Tasty Treats and Decadent Desserts for Vegans in the Valley

Vegan baked goods @ 24 Carrots

The stereotype of vegans as crunchy, hemp-wearing hippies lurking in the dark, marginal corners of health stores is disappearing as veganism moves into mainstream America. According to Gallup research, 2% of the U.S. population is vegan.

Living a vegan lifestyle has become much easier: Nowadays you can’t turn a corner in a grocery store without smacking into once-unknown ingredients that feature prominently in the vegan diet, such as quinoa, tempeh or chia seeds.

The health benefits of a vegan lifestyle are increasingly appreciated by consumers of all persuasions and environmentalists appreciate vegans’ promotion of transparency about how food is produced, handled and prepared.

So what exactly is veganism?

Vegans consume an entirely plant-based diet with no animal by-products. While that rules out smearing cream cheese on a bagel or adding a healthy dose of cream to your morning coffee, it isn’t that difficult to come up with savory dishes that fit the criteria. But if you’re vegan, you also have to cross eggs, butter, milk and honey off your grocery list. And that makes it a real challenge to create delicious baked goods (always as much a science as an art).

Luckily for us, these Valley bakers have risen to the vegan baking challenge and have devised vivid, flavor-packed treats that vegans and omnivores alike will savor and enjoy.