The Great British Baking Show is…well…pretty great! But for the vegans among us, the mouth-watering recipes seem like an impossibility.
If you’re vegan, or simply trying to cut down on your use of animal products, don’t despair! Vegan baking has come a long way in recent years, with new ways to substitute animal-free ingredients.
Are you looking for ways to make your favorite Great British Baking Show recipes, but without any animal products? Read on for the best ways to vegan-ize your baking!
The Basics of Vegan Baking
Delicious baked goods depend on the right balance of structure, moisture, and flavor. When you’re looking to substitute with a vegan ingredient, you have to think about the ways that fat, water, and acid all come together in your recipe.
It takes a lot of trial and error to make the cake or cookies you’re dreaming of. One tenet of vegan baking is try, try again. Think about the early vegan versions of baked goods that used to be on offer – clearly we have made progress since then.
Finally, believe in yourself and vegan baking! Professional bakers and bakeries like Simply Eggless Bakery in California are embracing vegan alternatives to traditional baking ingredients. There are many more vegan resources online and in stores than ever before.
Veganize the Butter
While there are butter substitute products on the market, they often cost a lot more than regular butter. Some people might not like processed products as much in their baking as well.
Two vegan options to substitute for butter are peanut butter and coconut oil. Clearly, there are recipes where peanut butter simply will not fit, but it does work for many cookie recipes. Coconut oil is a much more versatile option that works as butter but doesn’t have its own strong flavor.
Veganize the Eggs
Again, there are commercially produced egg replacers, but many bakers have not had good results with these. Excellent egg substitutes include banana, apple sauce, and flaxseed. These will provide the right texture without too much flavor intrusion.
One other tried-and-true way to substitute for eggs is baking soda and apple cider vinegar. These ingredients will cause a reaction that acts as a leavener while also not adding a strong flavor or breaking the bank. These are common ingredients that many bakers will already have on hand.
Veganize the Dairy
There are plentiful options to substitute for milk, cream or buttermilk. Any plant-based milk should work for milk, including coconut, almond, or soy milk. Remember to choose an option that will complement the flavor you’re going for.
Some of the plant-based milk also have cream options, especially coconut cream. If you need buttermilk, add a tablespoon of lemon juice to any of the non-dairy milk!
Veganize the Chocolate
Making a vegan substitute for chocolate may be the easiest ingredient of all since the main ingredient is plant-based. If you get high-quality, unsweetened cocoa, you can mix it with some of the vegan alternatives for milk or butter to thicken it up for baking. It will take some trial and error to get the right consistency, but it will be worth it!
Try, Try Again
It might take a few tries to get your recipe just right. But don’t give up! With all of the vegan options and substitutions out there, eventually, you’ll get it right.
Vegan Baking is Here to Stay
Substituting for animal products is good for our health and our planet. It’s worth the time and trial to make your favorite Great British Baking Show recipes into vegan ones. Keep trying these substitutes in different combinations, and remember to share with your friends!