant green curry is not only healthy and nutritious, but absolutely delicious too! It’s packed with spinach, full of flavor, and a garlic lover’s dream!

Vegan Matcha Pancakes

Level up your vegan St. Patrick’s Day breakfast or brunch with these beautifully green vegan matcha pancakes. They don’t require any more effort than your favorite vegan pancakes recipe to become a green tea-infused vegan breakfast delicacy.

Sheet Pan Roasted Peas

If you’re a lover of peas, you’ve got to try these easy sheet pan roasted peas. With just 6 ingredients and 10 minutes of effort, you can make this no-fuss side dish that always gets rave reviews!

Matcha Chip Ice Cream

Bust out your ice cream maker and make this delicious mint chocolate chip ice cream made with matcha! With a coconut milk base and just 6 ingredients you’ll be able to make a green dairy-free ice cream for a festive St. Patrick’s Day treat!

More Green Foods For St. Patrick’s Day

There are so many ways to incorporate greens into our meals that we couldn’t resist sharing more. Here are some quick green food ideas for any meal of the day to enjoy an abundance of greens!

Breakfast

• Green smoothie
• Green juice
• Avocado toast

Lunch & Dinner

• Giant green salad
• Edamame hummus with green veggies in a spinach wrap
• Pesto pasta with asparagus
• Split pea soup
• Green falafel

Dessert

• DIY mint ice cream
• Copycat Shamrock Shake

Snacks

• Green tea
• Green fruit
• Pistachios
• Snap peas
• Kale chips

Bonus: make natural green food coloring and expand your green horizon by adding strong kale or spinach juice to your foods. No juicer necessary, just blend up the leaves with a little bit of water to desired strength and consistency. Green tofu scramble, anyone? This is an excellent option to have fun with the kiddos on St. Patrick’s Day without the chemical dyes.

Vegan Holiday Guides

We’ve got you covered year round for the holidays! Here are more vegan holiday guides for inspiration:

• This Vegan Easter Guide has everything from vegan Easter brunch recipes to vegan chocolate bunnies to sustainable traditions.
• How To Host a Vegan Passover Seder provides tips on how to host plus traditional Passover foods made vegan.
• Get into the spooky spirit with the very best vegan Halloween recipes, candy, and more!
• Find everything you need to enjoy a Vegan Thanksgiving including guides to vegan roasts, vegan Thanksgiving recipes and take the Turkey-free Thanksgiving Pledge.

The post Vegan St. Patrick’s Day Recipes appeared first on World of Vegan.

Seattle, also known as the “Emerald City,” is truly a gem in the Pacific Northwest. Home to lush evergreen forests, sweeping waterfront views across Elliott Bay to the Olympic Mountains, and a thriving urban landscape in between, there’s no shortage of natural beauty to behold. Beyond that obvious aesthetic appeal, it’s a city of incredible depth as well.

Pop art adds splashes of color well beyond the walls of museums, though it would be a shame to miss the masterful works on display at the Chihuly Garden and Glass while you’re there, too. Coffee connoisseurs will be in heaven, drinking in the strong bean-to-brew culture, rooted in the original Starbucks location still operating in Pike Place.

Once you’re fully caffeinated, go rock out to some head-banging beats, since it is the birthplace of the grunge movement, after all.

What really sets Seattle on the map as a destination for foodies, however, is the incredible scope of vegan eateries and compassionate chefs that are serving up unforgettable plant-based meals every day.

If you want to avoid eggs and dairy without giving up flavor, you’ve come to the right place. There are over three dozen completely vegan restaurants, bakeries, cafes, bars, and specialty shops waiting for you in “The City of Flowers” and surrounding area.

Whether you’re looking for healthy vegan restaurants, decadent bakeries, or a casual cafe, you’ll find the perfect spot below. If you’re dairy-free, gluten-free, soy-free, whole foods plant based, raw, or have any other type of specialty diet, you will find good company in Seattle.

Vegan Video Tour of Seattle, Washington

Explore the best of vegan in Seattle virtually with Eunice Reyes from Rated V on YouTube! This video takes you on an intimate tour of the city to show off some of the most drool-worthy meals from breakfast through dessert.

With her visit to multiple vegan donut shops, a vegan ice creamery, a vegan Vietnamese restaurant, and more, Eunice will leave you itching to book a trip. This video was made in collaboration with The Humane League, a fantastic farmed animal advocacy organization.

Seattle’s Healthy & Nourishing Plant-Based Restaurants

For healthy, nourishing foods that will keep you full and focused, these establishments serve up wholesome that positively radiate fresh flavors.

Café Wylde

Smoothies and juices get top billing at this Everett, WA, but it would be a shame to leave without tasting the pesto zucchini noodles, Korean BBQ tacos, or raw cheesecakes while you’re in town.

Plum Chopped

For some extra leafy love, chef-driven salads are main event at this grab-and-go outpost. Build your own with unique vegan specialties like nut cheese, coriander-rubbed strami tofu, fried chickpeas, and all the vegetables you can fit on a fork.

Broadfork Café

Emphasizing an all-organic, farm-to-fork approach to easy vegan eats, this broad menu of American staples will win over health nuts and junk food lovers alike. Two locations are churning out mushroom melts, veggie bowls, and hearty burritos from Tuesday to Sunday, lunch to dinner.

Pure Café

Pure and simple, you’d be hard-pressed to find fresher fare anywhere in Vashon Island. Warm rice bowls topped with curried kabocha sqash, slow-cooked black beans, and plenty of leafy greens are the headliners at this no-frills café.

Viva Tacoma

Long live this vibrant vegan eatery, dedicated to uplifting the community through better nutrition. You’ll find healthier twists on loaded nachos, towering sandwiches, and a diverse array of globally inspired cuisine that will leave you feeling happier, not heavier.

Fine Dining and Fancy Vegan Restaurants

To celebrate a special occasion, impress a hot date, or simply treat yourself, here are some upscale eateries that are sure to impress.

Mike’s Café and Wine Bar

Upscale but unpretentious, you could just as happily come here for a romantic meal with your significant other or a relaxing drink with the gang. The flatbread pizzas, complete with a gluten-free cauliflower crust option, are a must-try.

Cheeky Martini Lounge

Leave the kids with a sitter for this one, since it’s a 21+ only affair, best known for their creative cocktail menu. They often host events such a whisky tasting and more, so check their website for tickets to these curated experiences.

Plum Bistro

One of the original plant-based hot spots that gained critical acclaim over a decade ago, Chef Makini Howell pioneered the upscale vegan movement with this sophisticated dining destination. Expect truffled gnocchi, oyster mushroom calamari, tofu pastrami Reuben sandwiches, and so much more.

Harvest Beat

Five-course dinner menus with all the bells and whistles are available to enjoy in-house and to-go for one flat rate. If you’d rather order a la carte, come in for lunch to pick your favorite from their short selection of guaranteed top hits.

Feast or Fiesta at These Vegan Mexican Restaurants

The spice is right if you’re craving piquant Mexican meals! Get a taste of these regional specialties without going south of the border.

El Borracho

Dig into mucho meatless munchies and so much more at three locations. Since the name does mean “drunkard” in Spanish, it should come as no surprise that there’s a robust bar menu to indulge in, complete with a wide variety of frosty margaritas.

Mas Veggies

Created by the masterminds behind Veggie Grill, this delivery-only concept brings tacos, burritos, bowls, and nachos straight to your door. Choose from five plant-based seasoned proteins and make it your own!

Casual Vegan Comfort Food in Seattle

Classic vegan comfort food always hits the spot. When you want some nostalgic, soulful dishes that everyone will love, you can’t go wrong with any of these options.

Life on Mars

Definitively settling the age-old debate, there is lots of life in this hopping vinyl bar! Every night feels like a party thanks to the fun atmosphere, strong drinks, and compelling eats. Take a bite out of cauliflower wings or plant-based crab cakes and enjoy the music!

Quickie Too Café

Get in and out with this quick take on satisfying soul food. Order up hush puppies, grilled cheese sandwiches, and tofu jerk for instant vegan gratification.

The Bayside Café

Though best known for their gourmet burgers and brats with house made fixings, the Sunday breakfast menu is worth a special trip. Where else can you get a plant-based Monte Cristo sandwich, complete with dairy-free cheese, plant-based bacon, and berry jam, all between two French toast buns?

Cycle Dogs

With a constantly rotating seasonal menu, expect the unexpected from these heavy-hitting hot dog and hamburger aficionados. Follow their Instagram account to keep up with the latest weekly specials.

Pizza Pi

Claiming the title of “America’s oldest vegan pizzeria,” these veterans of the trade have perfected the art of the dough. Thin crust, stuffed crust, or gluten-free crust alike, each slice emerges crisp, piled high with your favorite toppings and Teese mozzarella cheese.

Galaxy Rune

Belly-busting burgers are the main event in this galaxy of meatless delights. Piled high with vegan bacon, dairy-free cheese, and bee-free vegan honey mustard, they really do taste out of this world.

Georgetown Liquor Company

100% vegan bar and restaurant situated in the historic Georgetown neighborhood, you should come for the cocktails, but stay for stay for a meal. French dip sandwiches and buffalo chicken salads make sure you won’t leave hungry.

Next Level Burger / Next Level Clucker

This national chain is determined to conquer the world of fast food with plant-based burgers, fried chicken, and milkshakes is now well established in the Seattle area. They’re both housed in the same Whole Foods Market so can grab pantry staples and crispy nuggets all in the same trip.

Seattle’s Vegan Food Trucks & Food Carts

Sammies Vegan Food Cart

Slinging hot sandwiches even on the coldest days, this low-key cart has a short selection of guaranteed hits for grab-and-go satisfaction.

New Public Food Truck

Declaring themselves as “Bellingham’s tastiest guilt-free guilty pleasures,” expect a meal rich in mozzarella sticks, burgers, and tater tots. Their location changes throughout the week, but it’s worth hunting down this roving truck for a bite of comfort food.

Vegan Asian & Eastern Inspirations

Whether you’re looking for authentic Asian dishes or creative new fusion innovations, you can find everything just beyond the shores of Washington state, right in the heart of its largest city.

Teapot Vegetarian House Restaurant

Family-owned and operated since 2008, this homespun café serves pan-Asian fare with a touch of western influences thrown in. Portions are generous, unfussy, and there’s always plenty of hot tea to go around.

Kati Vegan Thai Restaurant

Easily the best Thai food this side of Chiang Mai, modern twists on traditional dishes breathe new life into classic staples. There’s plenty of pad kee mao and tom yum to go around, but don’t overlook the innovative artichoke cream sticks and “devil wings” appetizers, too.

Araya’s Place

If you want to try a little bit of everything, hustle down to one of three Araya’s Place locations for the lunchtime buffet. Pile your plate with all sorts of Thai specialties, from papaya salad to green curry, and don’t forget a tall glass of Thai tea to wash it all down.

Ba Bar Green

Raise a glass to kabocha & sweet potato laksa, Lao crispy rice & quinoa salad, and dan dan noodles exploding with hot chili oil. For great deals and drinks, don’t miss happy hour every day from 2 – 5pm.

Emmy’s Vege House Restaurant

Soy protein seamlessly soaks in bold pan-Asian seasonings instead of conventional animal meat, and no one would ever tell the difference. Running the gamut from Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and beyond, there’s something the whole family will enjoy.

ChuMinh Tofu & Veggie Deli

This Vietnamese deli offers up a rare taste of authentic dishes that’s completely plant-based. Load up on banh mi, pho, rice plates, and more without worries about anything getting lost in translation. Every Sunday, they give back to the community by serving free meals to anyone who needs it!

Loving Hut

International sensation and arbiter of plant-based Asian tastes, Loving Hut lays claim to hundreds of outposts worldwide. Each one is individually owned and operated, so you’re likely to find new and exciting options at the sole Seattle satellite.

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction: Vegan Bakeries & Dessert Shops

Eat dessert first! As long as it’s vegan You won’t want to miss these incredible pastries, vegan donuts, and tempting treats.

The Wild Oat Bakery & Café

Serving up breakfast and lunch with plenty of sweet treats in between, check out their rotating selection of scones, muffins, cookies, cakes, pies, and cupcakes while you’re in town. You never know what you might find!

Boots Bakery and Lounge

For an after-dinner drink or dessert, this Spokane speakeasy has everything you need. It’s a vegan and gluten-free bakery and espresso and cocktail lounge. The treats make this a worthy stop for late night cravings.

Mighty-O Donuts

Four locations bear these golden fried rings covered in sugary glazes of all flavors and colors. Yeasted, cake, and mini donuts provide plenty of variety for frequent visitors.

Brown Sugar Baking Company

When you want a specialty cake, this is the place to go. Creating fanciful towers and tiers upon request, it’s hard to believe that these works of art are edible… Until you taste them!

Flying Apron

You’ll be flying high at Flying Apron because all the sweet and savory treats are both vegan AND gluten-free! Offering a safe space for those with food allergies to let loose and indulge, these bakers care most about community, tolerance, and accessibility to healthy, delicious foods. It’s even better that you can get those good vibes with a side of freshly fried beignets dipped in chocolate or berry sauce.

Lazy Cow Bakery

Bringing joy to the Fremont neighborhood through plant-based sweets, everyone raves about their flaky croissants, tangy lemon meringue tarts, and of course, incredible works of sculptural cake art.

Cinnaholic

Bringing create-your-own cinnamon buns to plant-based audiences nationwide, this outpost of the US sensation offers the same set of over 20 frostings, toppings, and other sweet finishes to make your own pastry masterpiece. In case that wasn’t enough, you can grab gooey brownies, giant cookies, and bracing lattes, too.

Between the sights, sounds, and flavors on full display in Seattle, it’s easy to see why any visitor trying to squeeze everything in would wind up sleepless.

More Vegan Restaurant Guides

• NYC Vegan Restaurants
• Austin, Texas Vegan Restaurants
• Chicago, Illinois Vegan Restaurants
• Cleveland, Ohio Vegan Restaurants
• San Francisco Bay Area Vegan Restaurants
• Berkeley, California Vegan Restaurants
• Oakland, California Vegan Restaurants
• Kauaii, Hawaii Vegan Restaurants
• London, UK Vegan Restaurants
• Chile Vegan Restaurants

If you need a bite while you’re traveling in a city that isn’t particularly vegan-friendly, check out our guide to finding “vegan food near me” and our Vegan Fast Food Restaurants Guide.

We hope you enjoyed this guide sharing the best vegan restaurants in Seattle, Washington! If we missed any of your favorite Seattle vegan restaurants, we invite you to highlight them in the comments below. Many thanks to Hannah Kaminsky for her help with this article. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you again!

The post Best Vegan & Vegetarian Restaurants in Seattle appeared first on World of Vegan.

Celebrate the beginning of autumn (or really anytime) with a tempting tray of these super scrumptious and sweetly spiced snacks. Squash any fears you have about baking these babies. All you need to do is stir, spoon, and set into the oven.

Pumped to get started? We hope you are––we can’t do muffin without you!

Why You Should Make These Muffins

If you still need more motivation to bake a batch of these mouthwatering muffins, here are five more reasons to mull over:

• Quick and easy to grab for breakfast or a snack
• Moist, slightly sweet, and incredibly satisfying
• Easily meal prepped and kept in the fridge or freezer
• Full of fiber, flavor, and nutrients
• Dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free
• Perfect for fall gatherings, Thanksgiving, or vegan Halloween parties

Star Ingredients

You might not think that muffins have a lot of nutritional value, but ours have a couple of extra special ingredients to bump up the fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Curious to know what they are?

• Pumpkin Puree – Pumpkin is a super nutrient-dense food with a healthy dose of fiber, low in calories, and a great source of beta-carotene. In addition, it’s also high in vitamin C and fully armed with antioxidants.
• Pumpkin Pie Spice – Usually a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, star anise, and ginger, these spices are wonderful for boosting the immune system and bringing in small amounts of antioxidants. Cinnamon, especially, is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. Ginger is similar in this way and also helps to reduce inflammation in the body.
• Applesauce – If you use homemade applesauce, even better! Not only do you get the added water and a load of fiber from apples, but it’s also fat-free and low in salt and calories.
• Vegan Chocolate Chips – Although they do contain some sugar and fat, vegan versions of chocolate are also higher in dark chocolatey goodness. That means more fiber, magnesium, iron, copper, and also lots of antioxidants––yes!

How to Serve Up Your Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

It’s always so much more interesting to find new ways of serving up our vegan recipes. With muffins, it’s even more fun to discover new ways to devour these sweet little baked breads. Here are our most scrumptious suggestions:

• Bulk Up Your Breakfast – No matter what you decide to have for breakfast, you can always manage to add in a single muffin. If you’re enjoying something cold like a juice or smoothie, having a warm, toasty muffin on the side can add more fiber and also be very comforting.
• Sweeten Up Snack Time – When you’re not in the mood for nuts and you’re trying to keep away from the junk food, having a delicious vegan pumpkin muffin on hand will do the trick. Pop one in the microwave or toaster and then top with a little bit of vegan butter and sweet jam. Delightful!
• Get Friendly With Frosting – For those of you with a sweet tooth, this suggestion is for you! Whip up a beautiful batch of vegan buttercream frosting (leave out the matcha if you’d like a creamy white frosting) and frost to your heart’s content. Sprinkle with a little bit of pumpkin spice or sweet cinnamon on top for a heavenly treat.
• Nosh With Nice Cream – So easy and so delicious. Slice a muffin in half vertically and place in a toaster oven until golden brown. Slather each side with a little bit of vegan butter (or nut butter) and serve alongside a luscious scoop of banana nice cream. A truly dreamy dessert!

Frequently Asked Questions

While baking a batch of muffins is pretty straightforward, here are some helpful answers to some of your most asked questions:

• Can you make these vegan pumpkin muffins gluten-free? Sure! If you substitute a gluten-free baking flour for the all-purpose flour, it should be okay. We haven’t tested it with a gluten-free flour, so the baking time or texture might vary. If that’s okay with you, then feel free to make the swap.
• Are you able to freeze a batch of muffins ahead of time? Definitely! Once the muffins come to room temperature, just wrap them in either freezer paper or foil and pop them into a freezer safe bag or container. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. To thaw, either bring to room temperature or re-heat using a microwave (unwrapped on a microwave safe plate for 30-60 minutes, depending on the power) or a conventional oven (foil wrapped at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes).
• How long will the muffins keep fresh? Homemade muffins will be good for about 2 days at room temperature (wrapped in foil or plastic wrap and placed in a sealed container) and will last up to a week if stored similarly in the refrigerator.
• What if I don’t like pumpkin puree? No problem. You can swap out the pumpkin puree for mashed banana, sweet potato, butternut squash, or even a nut butter (though this will raise the fat content dramatically). All of these options would work, depending on your taste preference.

More Mouthwatering Vegan Muffins & Baked Goods to Try

If you like fruity muffins, make sure to try our Blackberry Muffins and Easy Blueberry Muffins! Or even this luscious berry-filled Blueberry Cobbler. For a more savory choice, these Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins are perfect with chili and creamy soups.

Tasty Vegan Crumb Muffins and Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins are such a super choice for an on-the-go snack, especially with the kiddies.

Lastly, pumpkin-lovers will adore this Pumpkin Baked Oatmeal. A must-make for the autumn and winter. Enjoy!

Print

The Best Vegan Pumpkin Muffins

These truly are the best vegan pumpkin muffins! They are perfect for any fall event, Halloween party, breakfast, brunch, or dessert. This recipe is so simple to make, you've got to try it!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword dairy-free muffin recipe, egg-free muffin recipe, pumpkin and chocolate, pumpkin muffins, vegan muffin recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Servings 12 muffins

Calories 294kcal

Author Michelle Cehn | World of Vegan

Ingredients

• 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• ¾ cup brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup vegan chocolate chips mini are best
• 1 15-ounce can pure pumpkin puree (with no added seasonings)
• ½ cup applesauce
• ½ cup canola oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and line a cupcake tin with 12 cupcake liners.
• In a large mixing bowl, add the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, baking soda, salt, and vegan chocolate chips, and mix until well combined.
• In a medium mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree, applesauce, canola oil, and vanilla extract, and mix well.
• Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and fold together, just until combined.
• Scoop the batter into the cupcake liners until all 12 are evenly filled.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 22-25 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the center of the muffins comes out clean.

Video

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Notes

Want to make mini muffins? This recipe will make 36 mini muffins. Reduce the bake time to 15-18 minutes for mini pumpkin muffins.

Nutrition

Calories: 294kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 193mg | Potassium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 27mg | Iron: 2mg

If you try this vegan pumpkin muffin recipe, let us know what you think by leaving a comment and rating below! We’d love to hear about your favorite vegan muffin recipes. Be sure to follow along on Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for even more vegan recipe inspiration.

Vegan Pumpkin Muffins recipe and pumpkin muffin photos by Michelle Cehn, copyright of World of Vegan. Article written by Gina House and edited by Amanda Meth. Please note that this article may contain affiliate links which supports our work at World of Vegan.

The post Vegan Pumpkin Muffins With Chocolate Chips appeared first on World of Vegan.

Since its founding in 1630, the bustling city of Boston, Massachusetts has been a pioneer in many fields. Home to the first public school, public park, and subway system in the nation, Beantown natives have set the standard for innovation. For patrons of the arts, bright minds seeking higher education, sports fans and talented athletes, this New England epicenter truly has it all. Fittingly for such a progressive population, the city is also awash in plant-based options.

Pack your walking shoes and leave your car at home; these densely populated streets are best explored on foot. Traverse downtown streets lined with bricks or cobblestones, rich with history beyond what you’ll read in textbooks. After you hit the Freedom Trail, a red brick path connecting many of the city’s most famous historic sites, stroll through the numerous green spaces like the Esplanade on the Charles River, the Back Bay Fens, and Boston Common, and the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, you’re guaranteed to work up an appetite. When hunger calls, answer with equally inspiring, creative vegan cuisine from some of the country’s best chefs.

Vegan-Friendly Chain Restaurants

Although fiercely independent, Boston hosts its fair share of national restaurant chains, like any sizable city. It’s not a bad thing when these franchises offer 100% plant-based menus and consistent comfort foods, no matter which location you visit.

• Veggie Grill: Voted America’s Favorite Vegan Chain by VegNews for three years straight, the critics have spoken, giving this fast-casual establishment two enthusiastic thumbs up. These hearty burgers, bowls, salads, sandwiches, and snacks make it effortless to eat your veggies. 
• Más Veggies Vegan Taqueria: This vegan taqueria has tacos, nachos, burritos, and bowls available with your choice of plant protein, available for delivery and pick-up only. Spice up your life with these Mexican meals from the creators of Veggie Grill that make any day into a fiesta!
• Juice Press: Along with antioxidant-rich liquid nutrition, there’s a lot to love beyond the rainbow of fresh juices and smoothies on display. Hot, restorative soups are available by the quart, and you can start the day strong with warm oatmeal bowls, all while stocking up on other grab-and-go raw cookies and superfood snacks.
• Beatnic: Once known as ByCHLOE from esteemed chef Chloe Coscarelli, the vegan chain restaurant was rebranded after a lengthy legal battle that nearly forced the founding cook out of the kitchen. Thankfully, the healthy homestyle fare that everyone knows and loves remains as fresh and fast as ever. The kale Caesar, guac burger, and mac ‘n cheez tend to get top billing, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. Bye bye, by Chloe.
• Clover Food Lab: This wildly popular brand with over 20 locations across the Northeast serves a primary vegan, purely vegetarian menu. Even omnivores can’t get enough of the BBQ seitan, especially when it’s stuffed inside a warm, fluffy pita bread that’s baked on-site.

Vegan Comfort Food in Boston

While the weather may not always be the coziest, you can still count on these eateries for a comforting bite to eat!

• Veggie Galaxy – Get delicious vegan diner food with out-of-this-world choices from Veggie Galaxy! While not everything on the menu is 100% plant-based, most items are vegan by default or have a vegan option available. Menu highlights include their Vegan Clam Platter (made of fried oyster mushrooms), Galaxy Burger, stuffed French toast, and much more. With so much to choose from you may find yourself going more than once in a day!
• True Bistro – Located in the cute neighborhood of Somerville, True Bistro serves up plant-forward dishes with plenty of flavor. Their menu changes regularly so be sure to check the website for their latest offerings! One thing is for sure, though—you won’t regret making a trip out to True Bistro while in Boston!

Boston Tea Party — Tea Shops With Vegan Options

The famous act of defiance that changed the course of American history epitomizes the Bostonian spirit to this day. Luckily, there’s more than enough tea to go around now, with coffee, pastries, cakes, and cookies, too! These drinks are too good to land in the harbor, so hang on tight and savor every sip.

• TeaMoji: Get your best smiley face emojis ready; you’ll need them after the first sip of taro milk tea with brown sugar boba. Most drinks have non-dairy milk options and contrary to most shops that soak their tapioca pearls in honey (which is not vegan), these are sweetened with good old fashioned cane sugar with molasses. For something lighter, try a fruit tea, which is always vegan by default.
• Jennifer Lee’s Gourmet Bakery: Allergy-free is the way to be! All the treats on display here are free of the top nine allergens; that means there’s no gluten, eggs, dairy, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, fish, sesame, or soy, making everything vegan by default. Snag a cinnamon bun or monster cookie brownie from this humble outpost in the Boston Public Market to pair with your morning cuppa.
• Oakleaf Cakes: Wake up to locally roasted coffee, loose leaf tea, and plenty of plant-based treats. Roughly have the menu of pastries are vegan, including cupcakes, muffins, cookies, and brownies. If you’re a budding baker yourself, you can also attend one of their cake decorating classes to step up your skills.

Vegan Bakeries, Donuts, & Cakes in Boston

Craving some serious vegan sweets in the City of Boston? Check out these awesomely vegan bakery spots!

• Union Square Donuts: Making coffee and donut dreams come true is the mission statement here, which is clearly achieved with every batch. Vanilla is great but try adding more color into your life with sweet vanilla-glazed donuts with rainbow sprinkles. Now we’re talking! There are at least 2-3 vegan options 7 days a week, offered alongside a robust espresso program to keep you buzzing all day.
• Blackbird Doughnuts: Find these fresh doughnuts and strong coffee at six separate locations around town. There are three regular vegan flavors, such as Lemon Coconut, Strawberry Sprinkle, and Mixed Berry Bismark, plus the possibility of extra monthly specials. Made from a tender vegan brioche dough, they’re dangerously light, seeming to melt in your mouth in an instant. It’s hard to resist going back for more.
• Pavement Coffeehouse: Before you start pounding pavement to explore the city, head to one of eight convenient coffeehouse locations to recharge your batteries. If you prefer a savory start with you cup of Joe, you’ll relish the vegan egg and cheese sandwich on a chewy everything bagel. Plus, when you step up to the (espresso) bar, you can choose from almond, soy, or oat milk. That kind of wakeup call could make anyone a morning person!

Vegan Ice Cream in Boston

Summertime heat and humidity can be pretty oppressive, so cool down with some delicious dairy-free ice cream options.

• FoMu: Pronounced “faux moo,” FoMu has been churning out the goods in Massachusetts since 2011, steadily gaining ground as a frozen force to be reckoned with. Can’t decide between salted caramel, mint chunk, cookies & cream, or bourbon maple walnut? You might need to try them all! The secrets to their brilliant base are all revealed in their cookbook, so you can start churning as soon as you get home.
• Emack & Bolio’s Ice Cream: Founded in 1975 during the time of peace and love, this ice cream was created to feed the revolution. It’s every bit as progressive today, having introduced small batch vegan scoops to the regular roster. Fudgy chocolate pudding is hard to resist, but it just happens to pair beautifully with just about every other flavor, so I’d highly recommend doubling up!
• P. Licks: Dairy-free options abound in this conventional scoop shop! You can always expect 2-3 coconut milk frozen creations, with more sweet possibilities than include frappes, banana splits, sundaes, and sorbets. If it’s a bit cold outside, you can take the chill off with a bracing shot of espresso on top, too.

Asian Vegan Restaurants

It’s not hard to find outstanding Asian cuisine in this portly city! Whether you’re looking for a great vegan Chinese restaurant in Boston or are in the mood for some savory sushi, there are super solid veg-friendly options.

• Red White: If you want to experience chewy, handmade ramen from a genuine Japanese master chef, Red White should be at the very top of your list. Opened in 2019, it was the very first entirely vegan ramen restaurant in the US and remains every bit as groundbreaking today. No one else is making meatless soboro or Tokyo masala, but you can also build your own bowl to include exactly the toppings you crave. You’ll want to ask for “kaedama,” or “more noodles” to slurp up every last drop.
• Grasshopper: A cornerstone of the community, you could try a new dish every day at this beloved pan-Asian establishment and never eat your way through the expansive menu. Get all your old takeout favorites and so much more, from orange “chicken” made with seitan, to exotic konjac-based ginger “lobster.” Come in for the lunch specials from Monday to Friday to get a crazy good deal that includes your choice of entrée, soup, and rice or noodles for only $9 at most.
• My Thai Vegan Café: Those in the know will agree: Hands down, this is the best place to get vegan Thai food for miles around. This comprehensive menu includes all the spicy stir fries, noodles, soups, and salads you could want, with none of the fish sauce, beef stock, or chicken bits you don’t. You can even get curried “duck” to pair with your papaya salad and fresh spring rolls with peanut sauce, completely cruelty-free!
• Myers + Chang: There’s a steady buzz all through the night in this trendy hot spot created by respected chef and author Joanne Chang. Ask for the vegan menu which focuses on only the best bites, including crispy tofu bao and hakka eggplant. This is the perfect place to impress a hot date or have a fun solo supper.
• The Elephant Walk: Walk this way for a truly unforgettable dining experience. Clearly labeled dishes make this unique blend of French and Cambodian cuisines accessible to all eaters, and knowledgeable servers can help modify even more to follow suit. Try something new, like Poulet à la Citronnelle made with tofu, to taste what a chef can do given full creative freedom.

Italian Vegan Food in Boston

Owing to the large population of proud Italian immigrants, there’s no shortage of pasta, pizza, and grandmotherly love. Gather around the table for a family meal and mangiamo!

• Double Zero: Lightly charred crusts come flying from the wood-fired oven just as fast as they’re slid in, pizzaiolos churning furiously to keep up with rapid-fire orders. This is one of celebrity chef Matthew Kenney’s creations, serving 100% plant-based pies topped with homemade cashew cheese. Even the most basic margherita pizza draws rave reviews from omnivorous eaters.
• Terramia Ristorante: Determined to introduce the world to Italian food that goes well beyond boring red sauce, vegans are invited to partake on this cultural exploration, too. Gourmet creations like creamy asparagus risotto and mushroom gnocchi can easily be made without animal products upon request. The vegan ravioli, served with zucchini, eggplant, red bell peppers, and tomatoes, is by far the bestseller, for obvious reasons.

Healthy Food in Boston

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to go overboard with indulgent eats just because you’re on vacation. You can still treat yourself and stay healthy while you do it. These wholesome meals will never leave you overstuffed or underwhelmed.

• Life Alive: You’ve never felt more alive than when you’ve paid a visit to this vibrant café. Carefully calibrated dishes designed to extract the most nutrition out of every ingredient, everything coming out of the kitchen unprocessed, organic, and totally vegan. While hearty grain bowls, leafy salads, and hot ramen are headlining entrees, you can just as happily recharge with a quick smoothie or açai bowl.
• Lulu Green: If you think that healthy food can’t also be destination dining, you clearly haven’t tried Lulu Green. The bright, modern space looks like something straight out of Instagram, but with actual substance behind that style. Everything is vegan, including the prosciutto scramble, shawarma sandwich, and legendary desserts baked fresh daily. Take time to linger over your meal and enjoy people watching through the large windows or quaint outdoor seating area.
• Revolution Health Kitchen: These passionate cooks say they want a revolution and genuinely mean it. Founded on the lofty goal of improving personal wellbeing while being mindful of the environment, such a bold statement does feel possible, despite coming from such a compact kitchen. Fittingly, the plant-based menu is short but sweet, focusing on smoothies and smoothie bowls, juices, seasonal soups, salads, and toasts. Taste the difference and feel the difference!
• Rhythm ‘n Wraps: Get hot curries in a hurry! This brick-and-mortar vegan eatery started life as a good truck that quickly became an indispensable part of the neighborhood. Funky, fun-loving vibes and worldly spices give this food distinctive character, from the BBQ pulled jackfruit taco to the golden chickpea curry bowl. There are plenty of all-American burgers and sandwiches too, for a true melting pot of flavors.
• 11:11 Health Bar: They’ve got some smooth movies here, blending up smoothies as luscious and creamy as milkshakes. Veg out with a modest selection of plant-based sandwiches and toast or add more protein power to your favorite drink to keep you powered up through the day. Just ask for no honey to keep any sweet selections vegan.
• Hare Krishna Temple: Who goes to a place of worship for a meal? Hopefully you, if you know what’s up! Every Wednesday and Sunday evening, you can join the Boston branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness for a lecture and discussion, followed by a completely FREE feast of vegetarian delights! If you want a way to meet more compassionate folks while stretching a tight budget, it doesn’t get any better than this.

Juice Shops in Boston

When your energy is flagging, recharge quickly with a hit of fresh pressed juice! You have plenty of choices in this sea of greens, with lots of naturally sweet whole fruits mixed in.

• Cocobeet: With a wide variety of juices, salads, and sandwiches prepared with the best that nature has to offer, organic juices, smoothies, breakfast bowls, grab-and-go snacks, and salads are the beating heart of this vibrant café. The meals are packed with superfoods that are nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, and energy dense. That means you can have your veggie quinoa slides, ginger tempeh rolls, and still have raw brownie bites for dessert, too.
• Mother Juice: Mother always knows best. Don’t worry, these ladies won’t scold you about being late for dinner, but they will make sure you eat healthy, local, and organic. There are four outposts where you can get some motherly love in the form of fresh pressed juices, smoothies, bowls, toasts, and salads, plus locals can enjoy direct delivery to stock up for busy weeks.
• Juicy Greens: Get all the juicy secrets to feeling great at this juice bar and so-called “wellness bodega.” Beyond liquid nutrition, you can refuel with hearty vegan power bowls or arepas, and also pickup household goods and pantry staples while you’re there. Now that’s one-stop shopping!
• Energize: This is the place to go when your personal battery is running on low. Superfood salad bowls and liquid meals are central to concept, where you can pick one of the top combinations or build a custom blend. You’ll never struggle to eat your greens again, since you can very happily drink them instead!
• The Juicery: It seems perfectly fitting that this shop is just a block from the Greenway. It’s a great place to refuel before or after your outdoor adventure, with plenty of whole fruit options that taste like dessert. There is dairy and honey on the menu, but ask for assistance if you’re unsure, and staff will happily guide you to a plant-based blend.
• Squeeze Juice Company: While the name is fairly generic, the menu is anything but. There are all the predictable classics, from green juice to lemonades, but the real highlight is the savory food. You can get toast made with sweet potatoes, forbidden black rice sushi, and a Beyond Meat taco bowl. Sure, come for the juice, but stay for a meal.

There is no place quite so complex or stimulating as Boston. Deeply rooted in history but constantly evolving with the current era, you can get a glimpse of the past, present, and future all in one densely packed city block. Such a closely knit community fosters kindness like you would expect from a small town, with all the amenities of city living. Get a taste of what you’ve been missing, quite literally, with the best vegan eats New England has to offer.

More Vegan City Guides:

• Oakland Vegan Restaurants
• Berkeley Vegan Restaurants
• Best New York City Vegan Restaurants 
• Cleveland Vegan Restaurants
• Houston Vegan Restaurants in Texas
• Austin Vegan Restaurants in Texas
• Kauaii Vegan Restaurants in Hawaii
• Vegan Guide to Fast Food Restaurants

We hope you enjoyed this guide sharing the best vegan restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts! If we missed any of your favorite vegetarian restaurants in Boston, we invite you to highlight them in the comments below. Many thanks to Hannah Kaminsky for her help with this article. This article may contain affiliate links that support our work at World of Vegan at no extra cost to you. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you again!

The post Best Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts appeared first on World of Vegan.

A big city with a small-town vibe, Charlotte, North Carolina will make you feel right at home. Originally named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of King George III, this bustling city with over 2.5 million people also features plenty of vegan eats. From dedicated 100% planet-based restaurants to mainstream eateries offering an abundance of alternative options, finding great vegan restaurants in Charlotte is as easy as 1-2-3!

Visit during the summer to take advantage of the mild weather, ideal for exploring the brilliant botanical gardens and public parks that color the urban landscape with lush blossoms and verdant foliage. It’s also the place to go for sports fans to cheer on their favorite teams, including the NFL’s Carolina Panthers and the NBA’s Charlotte Hornets. Step outside of the stands to take in the beautiful, historical architecture, some of which has been meticulously preserved since the founding of the city in 1768. All that exploration is bound to leave you awed, inspired, and probably more than a little bit hungry. With Charlotte’s booming culinary scene, you’ll find a wide range of dining experiences to satisfy every possible craving. These are the best of the bunch, serving up dishes truly fit for a queen.

Vegan Soul Food & Comfort Food

You can’t spell vegan restaurants in Charlotte without vegan comfort food! These time-honored classics that evoke cravings for nostalgia define the American culinary landscape.

• Oh My Soul: Ask locals about their favorite restaurants, and Oh My Soul is likely to come up as a top recommendation. It’s hard to categorize for the incredibly diverse, daunting menu that spans from French toast to mozzarella “stix,” nachos to BBQ seitan ribs, and even boozy milkshakes to wash it all down. There’s always room for more in the bright patio space, so invite your friends or make new ones there to get a taste of everything. Don’t miss the South African specials that homage to owner Tallulah Duffin’s homeland, too.
• Bean Vegan Cuisine: As one of the oldest vegan restaurants in Charlotte, Bean has truly stood the test of time. Visitors and regulars alike swoon over the wide range of comfort foods, including BBQ, bratwurst, Reuben sandwiches, meatloaf, crab cakes, and even pimento cheese. If you are in the mood for breakfast, drop by on Saturday or Sunday for crisp waffles and rich tofu scrambles. You can even do some grocery shopping in their quaint market for one-stop satisfaction.
• The Wicked Vegans: Grab a wicked good sandwich from this women-owned food truck that doesn’t mess around when it comes to their meatless mains. Cheezeburgers, buffalo wings, and BBQ keep customers coming back for more, in addition to their “crack mac,” described by many fervent fans as the best vegan mac and cheeze ever.
• The Best of Both Souls: For the best fried chicken in town, you must visit The Best of Both Souls. Even omnivores are shocked to learn that these crispy tenders, patties, and nuggets are completely meatless. These wings really were made for frying!
• Soul Miner’s Garden: Roaming the streets of the Queen City and surrounding areas in a modest food truck, everyone from near and far can take comfort in these elevated comfort foods. You can often find them parked nearby wine bars, so the fresh fair naturally pairs beautifully with a glass of vino- Or a mocktail. Indulge in loaded nachos, chickenless salad wraps, and “Shroomin’ Philly” sandwiches.
• Vegan Eats CLT: This all-vegan ghost kitchen is for pickup and delivery only. On a nice day, take your wangz and thangz out to the park and savor every bite. Don’t forget a glass of sweet tea to beat the heat.

Black-Owned Restaurants in Charlotte, NC

Home to a large population of Black chefs from various diaspora, you’re not going to want to miss out on these highly esteemed eateries!

• Dees Vegan To Go Café: Family owned and operated with focus on locally sourced fresh ingredients, Dee’s will happily feed you from breakfast to dinner, with plenty of snacks in between. Enjoy hot pasta, cool salads, and thick sandwiches on site or on your way out the door. These meals were made to travel.
• Exposed Vegan: Dedicated to exposing vegan myths, like the tired trope that vegans only eat salads, this takeout-only restaurant leads by example with fresh, wholesome, and accessible foods to feed a diverse community. While that may sound austere, the gooey vegan chocolate chip cookies, nacho bowl, and loaded sweet potatoes beg to differ.
• Romeo’s Vegan Burgers: For a classic lineup of burgers, fries, and milkshakes, look no further than Romeo’s. If food is your love language, these thick, meatless patties are pure romance.
• Sun Burger Vegan Cuisine: Despite the name, burgers aren’t the stars on this menu. Rather, the plantain panini, Rasta Reuben, and BBQ jerk jackfruit sliders tend to steal the show. Offerings change frequently which makes it tough to describe exactly what to expect. Come hungry and with an open mind; you won’t be disappointed.
• Ve-Go: “Ve-Go” means vegan food on the go. Best known for their skills in large-scale catering, they also provide personal meal prep, and most importantly, pop up at various events for everyone to get a taste of their culinary creations. Follow their social media to see where they’re stopping next.
• Zizi’s Vegan Food Truck: Reimagining comfort food as healthier options with the same bold, savory flavors, this mobile vender pops up at events across the city and is also available for private parties. Beyond the usual sandwiches and salads, you can try something more adventurous like jerk jackfruit, eggplant curry, and spicy creamed spinach for a delicious change of pace.

Upscale Eateries

Pack your good shoes and hit the scene in style! These are the best vegan restaurants in Charlotte for a fancy celebration, romantic date, or greater culinary inspiration.

• Sanctuary Bistro: Berkeley, CA lost a legend when this Bay Area native picked up and move to the opposite coast. Now this bangin’ bistro is regarded as one of the best vegan restaurants in Ballantyne, an upscale Charlotte neighborhood. Gourmet delicacies like elaborate charcuterie boards, broccoli and bacon soufflés, eggplant cannelloni, and portobello Rockefeller defy the boundaries for conventional plant-based cuisine.
• Fern: Meat-eaters and vegans alike are drawn to this chef-driven menu of new American classics and international cuisine. The dining room, patio, and full bar provide the perfect environment for brunch, lunch, or dinner. Still as popular as when it first hit the scene in 2011, reservations are recommended to save your seat during prime time.
• Living Kitchen: This hot spot for raw and lightly cooked cuisine offers a little bit of everything, both traditional and avant-garde, from pizza to burgers, pad Thai to sushi. Visit at any time of day for a deeply nourishing meal or check out the grab-and-go options to take with you to enjoy later.
• Plant Joy: Sprouting from what was originally a meal delivery service, this fresh Mediterranean fare will have you jumping for joy. Each order looks like a rainbow on a plate, putting vegetables first to celebrate their naturally rich flavors. That means falafel nachos, meatless gyro, and veggie kabobs that are as beautiful as they are delicious.

Spice Up Your Life

There’s a whole world of flavors packed inside these city limits, guaranteed to satisfy your wanderlust without even booking a plane ticket. From the simmer sauces of India to the curries of Thailand, mouth-numbing Sichuan peppercorns of Chinese stir-fries and subtle seasoning in Vietnamese pho, heat up your next meal with some global cuisine.

• Ma Ma Wok: At a glance, the menu looks pretty standard for most Chinese restaurants; lo mein, sweet and sour fish, steak with broccoli, sesame chicken, and all the other staples. Look closer, though, and you’ll see that all these meats are plant-based, offering a rare taste of these savory delights. There are easily 100 or more unique entrees to chose from, and nothing is off limits.
• Jyoti’s World Cuisine: When you can’t decide what to eat for dinner, pull up a chair at Jyoti’s table, and you’re bound to find something delicious. Dishes span the globe, including Indian baingan bartha, Indonesian Laksa with jackfruit, the North African stew with vegan sausage and the Korean Japchae with tofu. No matter what you have for your main course, do NOT leave without trying dessert. Where else can you find vegan halo halo and tres leches, all under one roof?
• Chaat ‘N’ Dosa: For a hearty snack or satisfying meal, you can’t beat this incredibly affordable Indian street food. Few dishes ring up over $7, and almost everything can be made vegan on request. When in doubt, order another plate. No one will regret having leftovers for tomorrow.
• Be Vegan: This ghost kitchen is delivering the goods on Italian-Indian fusion. That means tikka masala penne, plus more traditional offerings from each unique cuisine.

Light, Living, and Healthy Foods

Eating fresh, whole foods doesn’t have to be a raw deal—unless that’s what you’re looking for in the first place! These are some of the freshest vegan restaurants in Charlotte!

• Green Brothers Juice Company: Refreshing cold-pressed juices make it easy to stay hydrated and happy while you’re out sightseeing, working, or simply treating yourself. Each blend of whole fruits and vegetables is surprisingly low calorie, making it a smart way to stave off sweet cravings.
• Living Kitchen: Proving that you don’t have to be vegan to eat vegan, people from all walks of life gather in this modern, clean dining room to dig into sweet potato sushi, nacho burgers, and cauliflower masala with relish. It makes eating healthy second nature, because it tastes so good that you wouldn’t want it any other way.
• Smooth Monkey: If you’re not the type to monkey with your health, you’ll probably go ape for this smooth primate. Of course, no one would give you the side eye if you wanted to throw some Oreos or chocolate chips into your blend. Everything starts with fresh fruits, whether you want a creamy drink or spoonable açai bowl. Just be aware that not everything is vegan, so you’ll want to select non-dairy milks and steer clear of honey, conventional dairy milk, and bacon.
• Frutta Bowls: Think beyond açai; build your own bowl with a base of the classic Brazilian fruit, pitaya (dragon fruit), or kale at this rapidly expanding chain. Vegan options are clearly marked, so you can mix and match your favorite fresh topping to make it your own.

Coffee Break

Whether you want to relax or recharge, coffee is the answer. Never worry about finding dairy-free alternatives to lighten your latte again because there are robust vegan options brewing across the city. 

• Queen City Grounds: Rise and shine like royalty with more than your average cup of Joe. Beyond the hand-crafted drinks, you’ll find a wealth of vegan eats that include avocado toast, breakfast sandwiches, burritos, and bagels.
• Smelly Cat: The quirky name belies the serious approach to meticulously harvesting and roasting coffee, treating every cup as both an art and a science. Even if you’re not big on the beans, you should still stop by for a vegan cookie or bagel. Ask for help picking out the plant-based treats, since not everything here follows suit.
• Rosie’s Coffee & Wine Garden: There’s no shortage of non-dairy milk options to lighten your latte, and the bakery case is well-stocked with treats specifically marked as vegan, such as muffins and scones

Vegan Bakeries, Donuts, Ice Cream, & Desserts in Charlotte

Don’t just save the best for last; take a bite out of life and indulge your cravings when they hit! You won’t regret a single sugar-coated, sprinkle-covered, or chocolate-dipped bite from these sweet spots.

• Pepperbox Doughnuts: It takes hard work and dedication to raise these yeasted babies every day, starting at 2am for each fresh batch. Go early and often to get your hands on these dangerously light, chewy treats because they DO sell out regularly. With creative flavors like mango habanero, baklava, and Oreo cheesecake, it’s not hard to understand the craze.
• Suarez Bakery: Baking from scratch since 1992, there’s always a short but sweet selection of vegan treats, especially when it comes to the doughnuts, from apple fritters to pretzel twists.
• Sugar Donuts: Voted the #1 donuts in Charlotte, you can choose from an assortment of vegan flavors by the dozen, or grab one on the go that can even be topped with dairy-free gelato.
• Cinnaholic: Roll on over to craft your own vegan cinnamon roll, complete with all the frosting flavors and sweet toppings you can dream of. This national chain has been winning over sweet teeth everywhere with tender spiced spirals and decadent adornments like cookie dough, vegan brownie pieces, vegan marshmallows, and candied nuts.
• Sunflower Baking Company: Four convenient locations provide a wholly separate vegan menu of small batch, homemade pastries and breads. The cupcakes especially get rave reviews, with regularly rotating flavors, so every visit is a different taste adventure.

Dairy-Free & Vegan Ice Cream in Charlotte

• Artisen Gelato: Scooping up super-premium gelato like you’ve only dreamed of before, you may need to pinch yourself because these ultra-creamy, decadent flavors are all dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and nut-free. If you can only get one dessert… Get a triple scoop. You’ll only regret not getting more.
• Title Belt Frozen Desserts: This all-vegan ice cream pop-up is knocking out the competition with bold, oat-based frozen treats that are inspired by the seasons.

When you are considering where to go on your next vacation, don’t forget to include Charlotte, North Carolina, in your itinerary. This city in the South has plenty of charm, word-class restaurants, sports to watch and play, and historic attractions, all of which make it well worth a visit.

More Vegan City Guides:

• Austin, Texas Vegan Restaurants
• Kauaii, Hawaii Vegan Restaurants
• Cleveland, Ohio Vegan Restaurants
• Seattle, Washington Vegan Restaurants
• Berkeley, California Vegan Restaurants
• Oakland, California Vegan Restaurants
• Chicago, Illinois Vegan Restaurants
• Vegan in NYC
• Vegan Guide to Chile

We hope you enjoyed this guide sharing the best vegan restaurants in Charlotte, North Carolina! If we missed any of your favorite Charlotte vegetarian restaurants, we invite you to highlight them in the comments below. Many thanks to Hannah Kaminsky for her help with this article. This article may contain affiliate links that support our work at World of Vegan at no extra cost to you. Thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you again!

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