By Lora O’Brien
Sure, summer’s great. But I personally look forward to the winter months, when I can tuck my own growing muffin top snugly inside my jeans as I satiate my sweet tooth with soft, fragrant, tasty winter baking.
I mean, really – there’s nothing more comforting about the scent of cinnamon and nutmeg drifting in from the oven, and few things are more satisfying than witnessing how a bunch of blended ingredients suddenly heat and rise to become a thing of beauty.
With Christmas behind us, I’m not quite ready to say goodbye to sweet and spicy baked goods, and screw those New Year’s Resolutions – I’m going to treat myself to a batch of gooey cookies, warm, filling muffins, hot or something altogether more decadent. These vegan winter baking ideas, below, are actually not even all that ‘bad’, considering they don’t involve saturated animal fats, and they generally have less sugar and gluten than conventional baked goods. Enjoy!
1. Apple Banana Muffins
There’s really nothing better to accompany a hot cup of tea than a muffin! They’re soft, fluffy and once baked, the tops go deliciously golden. This apple-banana combo is packed with fruit, and they’re quick to make (and even quicker to devour!)
Get the recipe here.
2. Chocolate Hazelnut Stuffed Cookies
Warm cookies that ooze gooey hazelnut-chocolate filling? Um, hell yeah! These may look a bit fancy, but they’re easier to make than you think, and plus, they can easily be made with gluten-free oats if you suffer from allergies.
Get the recipe here.
3. Vanilla Custard Almond Crowns
If you can practically make muffins and cookies with your eyes closed, why not challenge yourself and delve into a bit of pastry? These replicate what you may find in a patisserie, and are bound to impress friends and family.
Get the recipe here.
4. Sticky Toffee Pear Pudding
How beautiful is this? It may not be the healthiest (lots of brown sugar, you know), and it may not be the easiest to make (you’ve got to make the sponge and the topping), but my-oh-my, the results are worth it! This is a great dessert to make for a special occasion.
Get the recipe here.
5. Chocolate Chip Shortbreads
Shortbreads are real crowdpleasers Both comforting and moreish, these chocolate chip rounds will melt in the mouth. And there’s nothing I love more than dunking a shortbread into my mug of coffee, mmm!
Get the recipe here.
6. Vegan Apple Butter Filled Cinnamon Sugar Doughnuts
Doughnuts are something you can struggle to find vegan versions of, so why not make your own? And these doughnuts are perfect for autumn with their apple butter filling and their cinnamon sugar coating.
Get the recipe here.
7. Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Whenever I have bananas that are going spotty, I just turn them into banana bread. It’s cheap and quick to make and tastes absolutely scrummy! If you’ve never put peanut butter into your banana bread before you HAVE to give it a go! Game. Changer.
Get the recipe here.
8. Easy Homemade Bread
Homemade bread may seem like a bit of a chore, but believe me – this recipe from the Minimalist Baker is surprisingly easy! Plus, it’s packed with whole grains and seeds, making it way healthier than most store bought loaves.
Get the recipe here.
9. The Best Ever Vegan Chocolate Cake
Who doesn’t love chocolate cake? And this is a fabulous recipe to have in your baking repertoire. Made with just one bowl, it’s quick, it’s easy and the end result is super moist, rich and chocolatey cake – truly, the best ever!
Get the recipe here.
10. Pumpkin Pie Crumbles
Ever wondered what happens with velvety pumpkin pie meets a decadent crumble cake? Here it is! A mouth-watering pumpkin pie crumble that is lightly sweet and filled with a rich, cinnamon cream that will have everyone going back for seconds. And thirds.
Get the recipe here.
11. Coffee Pecan Bars
Oh wow – these look so decadent! But actually, they’re pretty healthy, thanks to the fact that they’re gluten free and are sweetened with dates and maple syrup instead of sugar. Paleo eaters can enjoy them, and they’re great for freezing if you have an occasion on the horizon.
Get the recipe here.
12. Gluten Free Carrot Cake
Anything with a vegetable in its name must be healthy, right? Well, that’s what I keep telling myself when I bake this – which I do, often! Moist and loaded with fabulous flavour, this is bound to become one of your go-to recipes, too.
Get the recipe here.
13. Hot Chocolate Cupcakes
Does it get any cosier than a warm mug of hot chocolate topped with melted marshmallows? Turn that wintry beverage into a delicious sweet treat with this great recipe – these cupcakes actually look like a cuppa hot chocolate, too!
Get the recipe here.
14. Glazed Apple Cider Donuts
Loaded with cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice, these vegan baked apple cider doughnuts are the perfect way to embrace fall flavours. They may look pretty fancy, but they only take 25 minutes to make.
Get the recipe here.
15. Salted Caramel Thumbprint Cookies
With just 6 ingredients, these cookies are quick and easy to make. The shortbread is filled with a vegan caramel sauce and then drizzled with dark chocolate and some sea salt. The result? A bit like a Twix. Give them a try!
Get the recipe here.
16. Vegan Ginger Cake
Sometimes, you just need to hit pause on life and sit down with a mug of coffee and a slice of cake. And this vegan gingerbread cake is the perfect treat for those moments. It’s deliciously spicy, soft and light and your home will smell fab for days to come after making this!
Get the recipe here.
17. Vegan Fig Frangipane Tart
The crust on this tart is (vegan) buttery and wonderfully crumbly, whilst the filling is beautifully fragrant and oozing with sweet, juicy figs. Crispy on the top, soft in the middle, and 100% perfection. Anyone for a slice?
Get the recipe here.
18. Salted Caramel Cupcakes
If you find cupcakes a bit dry at times, you’ll love this recipe – the sponge is pretty moist itself, but get this – in addition to the icing, there’s a gooey salted caramel sauce that oozes out of the middle. Yum!
Get the recipe here.
19. Spice Date Cookies
These Middle-Eastern inspired cookies are soft and chewy with a beautiful blend of cinnamon and pumpkin pie spices. They’re also refined sugar-free thanks to the minced medjool dates, so you’ll feel zero guilt when you scoff the lot!
Get the recipe here.
22. Pistachio Orange Sticky Buns
Sticky buns seem to be having a moment right now, and while the cinnamon variety is possibly the most common, these pistachio orange babies are a zesty, refreshing option.
Get the recipe here.
23. Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
This recipe will likely revive childhood memories for many. They’re crunchy around the edges but softer and chewy towards the middle.
Get the recipe here.
24. Baked Chocolate Mint Cookies
In my humble opinion, the only thing better than chocolate is: mint chocolate! These cookies are gooey in the middle, crunchy on top, and have a refreshing mint kick.
Get the recipe here.
25. Vegan Cheddar Chive Scones
We couldn’t leave out something for those of you who think ‘savoury’ when you think baking! These tangy, cheesy scones are great as a dinner side dish, as the base for a sandwich, or as an anytime snack! Of course, you will need some vegan cheddar for these babies, but no probs – you can buy that here.
Get the recipe here.
26. Lemon Zucchini Cake
Spicy, moist and tart, with a sweet ‘cream cheese’ frosting. How could this cake get any better? Put autumn zucchini to good use by making it moisten this delicious cake.
Get the recipe here.
27. Mini Pumpkin & Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
These miniature doughnuts are actually pretty healthy since they’re baked, not fried – plus, they’re super easy to make. Dipped in a little oil and dusted with cinnamon sugar, these are the perfect treat for winter.
Get the recipe here.
28. Vegan Portuguese Custard Tarts
Ever wondered how you can make custard tarts…without using custard?! Silken tofu and cashews, my friends. Mixed together they create the perfect custard consistency that is needed for these Portuguese classics. You’re welcome.
Get the recipe here.
29. Mini Pumpkin Pies
Yeah, I know it’s post-Thanksgiving, but hey, it’s always a good time for pumpkin pies! These individual sized ones are easy to make, and can also be frozen – if you don’t eat them all in one go!
Get the recipe here.
30. Spiced Apple & Pumpkin Hand Pies
How adorbs are these pumpkin shaped pies? Packed with a delicious spiced apple and pumpkin filling, they’re both fun to make and fitting for autumn, since apples are in season now. Why not add a dab of vegan ice cream on the side?
Get the recipe here.
31. Best Ever Vegan Brownies
Thought your days of eating brownies were gone after ditching dairy? Thanks to a flax egg, your chocolatey dreams are well within reach. These brownies are named the ‘best ever’ – and they do live up to the name!
Get the recipe here.
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