30 Best Vegan Desserts

Whether you're craving an indulgent cake, a refreshing sorbet, or anything in between, these vegan desserts are guaranteed to satisfy your sweet tooth.

Vegan desserts

These vegan desserts are here to prove that you don’t need butter, eggs, or cream to create something that’s sweet, rich, and decadent. Once you stock your pantry with a few simple ingredients, making knockout vegan desserts couldn’t be easier. Keep coconut oil on hand to take the place of butter, start reaching for ground flaxseed instead of eggs, and invest in a bottle of pure maple syrup. You might be surprised to find that you don’t miss the dairy or eggs one bit!

Below, you’ll find my 30 best vegan desserts. I include plant-based twists on classic recipes as well as creative frozen treats, crisps, cakes, and more! No matter what you’re craving or the occasion you’re cooking for, you’re guaranteed to find a sweet treat you love.

Vegan Cookies and Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
One of my all-time favorite vegan desserts! A sprinkle of flaky sea salt makes the nutty, chocolaty flavors in these no-bake cookie bars pop.

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies

Vegan Peanut Butter Cookies
These are the best peanut butter cookies I’ve had, vegan or not! They have chewy middles, crumbly edges, and fantastic nutty flavor.

No Bake Cookies

No Bake Cookies
Warning: these cookies are SUPER addictive and dangerously easy to make! With a handful of ingredients and 5 minutes of prep, they’re chewy and rich, with a delicious peanut butter/chocolate flavor.

Vegan desserts

Tahini Almond Cookies
Pomegranate arils add juicy pops of sweetness to these chewy, warmly spiced cookies. 

No-Bake Almond Butter Oatmeal Bites

No-Bake Oatmeal Bites
It’s hard to eat just one of these cookie dough bites, but who cares? They’re filled with good-for-you ingredients like flax, almond butter, and oats.

Vegan apple cookies

Apple Oatmeal Cookies
Imagine the best oatmeal cookie you can think of. It’s soft, spiced with cinnamon, and studded with fruit and nuts. These vegan apple cookies check every box! Trust me, you want to make them ASAP.

Vegan desserts

Pistachio Oat Squares
You only need 6 ingredients to make these crispy, toasty, lightly sweet treats. What are you waiting for?!

Vegan oatmeal cookies

Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
These cookies, made with oat flour, may be healthy enough for breakfast, but they’re delicious enough for dessert too!

Vegan desserts

Vegan Date Brownies, page 245 of Love and Lemons Every Day
These vegan brownies will give any regular brownie recipe a run for its money. Medjool dates and cashew butter give them a crave-worthy fudgy texture, while cocoa powder and chocolate chips infuse them with rich chocolate flavor.

Chilled Vegan Desserts

Vegan ice cream

3-Ingredient Vegan Ice Cream
It’s rich, decadent, and every bit as good as the real thing.

Easy vegan desserts

Avocado Chocolate Pudding Pops
Unlike the store bought pudding pops of my childhood, these frozen vegan desserts get their creamy texture from avocados and almond butter. They’re fudgy, rich, and just the right amount of sweet.

Vegan dessert recipes

Creamy Butternut Squash Pudding
The first time I made this pudding, I couldn’t stop eating it out of the blender! Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and maple syrup infuse it with warm, spiced flavor, and coconut cream makes it rich and velvety. It’s 10 times easier than pumpkin pie, and if you ask me, it’s 10 times better, too.

Raspberry Cheesecake

Vegan Raspberry Cheesecake
A tart raspberry layer, a creamy lemon layer, and a toasty walnut crust make this vegan dessert fresh, decadent, and so, so good.

Vegan dessert recipes

Tart Cherry & Mint Sorbet
Serve this ultra-refreshing sorbet as soft serve straight from the blender, or freeze it for a few hours for a firmer texture. It’ll be lightly creamy, tart/sweet, and downright delicious either way.

Best vegan desserts

Vegan Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
Toasted pecans take the place of crust in these pie-inspired parfaits. Instead of traditional pie filling, I top the pecans with a rich, maple-sweetened pumpkin mousse. Finish them with a dollop of coconut whipped cream to take them over the top!

Vegan desserts

Creamy Vegan Lemon Bars, page 247 of Love and Lemons Every Day
It couldn’t be Love and Lemons without a lemon bar recipe, right? Thanks to maple syrup and Medjool dates, these creamy, decadent bars are refined-sugar free. I like to keep a stash in the freezer for a zingy afternoon pick-me-up!

Fruity Vegan Desserts

Apple Crisp

Easy Vegan Apple Crisp
If you ask me, fruit crisps are the best vegan dessert recipes. They’re easy to toss together, and there’s nothing more delicious than nutty crumble topping over soft, juicy fruit. This spiced apple crisp is one of my favorites. It tastes wonderful, and it’ll make your kitchen smell amazing too!

Peach cobbler

Easy Peach Cobbler
Naturally sweet and brimming with peachy flavor, this cobbler is an essential late summer treat. Don’t skip the (vegan) ice cream for serving!

Vegan desserts

Strawberry Crumble
A splash of balsamic vinegar adds a zingy pop of flavor to this crisp’s sweet, juicy strawberry filling.

Peach crisp

Peach Crisp
Use whatever summer fruit you have on hand in this easy crisp recipe! The nutty, oat-y topping is delectable over peaches, a mix of peaches and berries, or any combination of stone fruit.

Cake and Loaf Vegan Desserts

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Chocolate Cake with Sweet Potato Frosting
If there’s any recipe that lets you have your cake and eat it too, it’s this one. It’s moist, fudgy, and topped with luscious chocolate frosting, but wholesome ingredients are hiding inside it. I swap maple syrup for refined sugar and use a mix of white and whole wheat flour in the cake. Last but not least, I make the rich frosting with a secret veggie ingredient: sweet potato!

Vegan dessert recipes

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Bread
I’d take a slice (or two) of this zucchini bread any day. It’s moist, warmly spiced, and topped with a big sprinkle of chocolate chips. What’s not to love?

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting
I especially love these bars in the fall, but I wouldn’t blame anyone for making them at another time of year. Pumpkin puree, coconut oil, and almond flour make them wonderfully moist, and cinnamon, cardamom, and nutmeg fill them with warm, spiced flavor. Enjoy them plain as a lightly sweet treat, or top them with vegan frosting for a more decadent dessert.

Healthy Banana Bread

Healthy Banana Bread
With its perfect moist texture and spiced banana flavor, you’d never guess that this banana bread is totally dairy- and egg-free! I like to fold in walnuts for crunch, but stirring in a handful of chocolate chips wouldn’t be a bad move either.

Roll and Muffin Vegan Desserts

Vegan cinnamon rolls

Cinnamon Rolls
Whether you call them breakfast or call them dessert, you have to try these cinnamon rolls! They’re soft, gooey, and brimming with brown sugar and cinnamon.

Vegan desserts

Meyer Lemon Muffins
On their own, these ultra-moist lemon muffins are a fantastic breakfast or snack. But top them with a dollop of vegan cream cheese frosting, and they transform into a bright vegan dessert!

Vegan desserts

Chocolate Chip Banana Muffins
I have a soft spot for chocolate chip muffins, especially when they’re as moist and flavorful as these are. To keep myself from eating four in one sitting, I bake a batch, enjoy one, and freeze the extras to have on hand for quick vegan desserts throughout the week.

Vegan desserts

Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins, page 269 of The Love and Lemons Cookbook
I have this recipe on repeat from the first day I see a zucchini at the farmers market until the last one disappears in the fall. Puffy, moist, and chocolaty, they’re the perfect everyday treat.

More Favorite Vegan Recipes

If you love these vegan desserts, find over 85 delicious vegan dinner recipes here!

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Vegan Desserts: Peanut Butter Cookie Bars

rate this recipe:
5 from 115 votes
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Serves 16 to 25
These decadent bars are one of our favorite vegan desserts!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • Heaping ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • cups almond flour
  • tablespoons maca powder, optional
  • 1 cup vegan chocolate chips

Cacao Layer

  • cups walnuts
  • 2 tablespoons cacao or cocoa powder
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
  • 10 soft medjool dates
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • Flaky sea salt for sprinkling on top, optional

Instructions

  • Line an 8x8-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
  • In a large bowl, stir together the peanut butter, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt until combined. Add the almond flour and maca, if using, and stir to combine (the mixture will be thick). Fold in the chocolate chips and press into the pan. Place in the freezer so that it firms up a bit while making the next layer.
  • In a small food processor, pulse the walnuts, cacao powder, and sea salt until the walnuts are well chopped. Add the dates and pulse to combine, adding 2 tablespoons water if the blade gets stuck. Process until smooth, then spread onto the cookie layer. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired. Freeze for 30 minutes (this will help them firm up, making them easier to cut). Remove and slice into bars. Store remaining bars in the fridge.

Notes

These bars freeze well. To thaw, let sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes.

47 comments

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Rate this recipe (after making it)




  1. Nic
    09.17.2021

    Is there an alternative flour I can use? Almonds are a migraine trigger for me, so almond flour is off the table for me.

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      09.18.2021

      Hi Nic, you could try pulsing another nut (walnuts or pecans) into flour, just the blender or food processor before they turn into nut butter.

  2. Morgan
    09.05.2021

    Hi! I’m making this for my mom and I have all-purpose flour and I have olive oil. Can I use these instead?

  3. Hi! I’m so excited to make this for my family. Is it possible to sub another oil? A neutral one? Thank you!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.30.2021

      yep, you can use any neutral oil.

  4. Sandie
    07.25.2021

    Super easy and so delicious! Thank you

  5. Jacqui
    06.21.2021

    5 stars
    My first attempt at vegan cooking, this recipe was easy and absolutely delicious.

  6. Ana B
    04.27.2021

    5 stars
    Amazing recipe! So easy to make and fun too:)
    I was asked from a few friends to share it as I made it for a donation event. Most of the children asked their mums to make it tomorrow for them :))
    Also, made the vegan pistachio slices, that too was a big hit!
    Thank you

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.28.2021

      I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying the desserts!

  7. Evelyn
    04.13.2021

    5 stars
    I made just the peanut butter layer, and made it into balls. It’s delicious! Really satisfying and just the right amount of sweetness. And it took less than 10 minutes to make.

    I’ll make both layers next time. Thank you for a great recipe!

  8. Julia
    01.25.2021

    5 stars
    This recipe is delicious! I absolute love the date topping, topped with sea salt! It’s a perfect combination of sweet and salty. After eating you will feel completely satisfied with all of the fiber and protein that is in it. Overall, a perfect guilt-free treat!

  9. iliana
    01.19.2021

    Sounds amazing!! But what can you substitute for dates? I don’t have any at the moment 😭

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      01.19.2021

      Hi Iliana, their stickiness binds the crust together so they’re necessary here.

  10. kriti
    01.16.2021

    Wow! These turned out very delicious, even my mother who is a picky eater and allergic to eggs enjoyed these!

  11. 5 stars
    Thanks for such a lovely article about the vegan desserts. Really informative and helpful contents.

  12. Rob
    12.13.2020

    Did you used refined or unrefined coconut oil? Could I use unrefined?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      12.13.2020

      Hi Rob, you could use either one – unrefined will have a stronger coconut taste.

  13. Bevin Westfall
    11.17.2020

    Do you have a substitute for the walnuts? They hut my family’s mouths. Excited to try these for my mama friend who can’t do dairy or soy!!

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      11.17.2020

      Hi Bevin, the walnuts are blended to make the chocolate layer so they’re very smooth (not nutty and chunky). If there’s an allergy and you still wanted to skip the walnuts, I suggest making this recipe where we rolled the base layer into balls instead: https://www.loveandlemons.com/edible-cookie-dough/

  14. Tine
    09.06.2020

    Thank you for sharing these recipe

  15. Lawrence
    07.03.2020

    5 stars
    These are absolutely amazing. Love them so much. I have never had any dessert quite like these bars. Thank you for sharing. Very extraordinary

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      07.10.2020

      I’m so glad you loved them!

  16. Laurie L
    06.19.2020

    Hi! I only have a 9×9″ pan…So, can you please recommend changes for it to fit in that tin?

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      06.20.2020

      Hi Laurie, it should work, they’re just going to be much thinner and a little bit more difficult to press to the edges of the pan. Since these are no-bake, I don’t have any other modifications to the recipe.

  17. Tanya
    04.17.2020

    I have all the ingredients except almond flour. I have coconut flour. I will save a trip venturing out and substitute. Hopefully all will turn out. ❤

    • Jeanine Donofrio
      04.17.2020

      Hi Tanya, I’m afraid coconut flour won’t work – these will be very dry since coconut flour requires a different liquid ratio in recipes.

  18. Kayla
    02.12.2020

    5 stars
    Amazinggg!! Being healthy has never been so SWEET! 😉

  19. Sabrina from newkitchenlife.com
    02.10.2020

    thank you for all of these, now what to choose for Valentine’s Day?

  20. mary
    02.10.2020

    Wow! what a wonderful line up of goodies:) We’re spoiled for choice!

A food blog with fresh, zesty recipes.
Photograph of Jeanine Donofrio and Jack Mathews in their kitchen

Hello, we're Jeanine and Jack.

We love to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, while our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen floor.