Worried you'll have to give up sweets now that you're following a whole food plant-based diet? Well we've got good news: there are so many wonderful and delicious whole food plant based desserts, you won’t feel like you’re missing out on a thing. Well, actually, you will miss out on a few things: no more sugar spikes, or crashed, no more belly aches, no more portion control!
Sounds good right? Eating dessert doesn’t have to send you into a tailspin of guilt and sugar shakes.
We are going to answer all of your burning questions like what do vegans eat for dessert? How do you make sugar-free plant based desserts sweet? What's the difference between refined sugar and natural sugar? And, you'll learn the amazing secret of plant based desserts: You can eat them as a plant based breakfast!
Oh, and did I mention all of these plant based dessert recipes are also naturally gluten-free? Yeah.
On This Page
Plant Based Desserts 101: Refined Sugar vs. Natural Sugar
How Do You Make Whole Food Vegan Desserts?
11 Plant Based Desserts to Try at Home
BONUS: The Vegan Dessert You've Been Waiting For (Hello, Not-A-Cookie!)
No time to make your own plant based desserts? We made you cookies!
Plant based desserts can be easy...especially when Mama makes them for you! Our Not-A-Cookie is the guilt-free vegan dessert you can feel good about!
100% plant-based and bursting with flavor and nutrients...zero chemicals, zero processed sugars.
Sound good? Order your Not-A-Cookies today!
Plant Based Desserts 101: Refined Sugar vs. Natural Sugar
So what’s the difference between whole food plant-based dessert and say, doughnuts? It all has to do with refined sugar vs. whole food sugars. In short, refined sugars shoot into your bloodstream quick; your blood sugar spikes up real fast then dips back down again shortly thereafter. Whole foods on the other hand, contain enough fiber to slowly release sugars into your bloodstream, keeping your glucose levels stable.
That’s why when your 5-year-old drinks apple juice they’re off the walls, but when they eat an apple they’re a perfect little angel (okay, maybe not all the time but you get the point). Whole food sugars are more energy stable. It’s all about that fiber!
How do you make whole food vegan desserts?
When sweetening plant based desserts, refined sugars are off the table. No white or brown sugar, unless you plan on grinding up the whole sugarcane. And actually, many non-organic cane sugars processed in the US are not vegan.
That said, there are many ways to sweeten your favorite desserts using whole food plant-based ingredients.
Sometimes plant based desserts call for small amounts of maple syrup because of its nutrient density. Plant based desserts often have honey, but this ingredient is widely not considered to be vegan. All in all, your healthiest alternative is going to be date syrup or date sugar because of its fiber to sugar ratio.
Can’t find date syrup in the stores? No worries, it’s so easy to make your own: just pit, soak and blend dates with a few tablespoons of water until you’ve reached a honey consistency. Voila! You’ll never need table sugar again.
If you’re baking and need to use a dry sugar in your plant based desserts, use date sugar (just dehydrated dates!).
So now that you know how to sweeten your whole food plant-based dessert, let’s get cooking!
11 Plant Based Desserts to Try at Home
Try these 11 simple, refined sugar-free, oil-free, plant based dessert recipes tonight. Oh, and did I mention these plant based desserts are all gluten free?
1. Plant-Based Double Chocolate Cake
Prepare to be floored by this decadent WFPB double-chocolate cake. No animal products in sight and it's surprisingly healthy since it's oil and added-sugar free. (It's also free from gluten!)
2. Plant Based Raspberry Nice Cream
A single ripe banana has 14 grams of natural sugar. Wow… thank goodness whole food sugars react differently in your body than refined sugars or this recipe would have you spiking and crashing like a cat that just discovered catnip. Instead, you get all the sweetness and none of the health consequences.
When you think of plant based desserts, you may think ice cream is off the table. But we're happy to introduce you to “nice cream,” the humane version of ice cream. Throw some frozen bananas in your food processor and blend until creamy… and then keep on blending. The result? Soft serve!
Flavor it up with peanut butter, cacao, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, vanilla or any of your favorites. Try this Raspberry Nice Cream recipe for the healthiest ice cream you’ve had in your life… so yes, it’s okay to finish the pint.
3. Gluten Free, Plant-Based Blueberry Crisp
Any whole food with a deep purple or blue color is rich in antioxidants. And what do those do for you? They prevent oxidation in the body.
Think of it like this: If you bite an apple and leave it out on the counter, it will oxidize and turn brown. If you squirt lemon juice on it (an antioxidant) it will prevent the oxidation and your apple will stay white. The same thing happens with our bodies. Antioxidants have anti-cancer and anti-aging properties that keep our bodies healthy, and our skin looking smooth. So, load up on this vegan blueberry crisp.
4. Fudgy Vegan Brownies
We couldn't have a plant based desserts roundup and NOT include brownies! There's no oil or butter in these vegan brownies...so what the heck makes them so perfectly fudgy? You won't believe the secret ingredient...
5. Plant-Based No-Bake Pumpkin Pie
Every heard of overnight oats? Well this is an overnight pie (so much better... right?). This vegan dessert is loaded with Omega-3s, beta-carotene, and fiber. So why not have a slice (or two) for breakfast?
6. Dairy-Free Peanut Butter Chocolate Shake
One of the best things about healthy plant based desserts? You can enjoy hem for breakfast, too! This vegan chocolate shake will blow your mind time and time again. With just 4 powerful ingredients, it’s a sweet, thick, creamy -- and healthy! And not an ounce of dairy.
7. Eat-it-Raw Vegan Cookie Dough
No salmonella scares required for this raw vegan cookie dough! And I bet you NEVER thought you’d be eating beans from a blender thinking, “Mmm… gonna treat myself to some dessert.” But I promise, it’s lick the bowl clean good! And you won’t feel an iota of guilt doing just that since this dough is loaded with fiber, protein, and tons of nutrients!
8. Nutty Plant-Based Gluten Free Cookies
If you have enough patience to wait for plant-based cookies to come out of the oven, try this super simple, refined sugar free, gluten free cookie recipe. Although… If you still can’t wait the batter is pretty finger lickin’ good as well. Why wait until dessert? Bake up a few of these babies and bring them with you on your next road trip, hike, or any adventure.
9. Dairy-Free Pumpkin Spice Shake
Who says it has to be fall to enjoy pumpkin spiced everything?! Anytime is a good time to load up on beta-carotene, fiber, and other nutrients that will power you through your day.
10. Refined Sugar-Free Apple Crisp
There’s nothing better than the smell of baking apples and cinnamon wafting through your home on a crisp fall day. Time to make that dream a reality. This apple crisp is whole food plant-based and guaranteed to please a crowd.
Want to enjoy old favorites? Give them a plant-based spin by using flax seeds, date syrup, and eliminating the oil.
For more whole food plant-based dessert recipe ideas, browse our recipes on the website to find everything from chia seed pudding and black bean brownies to carrot cake and vegan truffles!
11. Vegan Chocolate and Vanilla Dessert Sauce
Whether you eat refined sugars or not this plant-based recipe will be sure to change your dessert game forever.
Use it as a cake glaze, pancake syrup, an oatmeal topping, a cupcake icing, even as a pudding. Dip strawberries in it on your anniversary… or a treat-yo-self Tuesday night! This healthy topping is packed with nutrients, so why limit yourself to just one batch?
BONUS #12: Not-A-Cookie
Sweet tooth at odds with your whole food plant-based diet? We hear you and we were you...which is why we're pleased as punch to introduce our newest sweet treat that just happens to be good for you. No cooking required. Say hello the plant-based dessert and snack you can indulge in with zero guilt: the MamaSezz Not-a-Cookie.
Our flagship flavor, the All Day, is now available as part of a monthly subscription or you can give 'em a try and simply add-on to your next MamaSezz order.
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