Vegan Carrot Cake

I make this vegan carrot cake recipe for Jack's birthday each year. Moist, cinnamon-spiced, and slathered in frosting, it's perfect for celebrations.

This vegan carrot cake recipe is a riff on my mom’s traditional recipe. That cake is Jack’s all-time favorite dessert, so she makes it whenever she comes to visit. Then, I make it again for Jack’s birthday. This year, instead of making her recipe as written, I adapted it to make a vegan carrot cake instead! My mom’s recipe calls for applesauce, which makes her cake super moist and light. Using applesauce, you can actually veganize carrot cake relatively easily. Along with the shredded carrots, it adds enough moisture to eliminate the need for flax eggs or other unconventional ingredients.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Meyer Lemon Ice Cream

vegan / gluten free

It’s probably about time for a truly lemony post, here on Love and Lemons. Pucker up, this sweet & sour ice cream is the perfect way, in my opinion, to welcome spring. (Or to dream about spring if it hasn’t quite reached you yet). Yes, an ice cream maker is required here — I’m not going to lie, it takes up an annoying amount of space, but we really do use ours quite often. It’s fun to get creative with flavor combinations you can’t just buy in a store, (especially non-dairy combinations). I imagine making ice cream would be a fun…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Raspberry Crumble Bars

vegan / gluten free-option

Warning: these are highly addictive and way too easy to make. I’ve been meaning to post these for awhile… the problem is that every time I’ve made them we just eat them. There’s a lot of restraint involved in taking pictures of food. These are inspired by one of my favorite treats – those raspberry bars at Whole Foods (the super delicious buttery ones). My version here uses coconut oil and walnuts which makes them a tad healthier although they’re still pretty indulgent. A perfect little 3 o’clock snack. You likely have all of these ingredients in your pantry already.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Moonshine Sweet Tea Cupcakes

baking / vegan-option

It’s a good thing I didn’t start the new year off with healthy resolutions because the past few days have been all about cupcake making. (I have a hard life, I know). And I’m sorry to say that these aren’t low-sugar, low-carb, low-fat… although they are low in “shelf life” because they’re likely to disappear soon after you make them. Everything in moderation right? Remember this post about Moonshine Sweet Tea? Well it’s back, this time in cake form. These cupcakes are the perfect treat to cozy up with while you daydream about hot sunny days ahead. And – exciting news…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Skillet Apple Crisp

fall / vegan / gluten free

This would be a pretty dessert on the table of any dinner party… or a no-fuss, no-crust Thanksgiving apple “not-pie.” But it’s equally perfect for a cozy Sunday when you’re too lazy to leave the sofa in between marathon-ed episodes of Mr. Selfridge. Don’t tell me what happens, we’re 3 episodes from the end, and we’re pretty obsessed. But we had to eat, and this was fast enough to quickly to whip up. (It just tastes like it should have taken longer). Feel free to scale it for a crowd, but I love a dessert that’s easy to to make…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Matcha & Sweet Azuki Macarons

hello macaron / guest recipe / gluten free

About two years ago, I had this idea that Jack and I could start a food blog together. I thought it would be fun to try new things, and to chronicle our highs and inevitable lows. On my list of foods I thought would be “fun” to tackle: macarons. We both love them… good ones are often hard to find… so by all means we should make them ourselves. Fast forward to now… that macaron project has yet to happen. Mostly because I knew it would likely end in a tantrum and a few tears. Second, and most importantly –…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Almond Peach Cake

If you put fruit on cake, it's ok to eat it for breakfast, right? It is with this dairy-free vegan almond peach cakes! So perfect with ripe, summer peaches.

vegan / summer / almond breeze

If you put fruit on cake, it’s ok to eat it for breakfast. That’s the rule, right? Of course, the cakes I make aren’t super decadent. This one, for example, is whole-grain enough that it could just as easily be baked in a muffin tin or mini loaf pans… the shape alone would make you feel differently about what time of day is cake-appropriate. Aside from the sprinkle of brown sugar on top, there’s no refined sugar. It’s moist on the inside thanks to a combo of coconut oil, almond milk and applesauce. And then, the best part – the peaches.…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Blackberry Lemon Cake

Vegan lemon cake with sweet coconut cream and juicy blackberries!

vegan / summer

I knew you were coming so I baked a cake. Wasn’t that nice of me? I don’t think that’s how the song goes, but as I write this post, I can’t get it out of my mind. All I can think about is that song… and cake. And how I wish the leftovers of this one were still around. Lemon cake is one of my favorite things (surprise, surprise). I’m usually too lazy to make cake and frosting, but I’ve been obsessed with coconut cream. This time I added a few drops of lemon oil into it, and I just have…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Berries & Coconut Cream

A simple spring & summer dessert when berries are in peak season! Made with vegan coconut cream.

summer / vegan

Our 4th of July ended up being a quiet day, just the two of us. Jack grilled up some stuffed mushrooms & poblanos and then whipped together this juicy little dessert. We have a new annual tradition – which is not the 4th of July – but rather the annual “Jack cooks because Jeanine’s hand is all busted up from trying to break up yet another dog fight.” Yes, this has happened before, and no, I’ll never learn. Everyone’s fine, by the way, but lets just say our little Annie is looking much more disheveled than this guy. But back…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Grilled Peach & Walnut Crumble

summer / vegan

It’s going to be 106 degrees here today, so needless to say, summer is on. If you’re cooking out this weekend, I have the perfect simple dessert for you. No baking is required, just toss some peaches onto your already-hot grill and you’re nearly done. I, myself, will be having a “cook-in,” making this on my grill pan in my temperature controlled kitchen. A note about this walnut crumble topping – it’s become my go-to lately for quick desserts. Top it on any kind of fruit, add a scoop of ice cream & dig in.

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Mango Lime Pops

summer / mango

Mango pops. These two words just feel happy together… and even happier between a couple of cute little fat asterisks. To be honest, I’ve been in a slight bit of a funk lately, but as I sit here to write this post, I’m realizing that there are so many things to be happy about. I don’t want to turn this into a big “be grateful for your life” post (although, be grateful for your life, it’s a good thing). But maybe take a second to think about the tiny things that make your world go ’round. For example mine, right…

TO THE RECIPE >>>>

Welcome to Love & Lemons!