In our previous irresistible and healthy desserts recipe article, we featured intricate vegan dessert recipes such as cheesecakes (non-dairy!) and muffins. But this time, we know how much you’ve been wanting to try all-time favorite desserts made vegan! Below, I’ve compiled some of the classics yet the greatest!
Dairy-Free Chocolate Glazed Donuts
Ingredients
for 6 donuts
- nonstick cooking spray
- 1 cup (125 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- ½ cup (130 g) unsweetened applesauce
- ½ cup (120 mL) almond milk, or dairy-free milk of choice
- ¼ cup (55 g) maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Chocolate Glaze
- ½ cup (80 g) powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup (40 g) cocoa powder, dairy-free
- ½ cup (120 mL) almond milk, dairy-free milk of choice, as needed
- vegan sprinkles, optional
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C). Grease a 6-indent donut pan with nonstick spray.
- Combine the flour, baking powder, and a pinch of salt in a medium bowl.
- In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk until smooth.
- Using a spatula, fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients in two additions until thoroughly combined.
- Pour the batter into the donut pan and smooth the tops with a spatula.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in a donut comes out clean.
- Let cool for 5–10 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely.
- Combine the powdered sugar and cocoa powder in a wide, medium bowl. Add the almond milk, about 2 tablespoons at a time, until the glaze is smooth but thick enough to set on top of the donuts.
- Dip the top of each donut in the glaze and return to baking rack to let any excess glaze drip off.
Vegan Peanut Butter Macarons
Ingredients
for 24 servings
- 1 cup (240 mL) chickpea liquid, aquafaba
- 1 cup (160 g) powdered sugar
- 1 ½ cups (210 g) almond meal
- 1 tablespoon dark cocoa powder
- ½ tablespoon cream of tartar
- ½ cup (100 g) sugar
- ½ cup (120 g) creamy peanut butter, refrigerated
Preparation
- Pour 1 cup (240 ml) aquafaba into a pot and reduce to ⅓ cup (80 ml) over low heat.
- Refrigerate aquafaba overnight.
- Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C).
- In a bowl, add the powdered sugar, almond meal, and dark cocoa powder, and whisk to combine.
- Add the chilled aquafaba to another bowl and beat until soft peaks begin to form.
- Add the cream of tartar and sugar to the whipped aquafaba and beat until soft peaks form.
- Sift powdered sugar, almond meal, and dark cocoa powder into the whipped aquafaba, and gently fold ingredients together.
- Transfer the batter to a piping bag and pipe directly onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
- Let the tray rest at room temperature for 2 hours until the surface does not stick to fingertips.
- Bake for 30 minutes.
- Let the macarons cool for 15 minutes.
- Pipe the peanut butter onto the macarons.
- Refrigerate macarons for another 2 hours before serving.
Dairy-Free Chocolate Cake
Ingredients
for 10 servings
Frosting
- 30 oz (880 mL) full-fat coconut milk, 2 cans
- 3 cups (510 g) dairy-free chocolate chunk
- ¼ cup (60 g) coconut oil, melted
- 2 cups (320 g) powdered sugar
Cake
- 3 cups (375 g) whole wheat flour
- 1 ½ cups (180 g) dark cocoa powder
- 1 cup (200 g) sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 pinch salt
- 3 cups (710 mL) almond milk
- 1 cup (240 g) coconut oil, melted
- 1 ½ cups (380 g) applesauce
- 1 ½ cups (360 g) maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- berry, of choice, for garnish
Preparation
- In a microwave-safe measuring cup, or in a small pot on the stove, heat the coconut milk until hot, but not boiling (about 2 minutes in the microwave).
- Place the dairy-free chocolate in a large bowl and pour the hot coconut milk over it, allowing the milk to melt the chocolate. Mix well to combine.
- Once the chocolate is melted, add the coconut oil and powdered sugar. Beat with a hand mixer or whisk until smooth.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Grease 3 separate 8-inch (20-cm) round cake pans and set aside.
- In a large bowl, add the whole wheat flour, dark cocoa powder, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, add the almond milk, coconut oil, applesauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, and vanilla extract. Whisk to combine.
- In two batches, add the dry mixture to the wet mixture, folding with a spatula until combined. Some clumps are okay.
- Divide the batter evenly between the 3 pre-greased cake pans and bake for 35–45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out almost entirely clean. Cool completely.
- Remove the frosting from the fridge and mix it up well.
- Choose which cake will be your bottom layer and cover evenly with about 1 cup (115 G) of frosting. Top with the second layer, frosting evenly again. Add the final layer and frost the top and the sides of the cake generously, topping with berries of choice for garnish.
Just a gentle reminder that while it’s good to add a little fun to your healthy diet, keep in mind that too much of anything is not good for your health!
Donuts! Looks yumyum. I’m just wondering what the applesauce was for.
It’s cool that there are tons of alternative (vegan) to nonvegan food. There’s honestly no more excuse not to turn vegan.
I love macarons so much. Peanut butter too. This is great! ?
I don’t have an indent donut pan. I can’t seem to find them in our nearby baking needs shop!!! I’m so angry…
Try ordering via Amazon instead.
Geez, I don’t even know what ‘aquafaba’ is.?
Chocolate cake, oh myy. It looks so nice and goeey.
I love chunky peanut butter and I’m going to use that instead.
Thanks for telling me that I need to control myself in eating too much of this.?Because I definitely would.?
If that reminder wasn’t there I would have done it as well!
I’m glad that there isn’t much sugar in this recipe actually.
I love desserts. I could eat them all day!
Those donuts look really luscious.
I can’t say that any of this is healthy but it does look good and sinful.?
Baking something like this has been a growing hobby of mine. Our home smells really nice as well!
The chocolate would definitely be a favorite in our household.
Mine too, even the kids at heart!
My daughter really loves macarons. It’s so hard to get the right softness and slight crispiness on the outside though! She has such really high expectations for it.
My sin food is donut so maybe if I try to do this recipe instead, it won’t be too sinful anymore?!
I guess I’m baking through the entire weekend!
I wish it wasn’t peanut butter. I’m allergic to peanuts.
Cake has got to be the best thing on earth. I’d have it anytime anywhere!
Even as a child I’d love these desserts. But as soon as I realized that I can’t just eat anything I want because it won’t equal to a healthy lifestyle, I had to sacrifice my favorites. Thanks to this!
I know how you feel. My childhood will now be relived!
I love the idea here. Now there’s no excuse to deprive yourself of sweets. Just make the healthier version!
If there’s anything that I want to bake right now, it’s all of this!
My sister would love this. She’s been looking for something like this for so long!