There are a few non-negotiables in life, and one of them is dessert.
Herbivores, omnivores, and carnivores—to be clear, that’s the vegans, “normal” people, and the Ketogenic followers out there—unite! We’re all just trying to figure out our optimal feeding habits and discover what works best for ourselves. We see meatless Mondays, “fasting” Tuesdays, “raw ‘till four” Wednesdays, blah, blah, blah. You get the idea.
Everyone’s on their own journey, but no journey is complete without dessert. The tricky part, however, is that most traditional desserts include dairy, and lots of it. Whipped cream on this, ice cream as a side to that, and a glass of whole milk to wash it all down. All of our favorite desserts are typically dairy-delights; that’s just how it is. Well, that’s how it has been.
Welcome to 2020. US dairy sales are expected to drop by 11% by the end of the year, and dairy-free products are on the rise. There’s milk being made from oats, cheese being made from almonds, but most importantly, desserts are hopping on this dairy-free bandwagon. And frankly, they’re killing it.
Fluffy, crunchy, chewy, crumbly, and everything in between, there’s a plant-based dessert for that. Dessert is a little joy in life that adds a whole lot of happiness. Plentiful studies are praising “balance” as the key to a healthy and happy life. However, this next statistic really takes the cake; studies have shown that those who allow themselves to indulge in dessert have a greater chance of achieving and maintaining long-term weight-loss. *Fork cheers.*
This is probably also a good time to point out that life is too short to eat lousy dessert. Good thing we’ve already gone out and found the best plant-based desserts and put them into this convenient list for you. These goodies have passed the taste test and are definitely five must-try vegan desserts.
Why Vegan?
Well, why not vegan?
Plant-based and dairy-free recipes and products have come a long way in the last decade. And by “long way,” we mean vegan desserts have gone from crackers, fruit, and crumbly muffins to just about everything under the sun. Seriously, any dessert your heart desires, there’s a vegan version of it out there.
Vegan desserts are filling our grocery stores, local bakeries, and even the mega fast-food chains. It’s becoming more and more common to see plant-based this and dairy-free that all over the place.
Now, if we could make one suggestion – let’s refrain from calling these products “alternatives.” Sure, technically, they are alternatives, that sounds like something that’s second-choice or a back-up option. “Alternative” has a bit of a negative connotation to it.
The thing is, plant-based desserts, especially these five, are stellar. These five desserts are not just some alternative trying to fill the dessert void in whatever diet you’re following. They stand on their own and need no dairy to get the credit they deserve.
Are you not yet convinced that plant-based desserts are just as good (better, even) as “normal” desserts? Well, you’re about to be. Without further ado, here are the five vegan desserts you need in your life.
5 Must Try Vegan Desserts
In no particular order, here are five must-try dairy-free desserts. You can read this now, enjoy them soon, and thank us later.
Cookie Butter Ice Cream
Cookie. Butter. Ice cream. Probably the last words you expected to hear in a vegan dessert list, right?
It’s 2020, remember? Everything we thought we knew is out the window. This Cookie Butter Ice Cream is heaven-sent, and we aren’t exaggerating. Our ice cream at Eclipse is the first-ever plant-based ice cream that’s indistinguishable from conventional dairy ice cream.
Swim in the velvety river of vanilla sweetness and discover chunks upon chunks of cookies that are so golden, you’ll feel like a miner. This cookie butter is crafted from 100% plants and is always non-GMO. No dairy, no GMO, just swirls of joy and deliciousness, that’s all.
Seriously, plant-based dessert doesn’t compromise on taste, and after a spoonful of this ice cream, you’ll get it. We’re all screaming for this Cookie Butter Ice Cream, and we’re not even sorry.
Chocolate and Vanilla Ice Cream
Yes, ice cream again. This one is for all the sweet but simple people out there.
Chocolate and vanilla ice cream are all-time favorites that even the dinosaurs probably enjoyed. We have Eclipse to thank again for these Vanilla and Chocolate classics. These ice creams are rich and creamy, which is precisely the way ice cream should be. No dairy, no nuts, but no sacrifice!
Another wonderful thing about Eclipse ice cream is that it isn’t chalky or icy. If you don’t know what we mean by that, lucky you. Unfortunately, several dairy-free ice-cream-like desserts have a chalk-like texture and taste—yuck. It’s these chalky, dairy-free ice creams of the world that are giving cowless desserts a bad rep!
Next time you’re craving a simple, sweet treat after dinner, try this ice cream for yourself. It’s so good, it’ll seem like the main attraction and the cherry on top, all at once. The only question left will be: bowl or cone?
Dark Chocolate
It’s a common misconception that all chocolate has dairy in it. So let us break the good news; no, not all chocolate has dairy in it.
Another sweet vegan treat is a dark chocolate bar. Just make sure that you check out your chocolate goodies to ensure that they’re not only dairy free, but also that they follow fair trade practices, so you know you can feel extra good about eating your dessert.
And dark chocolate can be played up too! How does almond, crispy rice, and coconut dark chocolate sound? Pretty tasty, if you ask us.
A word to the wise: melt half a cup of chocolate along with a spoonful of coconut oil. Combine the ingredients in a bowl and microwave for 15 seconds, stirring and repeating until you have a smooth, silky texture. This melted chocolate is perfect for dipping strawberries, drizzling over pretzels, and just about anything else. You can even enjoy it with a small spoon or finger dipping—we don’t judge.
Chocolate Covered Banana Pops
Chocolate covered banana pops are a fun, easy, and tasty DIY treat you can make in a matter of minutes in the comfort of your kitchen.
If Reese’s Cups, fruit, and popsicles had a baby, this is what it would be. This dairy-free dessert is low-calorie, requires less than five ingredients, and is made exclusively from whole foods. This recipe is so simple you’ll be making it in your sleep in no time. All you’ll need is:
- Three bananas
- One cup of vegan chocolate
- Coconut oil
- Peanut butter (optional)
Step 1: Peel bananas and cut them in half. Insert a popsicle stick or chopstick lengthwise into the bananas pieces. Place the banana-popsicles on a baking sheet and freeze for 15 minutes.
Step 2: Combine chocolate and coconut oil in a small bowl and microwave, occasionally stirring, until completely melted.
Step 3: Remove the bananas from the freezer and dip them into the melted chocolate. Feel free to dip only one side, one half, or the entire thing.
Optional: Use a spoonful of peanut butter to make drizzles over the banana pops. If you’re a PB lover and plan on trying this, we recommend doing the PB step after the chocolate dip. (Dipping the banana into the chocolate after it’s been covered in PB is messy…take our word for it.)
Also optional: sprinkle crushed nuts, coconut flakes, or sprinkles over the banana pops.
Step 4: Place the pops back on the baking sheet and back into the freezer for another 10-15 minutes.
There you have it. Quick, easy, vegan, and delicious.
Cookies
A dessert list without cookies isn’t much of a dessert list at all.
And lucky for you, there are plenty of delicious plant-based cookies out there—you must try them yourself. Going vegan doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your favorite desserts.
We have another dessert hack for you: heat it up. A toaster oven will work best, but a conventional oven or even the microwave will suffice. Place the cookie on a baking sheet and into the oven with the “broil” setting. Depending on your desired level of toastiness, leave it in for 5-10 minutes. You now have a warm, gooey, golden, and 100% delicious dairy-free dessert. Enjoy with a spoon or pick it apart with your fingers.
For the true dessert-die-hards out there, we have an extra special suggestion. Remember our new best friend, Eclipse ice cream? Add a scoop of ice cream on top of your warm cookie. Yep. That’s all.
You Need These Desserts In Your Life
You need to try them. We need more of them. And heck, the entire world could use some comforting deliciousness right about now, too.
Dessert can make bad days good, and good days better. Vegan desserts have come a long way; if there was ever a time to give plant-based dessert a chance, it’s now.
With no dairy and no compromise, these are simply the best dairy-free desserts there are. Life’s too short to eat lousy dessert. Have one of these five must-try vegan desserts instead.
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