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Vegan Sweet Tooth? Unleash Your Inner Baker with Plant-Based Baking Hacks

Vegan Sweet Tooth? Unleash Your Inner Baker with Plant-Based Baking Hacks

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Most recipes online are catered to non-vegans. Yet, all non-vegan ingredients are replaceable. You can make just about anything with plant-based products, including baked goods!

Whether you’ve just changed your lifestyle or you’re a new baker, you can make all your favorite treats without compromising your health. All you have to do is find the perfect substitutes and baking hacks to transform any recipe into a vegan one.

I’ve compiled some of my favorite baking tips and tricks, so you can get the perfect bakeries every time. Let’s dive in!

1 – Substitute Eggs With Items in Your Pantry

Eggs are an essential part of baking. They’re responsible for the texture of baked goods, binding all the ingredients together.

Still, even if you’re not vegan and simply looking for healthier baking alternatives, substituting eggs should be the first thing to do.

Fortunately, there are plenty of egg alternatives you can use. As long as a product has a consistency similar to eggs and mixes well with the rest of the ingredients, you can use it.

In particular, aquafaba is the most popular and reliable egg substitute. It might sound unfamiliar, but you probably have aquafaba in your pantry!

Aquafaba is the viscous water found in canned legumes, most commonly chickpeas. You can also make it by boiling dried chickpeas. Three tablespoons of the liquid is equivalent to one egg.

Other egg alternatives include:

  • Mashed banana
  • Flax egg
  • Apple sauce
  • Chia seeds
  • Silken Tofu

2 – Bake Creamy Goods Without Butter

Butter provides moisture and creamy flavor in baked goods. Letting go of this mouthwatering ingredient is one of the hardest parts of plant-based baking.

Well, through plenty of trial and error, I’ve found some exceptional alternatives that provide a similar texture and flavor, as well as plenty of health benefits.

For starters, vegetable oils are the most straightforward replacement. However, some oils, such as olive and avocado oil, have a distinct flavor that doesn’t work in baked goods.

On the other hand, coconut oil offers a perfect creamy texture, without significantly altering the taste. If you’re making coconut treats, it’ll enhance the flavor even more!

To get an identical consistency with coconut oil, add a splash of milk to perfectly mimic the creaminess of the butter.

Keep in mind that the substitution ratio differs from one fat to the other. You can use one cup of coconut oil for every cup of butter. If you’re going for other vegetable oils, though, only use ¾ cup.

3 – Coconut Milk Is Your Best Friend

When it comes to milk alternatives, the choices are endless. That said, I adore unsweetened coconut milk in baking.

Coconut milk might have a prominent smell, but it’s one of the most mild-tasting milk substitutes. Yet, it has a subtle nuttiness that perfectly complements other ingredients.

Additionally, coconut milk is pretty versatile. You can use it in place of regular milk, whipping cream, or sweetened condensed milk.

All you have to do is refrigerate the coconut milk overnight, then whip it until stiff. If you want condensed milk, simply simmer the coconut milk on low heat until it thickens.

4 – Make Homemade Vegan Buttermilk

Buttermilk makes a significant difference in your baked goods, particularly in breads and muffins. This ingredient balances out your recipe’s sweetness and acts as a leavening agent.

Typically, buttermilk is a by-product of butter, as it’s the liquid left behind after rendering the butter from whole milk. Yet, you can make your own version of the dairy product in minutes.

All you have to do is substitute the buttermilk for a concoction of plant-based milk and white vinegar—the acidity in the vinegar mimics that in buttermilk, resulting in fluffy, crumbly bread.

White vinegar might have an overwhelming flavor, even if you use a tiny amount. So, I often go for apple cider or lemon juice. They have a milder taste but don’t help my baked goods rise as well as white vinegar.

5 – A Digital Scale Can Go a Long Way

Baking with plant-based ingredients is a delicate process. While there’s room for error with traditional recipes, vegan recipes call for precision.

That’s why I find a digital scale a worthy investment. Not only do I avoid the clutter of the countless measuring cups, but the scale also ensures the correct ratios. This way, all my baked goods turn out perfect every single time!

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