Vegan desserts are just as delicious (if no more so!) than the traditional versions made with butter or heavy whipping cream.
What Desserts Can Vegans Eat?
People following a vegan diet can eat any dessert that is not made with animal products. That means besides avoiding meat, you need to avoid using butter, eggs, milk, and honey when making vegan desserts, too.
It’s also important to know that some granulated sugar is processed using bone char, so be sure to look for sugars that are either labeled vegan, raw, organic, or unfiltered to avoid that type of processing. The following recipes all meet these standards, so the work is done for you!
Are Vegan Desserts Better For You?
Just because a recipe is vegan, doesn’t mean it’s better for you. Vegan recipes can be made with refined flour and sugar, and vegan butter substitutes that are mostly oil. However, the recipes below are made with mostly simple, whole food ingredients, so I do think they make a better choice!
The Very Best Vegan Desserts
I’ve posted hundreds of vegan recipes and desserts over the years, but I’ve narrowed this list down to only my very favorites below. They are a HUGE hit when I bring them to parties, or serve them to my picky kids, so I’m confident that you’ll love them, too.
1. Vegan Fudge
This Vegan Fudge recipe is vegan and Paleo-friendly, calling for just 6 ingredients! All you have to do is stir them together, then pour the batter in a pan and let it freeze until firm. (Kids can help make this, too!) This recipe is best served chilled, from the fridge or freezer, so don’t bring it to a party and let it sit in the sun for too long. However, it will disappear fast once people taste it!
2. Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies
These cookies are gluten-free and vegan, made with protein-rich almond flour! I love how quickly you can stir them together, and how they get lightly crisp on the outside and tender on the inside. Be sure to look for chocolate chips that are dairy-free, to make sure this recipe remains vegan.
3. Gluten-Free Brownies
These Brownies are gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan, making them perfect for those with special diets or allergies. I purposefully developed this recipe with a gluten-free flour blend that you can find at every grocery store (it’s even at Target!), so it’s easily accessible and tastes unbelievably good– even with a sneaky veggie in there, which acts as the egg replacement! If you like your brownies topped with frosting, try my Easy Vegan Chocolate Frosting.
4. Chocolate Avocado Pudding
This dairy-free chocolate pudding features avocado as the base, but don’t worry– you can’t taste it thanks to the rich chocolate flavor! Because avocados can vary, be sure to taste this one as you go and add more cacao powder or sweetener, as needed until the flavor is perfect. I sometimes like to add in some frozen cherries or raspberries for an extra-flavorful treat!
5. Gluten-Free Peach Crisp
This vegan dessert is topped with a nutrient-rich topping, made from walnuts, and the peach filling is lightly sweetened with maple syrup. I love how you can use fresh or frozen peaches for this recipe, both with delicious results! Serve it with a scoop of coconut milk ice cream or coconut whipped cream to make it extra special
6. Vegan No-Bake Cookies
These vegan cookies taste even better than the ones my mom used to make. I love that they’re sweetened with coconut sugar, and you can make them with vegan butter (I like Miyoko’s brand best) or with coconut oil. They taste amazing, with or without cocoa powder added in.
7. Vegan Pecan Pie
This Pecan Pie is naturally sweetened, but you can’t tell because it tastes so good! Unlike traditional recipes, this one is made without corn syrup, and it pairs perfectly with my vegan pie crust. (Which is also gluten-free!)
8. Peanut Butter Swirled Fudge
This impressive-looking dessert is deceptively simple to make! All you need is 5 easy ingredients to get started, and the tutorial will walk you through how to make those beautiful (and easy) homemade chocolate swirls.
9. No-Bake Vegan Cheesecake
This dairy-free cheesecake is unbelievably creamy, with a texture remarkably similar to the real thing. You’ll never guess the secret healthy ingredient inside, and neither will your guests!
10. Almond Flour Sugar Cookies
These Vegan Sugar Cookies taste just as good as a recipe made with refined flour and sugar. They are buttery tender on the inside, without using any butter! Try them with my Coconut Sugar Icing for a vegan topping, or just roll them in some sugar for a festive treat!
11. Vegan Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls are totally irresistible! They are soft and gooey on the inside, while being gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan. Top them with a traditional icing made with powdered sugar, or my cashew icing for a naturally-sweetened treat.
12. Pumpkin Bars with Vegan “Cream Cheese” Frosting
These Vegan Pumpkin Bars are naturally gluten-free, and are packed with Fall spices! I love topping them with a vegan “cream cheese” frosting, which is made with pureed sweet potato (I use white sweet potatoes when I can find them) instead of fake cream cheese substitutes. You’ll be amazed by the flavor when you try it!
13. Vegan Peanut Butter Temptations
This is probably the most decadent dessert I’ve made, featuring a tender peanut butter cookie stuffed with a peanut butter cup! You can make your own vegan peanut butter cups, or buy them store-bought for convenience. (Justin’s brand is dairy-free!)
14. Almond Butter Blondies
These flourless blondies are one of my favorite desserts ever! They’re like a deep-dish chocolate chip cookie, but better. I love that they are naturally gluten-free without using any special ingredients, and that they can be in the oven with just 10 minutes of effort. Be sure to check the label on your chocolate chips to make sure they don’t contain dairy, to keep these vegan.
15.
These cut-out cookies are a fun holiday activity to make with kids and grandchildren! They have the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, and can be decorated with your favorite dairy-free icing or a sprinkle of sugar.
16. Amazing Date Brownies
If you’re looking to reduce the added sugar in your life, these brownies will leave you feeling so satisfied! They are fruit-sweetened, but taste like the real thing. Make sure you bake them in a mini muffin pan for the best texture, and fun bite-sized portions!
17. Healthy Hot Chocolate
This dairy-free hot chocolate takes just minutes to stir together on the stove, and it tastes just as satisfying as the kind I grew up making! You can even make your own hot chocolate mix to keep on hand in your pantry, or give it as a gift.
18. Vegan Cookie Dough Ice Cream
Did you know that frozen bananas have almost the same texture as ice cream? That’s why they make the best healthy ice cream alternative! This quick & easy recipe uses banana ice cream as the base, with chunks of homemade “cookie dough” stirred in.
19. Vegan Flourless Fudge Cake
If you love rich, chocolate desserts, this one is for you. It tastes like the center of a dark chocolate truffle, and is made with only 4 ingredients! I like to serve it with coconut whipped cream and fresh raspberries for a party.
20. Chocolate Pecan Crumble Bars
This dessert comes from my first cookbook, Everyday Detox, and is still one of my favorites! I love how you make the crust and crumble at the same time, and the rich chocolate filling requires just 3 ingredients.
21. Peanut Butter Cup Pie
This easy no-bake pie tastes like a giant chocolate peanut butter cup! I make this one for my husband’s birthday every year, because it’s such a hit. If you’re not a peanut butter fan, you can use almond butter for an equally delicious result!
More Vegan Desserts & Treats
If you don’t mind using a few weird ingredients, like agar-agar (which is vegan “gelatin”) or aquafaba (the liquid from a can of chickpeas) try the following options for fun!
- Vegan Pancakes
- Vegan Strawberry Cream Pie
- Vegan French Silk Pie
- Vegan Butterfingers (no special ingredients needed, just a little extra effort!)
If you try one of these dessert recipes, please leave a comment directly below the recipe you try and let me know how you liked it. I love hearing your feedback! If you make a substitution, it’s also really helpful to other readers when you share what you tried. We can all benefit from your experience!
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Reader Feedback: What’s YOUR favorite vegan dessert? Let me know if I missed something, and feel free to share links in the comments below.
