Vegan Baking

These were awesome! They consist of a layer of graham cracker crust with a thin layer of peanut butter topped by a marshmallow then covered in a thin layer of dark chocolate. The graham cracker crust fell apart a little too easily but luckily it was still anchored to the smore by the peanut butter layer. The marshmallow part was very well done- if you fed this to a non-vegan they wouldn't consider it being vegan for even a second. Every bite results in getting all of the layers which was great, and who can go wrong with peanut butter, marshmallow, graham cracker and chocolate?

One of the best parts of growing up was waking up to the aroma of Dad's legendary pancakes every Sunday. After gorging on them doused with maple syrup, the fam and I would go hiking on Mt Tam. Like clockwork, I'd eventually proceed to have an enormous mysterious energy crash that would reduce me into a quivering mess that Mom would call 'the shakes'. I later found out this was because the maple syrup I loved so much was causing my blood sugar to peak, then crash due to it's high glycemic index. Now I'm a lot more careful by making sure that I get some veggie sausages and go easy on the maple syrup. Agave syrup has a significantly lower glycemic index than maple syrup. Adding maple extract to it makes it a delicious maple syrup substitution, as shown in this recipe. Check out our article on sweeteners and glycemic index to see how different sweeteners stack up.

Vegan fudge is pretty rare which is sad. Fortunately, Allison's Gourmet has noticed this and taken the initiative to change this situation. This fudge is really rich and smooth. There was a small hint of coconut which complemented the chocolate which was nice. It's extremely soft and lacked chewiness which would normally be a negative for me but didn't bother me in this case. I found it to be a little on the sweet side. The walnuts on top were a great contrast to the chocolate. Overall a great fudge! This fudge contains the follwing ingredients in order by weight: organic sugar, organic fair-trade cocoa, organic walnuts, organic coconut milk, organic coconut butter, organic vanilla, sea salt. Available at www.allisonsgourmet.com.

This is Part 2 of a 3 part series on how to get your kitchen dialed in for easy vegan baking. In Part 1 we talked about essential cookware that we recommend to make things nice and easy. In this article we'll detail ingredients that will make your vegan baking adventures easier so you're not running to the store trying to find that one ingredient you forgot about at 1am. Part 3 will detail specific tools that aren't necessities but are worthwhile additions to your vegan baking armory.

Father's Day is coming on Sunday, June 21st so you'd better get on it and show Dad that he's #1 (or you might get grounded). We've compiled a list for all you sons and daughters out there who have been trying to figure out what to get dear ol' Dad while somewhat keeping with the theme of vegan baking. A stretch? Possibly. As you lead a cruelty-free lifestyle, It's important remember to give gifts that don't say "I'm vegan and I got you this vegan gift". Read on for our recommendations.

Mise en place, pronounced 'MEEZ ahn plahs', translates to "put in place". It means to have all your ingredients, cookware and your kitchen prepped and ready to go before doing your cooking or baking. With mise en place, recipes are reviewed and necessary ingredients and equipment are checked. Mise en place is used extensively in the food industry and is of equal importance to the recipe itself.

Mise in place is simply the act of just reading the directions, fully understanding and preparing yourself for the task you're about to do. If you bought furniture that needed to be assembled, you'd want to practice a variant of mise en place called "reading the directions first" for best results. You should get in the habit of mise en place every time you bake.

Churros are so good and such a rare treat that it's always a sign of good luck to actually find them. Traditionally they're made with eggs so vegan churros are an even more rare find. This vegan Churro recipe features sugar and cinnamon for churriffic flavor and flax as the primary binder. It's important to use the biggest pastry bag star tip you can find and to go easy on the frying until they're just barely golden brown so they're not too crisp. A candy thermometer is crucial for best results. Enjoy these churros with Churro Chocolate Sauce that's enhanced with the creaminess of non-dairy milk and just a pinch of cayenne.

Les Marg Bakery

Blue Lotus Products: We specialise in an irresistible range of Dairy (Milk, Casein, Lactose) Free Cakes, Egg Free Cakes, Wheat Free Cakes, Gluten Free Cakes and Soya Free Cakes. The range also includes a large selection of Sugar Free Cakes that would make enticing diabetic birthday cakes. We also have a wide range of Nut Free Cakes. Our luscious 'free from' cakes would be ideal as luxurious birthday cakes, anniversary cakes, wedding cakes or christening cakes and would make unique gifts by post to send to loved ones, clients or colleagues.

Veganmania Bakery: Vegan sweets & treats are the heart of VeganMania. We’ve been serving up compassionate goodies to the Vancouver area for over five years, via the Vancouver Farmers Markets, custom cakes, catering community & private events, and making special deliveries.

Snail House Bakery: Delectable vegan treats for parties, special occasions, birthdays, or every-day delight! Located in Kerrisdale, Vancouver, BC, at Snail House vegan Bakery I create treats to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth, using quality fresh, organic, low-fat ingredients. As an apartment-based service with no storefront, I accept pre-orders with pick-ups only!

Liz Lovely: We bake gourmet cookies with organic & fair trade ingredients from our 100% vegan cookie bakery in the Green Mountains of Vermont. Unlike most natural food companies these days, we bake everything in our own bakery and ship it directly to people and stores all over the country.

East Side Ovens Bakery: Since 1994 we have produced a wide variety of products including cookies, muffins, scones, cupcakes, pies, fruit dumplings, cakes, fruit bars, bread, rolls, holiday cookies, special occasion cakes, and frozen deli foods.

Flying Apron Bakery: Flying Apron products are created with your good health in mind. They are made using the finest organic ingredients; whole grain wheat free flours and organic non hydrogenated oils. The Flying Apron is a wheat free, gluten free and vegan bakery.  Many of our products are alternatively sweetened as well.

Sticky Fingers Bakery: Do you crave smooth, tantalizing cheesecake… but don’t eat dairy products? Do you desire lush, chocolate cake with creamy filling… but avoid consuming eggs? Do you dream about biting into sticky sweet cinnamon buns… but want foods that are cholesterol-free and low in saturated fat? Whether you are vegan, allergic to milk or egg products, wish to eat more healthfully, or simply want deliriously delicious sweets-- Sticky Fingers Bakery is the place for you!