There are a few key principles to vegan baking that, when followed correctly, can result in delicious baked goods made without the use of any animal products. Butter, milk, and eggs are the three main ingredients that must be avoided when baking for vegans. Although these are common ingredients in baked goods recipes, they can be avoided and substituted.
Margarine can be used in place of butter. Make sure the margarine package specifically states that it is vegan-friendly, as some margarines do contain small amounts or trace amounts of animal products. Because margarine is used instead of butter in vegan baking, the resulting cakes, pies, and pastries are often more heart-healthy than those made with traditional ingredients.
Soy milk, rice milk, or almond milk can be used in place of milk. Personal taste and preference should be considered when deciding between the three options. Many vegan bakers prefer soy milk, which is often nearly as thick as cow’s milk.
It’s a little more difficult to avoid eggs, but recipes that call for them can be adapted to meet vegan dietary restrictions. Egg replacer is a product that is designed to take the place of eggs in recipes. It is a dairy-free product that contains no animal products. The packaging for egg replacer includes instructions on how much to use per egg required in the recipe.
Almost all recipes for brownies, cookies, cakes, and pies can be made vegan-friendly by substituting vegan-friendly products for butter, milk, and eggs. Other dairy products, such as sour cream or yogurt, are called for in some baking recipes. There are several companies that make vegan sour cream and vegan yogurt, so these ingredients are simple to replace.
Vegan baking necessitates a little more planning and forethought than traditional dairy-based baking. Vegan margarine, soy milk, and egg replacer are not always readily available in all kitchens. These ingredients are readily available in most grocery stores and health food stores. Vegan bakeries are available for those following a vegan diet who don’t want to worry about the ins and outs of vegan baking. They aren’t as common as regular bakeries, but they can be found in a variety of cities throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.