Vegan diets have become very common and the food industry has noticed. It’s no surprise that vegan restaurants, bakeries and even grocery stores are popping up all over. Many bakeries have begun incorporating vegan options and even transforming traditional recipes to be vegan friendly. Baking vegan recipes without the use of any eggs, milk or other animal products is often a challenge, but we have some tips, tricks and quick fixes that can guide you to create the perfect vegan recipes.
Vegan Substitutes Usually Don’t Work
Vegan eggs work great as binders, but they usually can’t take the place of regular eggs in baking. Unlike regular eggs, which have meat protein that develops structure in baked goods, vegan egg substitutes will often lead to a clumpy batter and baked goods that are dense and chewier than planned.
Vegan Batter Consistency is Different
The batter of baked goods such as cake is usually moist and a little runny – vegan batters, on the other hand, are not. If you build the batter structure using mostly gluten to counteract the lack of eggs, the batter will probably look heavy and more dry than usual. It may take a few tries to perfect but avoid adding too much water or other wet ingredients that may cause your baked goods to sink in the middle.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda are Essential
If your baked goods sink in the middle, or even worse – don’t rise at all, chances are you need to increase the amount of baking powder and/or baking soda in the recipe. If adding more baking powder and/or baking soda doesn't help, the issue might be caused by excessive water and sugar contents.
Customize Basic Vegan Recipes
One of the easiest ways to start baking vegan treats is to find some classic recipes for simple vegan cakes, cupcakes and other essentials, and incorporate your own ingredients and flavors to make them unique to your business. A simple vegan white cake base can easily be transformed into a delicious carrot cake with the addition of a few ingredients and flavors.
If you are planning on introducing vegan products in your bakery, make sure you have the audience for it. Start off small and integrate more choices as they become popular. With these tips in mind, you will be well on your way to mastering vegan desserts.