31 Vegan Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth
Our best vegan desserts hit all the right cravings: For something rich and fancy, a chocolate tart with candied oat topping; for sweet, chewy, and fruity, we’ve got coconut sticky rice with mango; and for creamy-dreamy, there are a few takes on freshly churned ice cream. The twist: They’re all completely egg--and-dairy-free. Forgoing milk and butter, but never sacrificing flavor, these vegan sweets are plant-based by design. Some rely on plant-based dairy products, like our favorite vegan butters and nondairy milks. Others showcase powerhouse ingredients—dates for caramelly sweetness, avocado or silken tofu for creaminess.
Whether you’re looking for an occasion-worthy dessert to follow a vegan main (look no further than light, creamy coconut-chocolate mousse) or a quick and easy late-night snack (that’s where these thin mints come in), you’ll find something below to satisfy everyone in the room. And if you’ve got an old standby you’re looking to replace, check out our guide to veganizing just about any recipe. Open to some suggestions? Get scrolling.
Photograph by Emma Fishman, prop styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi1/31Vegan Chocolate Cake With Chocolate-Orange Frosting
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Pearl Jones, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro2/31Mango Sticky Rice
Photo by Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott3/31Lemon-Pistachio Loaf
The zest of two lemons brings lots of citrus flavor to this bright and tasty loaf cake, while olive oil keeps it moist. Be sure to seek out a certified vegan sugar—not all brands are.
Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Sophie Strangio4/31Chocolate Date-Caramel Cups
Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Pierce Abernathy, prop styling by Olga Grigorenko5/31Vegan Chocolate Mousse With Sesame Brittle
Photo by Heami Lee, food styling by Judy Haubert, prop styling by Rebecca Bartoshesky6/31Mandazi (Mahamri)
Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li10/31Citrus Crumble With Coconut and Nuts
A simple plate of sliced citrus makes for a delicious, if uninspired, dessert. A simple plate of citrus garnished with a crunchy mixed nut crumble (incidentally, also an excellent topping for vegan banana bread)? Now that’s worth inviting friends over about.
Alex Lau11/31Coconut Chia-Tapioca Pudding
Fresh coconut meat (which you can find at many health food stores) takes this vegan recipe up a notch. Learn how to crack open a coconut with our guide.
Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime12/31Rum-Soaked Fruit and Coconut Crisp Sundaes
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Emily Eisen16/31Coconut-Chocolate Mousse
Seek out cans of coconut cream, not coconut milk, for this vegan dessert recipe. The thicker, richer product gives the chocolaty mousse body and a satisfying mouthfeel.
Michael Graydon + Nikole Herriott17/31Black Sesame Carrot Cake
No need for cream cheese frosting—this well-spiced carrot cake recipe gets moisture from applesauce and almond milk and a striking crown of black sesame seeds. It’s a great vegan alternative to sweet potato or pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving dessert spread.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Molly Baz, prop styling by Emily Eisen18/31Salted Chocolate–Tahini Bliss Balls
Photograph by Chona Kasinger, prop styling by Callie Meyer19/31Tibok-Tibok
This extra-dark egg-free pudding contains both Dutch process cocoa powder and melted bittersweet chocolate. You can make it up to three days ahead of time for an easy dinner party dessert.
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Sophie Strangio21/31Tropical Trifle With Coconut and Rum
Showcase tropical fruits like mango, banana, and starfruit in these pretty layered trifles. Or swap in stewed apples (use whiskey instead of rum) and toss in some toasted pecans in the fall for big apple pie energy.
Christopher Testani22/31Vegan Chocolate Tart With Salted Oat Crust
Some chocolate contains milk powder or other dairy byproducts, so be sure to seek out a vegan dark chocolate like Hu for the espresso-spiked ganache that fills this tart.
Marcus Nilsson23/31Watermelon Granita
A cousin of sorbet, granita is a fluffy, fruity shaved ice that can be made up to a week in advance. This version is like a booze-free take on the ultimate summer refresher, salted watermelon margaritas—finish either with a sprinkle of sea salt and ground chile.
Gentl & Hyers25/31Chocolate-Avocado Pudding
Avocadoes add creamy richness to this dairy-free chocolate pudding. Instead of the whipped cream topping, add a dollop of non-dairy yogurt or whip up some coconut cream, then shower the bowls with cacao nibs and chopped hazelnuts for crunch (some fresh raspberries wouldn’t hurt, either).
Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich26/31Matcha-Dipped Strawberries
For ultimate visual appeal, dip fresh strawberries in matcha-dyed white chocolate (look for a vegan brand, like Pascha). Coconut oil helps the chocolate coating harden and stay shiny. Serve these chocolate-covered strawberries on their own or use them to garnish a vegan cheesecake.
Condé Nast Entertainment27/31Erin McKenna's Thin Mint Cookies
Forget chocolate chip cookies: These copycat, completely vegan thin mints are what we want to snack on. As an added bonus, they’re gluten-free, too.
Alex Lau29/31Coffee Soy Vegan Ice Cream
A combination of silken tofu and coconut oil gives this dessert its rich, creamy texture. Serve alongside our favorite vegan chocolate cake at a birthday party—or stack scoops into sundae glasses with vegan whipped cream, crisp store-bought cookies, and a dusting of cocoa powder for tiramisu vibes.
