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An Intro to Vegan Baking Ingredients - plant based made easy!
• Lynsey Macdonald
More than ever, we know many of our customers are embracing vegan baking. But switching to plant-based can be overwhelming in the beginning! Finding the right alternatives is the key. So, we've put together this handy intro to vegan baking ingredients, to make changing things up as easy as can be.
From what to replace your eggs with to how to make dairy-free condensed milk, let's explore the world of vegan bakes...
Short on time? Grab one of our handy vegan cake mixes to get you started!
Table of contents
- Vegan baking egg replacements
- Vegan baking milk and butter replacements
- Vegan baking heavy cream replacements
- Other vegan replacements
Vegan Baking Egg Replacements
One of the most intimidating prospects when embarking on your vegan baking journey is replacing the eggs! Cake recipes without egg are few and far between, so it's important to get this step right.
There are a number of options to explore...
Banana
That's right! One ripe, mashed banana can replace one egg in your recipe. This is a great source of moisture and an ideal substitute in cakes, brownies or pancakes. The only thing to watch out for is the flavour - it will add a slight taste, so be sure it is compatible with your other ingredients.
Apple Sauce
Didn't see that one coming? It's true - one tablespoon of apple sauce is an excellent substitute for one egg in a cakey recipe. This adds a decent amount of sweetness, so just be sure the bake you are creating calls for that! And, again, consider the flavour combination.
Aquafaba
Aquafaba is the left over water from cooked chickpeas. The most efficient way to source this is to drain a can chickpeas and keep the liquid to one side. Then whip it up using a mixer until it forms peaks. It's a perfect substitute for egg whites in meringues or cakes!
Flaxseed
Flaxseed is a really healthy choice, and works well as a binder in your recipes. Add 2.5 to 3 tablespoons of water to 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed, and there you have it - an eggcellent substitute for use in banana bread, muffins and cakes!
This is absolutely not an exhaustive list - there are lots of different egg replacements out there! But these four are a good, and easy to access, place to start.
Vegan Baking Milk and Butter Replacements
Replacing milk and butter in your vegan bakes is a slightly easier task!
There are lots of dairy free milk options out there, but for baking, your best options are Soy and Almond milk. Soy milk in particular is a great choice for baking denser items like breads and heavier cakes. It is slightly thicker than the other dairy free milks.
In terms of flavour, watch out for Coconut milk - it is delicious, but does have a distinct flavour, so (again), make sure it blends well with your other ingredients.
And when it comes to dairy butter, a simple swap for a vegan butter or margarine does the trick! This is a fairly easy find in your local supermarkets now.
Alternatively, butter can be replaced with plant-based oils like olive oil, sunflower oil or coconut oil. Just check the smoke point (heat tolerance) of the oil you choose - this will impact on whether it's suitable for the recipe or not.
Vegan Baking Heavy Cream Replacement
Does your recipe call for cream? Here are a couple of great options for vegan cream that you have to try!
Coconut Cream
This is a super easy substitute, and a one ingredient swap! It can be switched at a ratio of 1:1, so simply replace the cream in your recipe with the coconut milk.
Pop your can of full-fat coconut milk in the fridge, scoop out the solid piece from the top after a few hours, and add to your recipe as normal. Or, if you're looking to create a whipped cream substitute, whip up your coconut milk as you would a non-vegan cream.
Cashew Cream
Another common substitute for heavy cream is cashew cream. Add three quarters of a cup of pre-soaked cashews to a quarter cup of water and blend together!
Keep adding small amounts of water as you go until you reach the consistency you are looking for.
Shop our range of vegan buttercreams and frosting.
Other Vegan Replacement
Replacement for Honey
A quick and easy replacement for honey is maple syrup - it's a vegan option that gives that same sweetness and texture. And you can use the rest on your next batch of vegan pancakes - a win win!
Replacement for Buttermilk
Create a vegan friendly buttermilk by adding one tablespoon of either white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar, or lemon juice to one cup of plant-based milk of your choice. Whisk together, leave to sit for ten minutes, et voila!
Replacement for Condensed Milk
Grab your coconut milk again - it really is a magic ingredient! Add one third of a cup of granulated sugar to one can of coconut milk, bring to the boil and then simmer for around 45mins (stirring regularly).
Replacement for Food Colourings
Some food colourings in your cupboard may already be vegan! But it is certainly not a given - so be sure to check before you buy. The entire collection from Fractal Colors is vegan, so you can confidently purchase those colours knowing they are suitable.
Whiten your bakes using the vegan Icing Whitener from Ingenious Edibles.
If you're feeling inspired, explore our full range of vegan ingredients and don't forget to tag us in your photos on Instagram during your next vegan baking session - we can’t wait to see what you create. Use the hashtag #CakeDecFamous so we never miss your posts!
Looking for more inspo?!
How to Make a Vegan Chocolate Cake
