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There are plenty of good reasons to go vegan, but it does require some adjustment to your current cooking and baking routines. Luckily, there are plenty of great ingredient swaps in baking that allow you to enjoy your favorite sweet chocolate treats the vegan way!
Whether you’re new to vegan cooking or just looking for something new to add to your dessert arsenal, we’ve rounded up some of the most delicious plant-based chocolate recipes so that you can have your cake and eat it too!
Is Chocolate Vegan?
Veganism is the practice of not eating animal products like milk and dairy. Luckily, cutting out animal products doesn’t mean that you have to give up sweet treats, including chocolate.
Chocolate itself is a vegan-friendly ingredient made from the refined beans of the cacao tree. However, milk is also often added to chocolate to make milk chocolate, so stick with dairy-free dark chocolate to keep your desserts plant-based. You can also look for chocolates labeled as “vegan” or “plant-based” to ensure that they align with your needs.
Non-Vegan Ingredients
Of course, there’s more to desserts than just chocolate! Some common baking ingredients that make a dessert unsuitable for vegans include:
- Milk
- Butter
- Eggs
- Cream
- Gelatin
- Lard
- Cream cheese
There may also be some other ingredients that you’ll want to look out for while searching for a good vegan recipe, depending on your own preferences. For example, some vegans will also choose not to eat honey or use beeswax since they’re made by bees. Even some refined sugar is sometimes considered non-vegan since it’s usually filtered through bone char to get that bright white coloring.
Now, on to the desserts!
15 Delicious and Healthy Vegan Chocolate Dessert Recipes
- Fudgy Vegan Brownies
There’s no other dessert that captures the rich goodness of chocolate quite like a warm, fudgy brownie. Luckily, it’s super-easy to make them with all-vegan ingredients! This recipe from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen makes a couple of easy swaps for a gooey, rich brownie — simply exchange butter for vegan butter and milk for plant milk, and you’re left with a pan of delicious plant-based brownies that tastes amazing straight out of the oven. - Vegan Chocolate Cake
You don’t have to give up your love of moist chocolate cakes when you go vegan! This delicious recipe from Nora Cooks makes a rich, decadent, cake that stays moist even without eggs or butter due to the addition of apple sauce. It also comes with a vegan “buttercream” recipe so that you can make the ultimate showstopping chocolate masterpiece for birthdays, celebrations, or just because. - Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Nothing hits the sweet spot quite like a classic chocolate chip cookie. This highly-rated veganized version of your favorite childhood sweet is soft, chewy, and super simple to make with ingredients you probably already have in your baking pantry. The result? A warm, decadent classic that satisfies that cookie craving every single time. - Vegan Chocolate Pie
This “mind-blowing” vegan chocolate pie by Pinch Of Yum has only a handful of ingredients, doesn’t require any baking, and yet it can stand up to any non-vegan pie on the table. Use a pre-made vegan pie crust of your choice, some silken tofu for structure, and a scoop of rich almond butter to make an easy and delicious pie. - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Can’t decide between chocolate or peanut butter cookies? Make both! This recipe from Love and Lemons is rich, decadent, and every peanut-butter-chocolate lover’s dream, combining the best parts of a chocolate chip cookie, peanut butter cookie, and bar all in one tasty treat. Just make sure that you’re using a vegan peanut butter brand if you’re concerned about honey, refined sugar, or cross-contamination from other non-vegan products produced in the same facility. - Vegan Chocolate Cookies
If you love your chocolate with a side of more chocolate, these double-chocolate cookies from Lovin’ It Vegan are going to be calling your name! The base is made from a vegan-friendly dough that holds up well with your choice of plant-based milk, and they’re filled (and topped) with even more delicious morsels of vegan chocolate chips. - Avocado Chocolate Mousse
Avocados are everyone’s favorite healthy fat, and it turns out that they make a great creamy addition to vegan desserts as well. This Healthy Recipes chocolate mousse uses a ripe Haas avocado and cocoa powder to make an airy and decadent mousse that you won’t be able to resist devouring by the spoonful. - Vegan Chocolate Banana Bread
Have a bunch of bananas sitting on your counter? Make a vegan banana bread — with plenty of chocolate, of course! This banana bread recipe by Bianca Zapatka uses a couple of very ripe bananas, cocoa powder, and plenty of vegan chocolate chips to make a sweet treat that can be enjoyed guilt-free at any time of the day: for breakfast, as a mid-day snack, and as the perfect after-dinner dessert. - Chocolate Coconut Milk Ice Cream
You just can’t beat the simple joy of a scoop of chocolate ice cream, and a homemade vegan version is even better! All you’ll need is a can of coconut milk, cocoa or cacao powder, maple syrup, and vanilla extract to make a delicious and plant-based ice cream option. Top with your favorite fruits, nuts, and more chocolate for an indulgent vegan treat. - Easy Baked Chocolate Donuts
This vegan donut recipe by Minimalist Baker gives you a double-dose of vegan chocolatey goodness with a sweet and cakey chocolate batter and coconut oil-chocolate glaze. Bonus points: this recipe is also gluten-free and baked, not fried, for extra health benefits. - Vegan Red Velvet Cupcakes
The delicate chocolate flavors of red velvet cupcakes make them a popular festive dessert for chocolate lovers, but they’re usually paired with a decidedly non-vegan cream cheese frosting. This recipe by 40 Aprons bypasses all the usual animal-based products to create a light, airy red velvet cupcake topped with a delicious vegan “cream cheese” frosting for the perfect dose of cocoa sweetness. - Salted Dark Chocolate Tart
A little bit sweet, a little bit salty, and totally indulgent, this homemade salted dark chocolate tart from Gimme Some Oven is sure to be a crowdpleaser at any party or get-together. It’s also really simple to make: simply mix and press the crust ingredients in a pan and bake it to hold its shape, then melt together the filling and refrigerate until ready to eat. - Vegan Chocolate Cheesecake
No, you don’t have to give up rich, creamy cheesecakes just because you’re vegan! This chocolate cheesecake recipe from The Vegan 8 replaces the usual dairy-based filling with raw cashews and cocoa butter, making a sweet, luscious cheesecake that’s sure to satisfy even your strongest chocolate cravings. - Vegan Chocolate Brioche Buns
There are few smells quite as nice as good bread baking in the oven — and few chocolate desserts quite as satisfying as a decadent chocolate bun! If a nice, soft sweetbread is more your speed for desserts, you’ll love these chocolate-filled brioche buns by Bianca Zapatka. You’ll only need a handful of ingredients including dairy-free yogurt, yeast, vegan butter, and plenty of vegan chocolate chips that you can enjoy at any time (though let’s be real, they’re at their best when they’re hot and fresh out of the oven). - Coconut Oil Chocolate Bark
Chocolate bark is one of the simplest chocolate desserts you can make, but the payoff is a rich treat that can satisfy your chocolate cravings every single time. This vegan version from Oh She Glows requires just a couple of ingredients and is flavored with a couple of favorites like almonds, hazelnuts, coconut oil, and dried coconut flakes.
Conclusion
Chocolate desserts are some of the simplest pleasures in life, and there are plenty of ways to enjoy them without compromising on your vegan needs. Ditch the dairy and eggs, make some easy swaps, and you’ll find that vegan chocolate desserts can be just as rich and indulgent as any other baked goods out there!