No oven, no dairy, no problem: Vegan desserts to try for Veganuary

Contrary to popular belief, vegan cooking isn’t all about vegetables. These days, people are creative (and technologically equipped) enough to make vegan versions of just about anything. For the sweet tooths out there, here are a few vegan versions of popular desserts that’ll make the end of every meal (or a midnight jaunt to the fridge) something to look forward to. 

Best of all? You’re not going to need an oven to prepare any of these recipes.

Salted caramel cheesecake

We’ve all heard of no-bake cheesecakes (and even tried our hand at it), but this version doesn’t require eggs, butter or even cheese for that matter. The crust is made with a combination of almonds, coconut oil, medjool dates and shredded coconut. Cashews soaked overnight and blended to a creamy consistency, some vanilla and lemon juice make up the decadent filling. You need to freeze this cheesecake for at least five hours before serving, so it’s a dessert best made in advance. 

Cookie bars

If you’re looking for a fast treat, these cookie bars are the way to go. It only requires ingredients like old fashioned oats, maple syrup, vanilla and medjool dates with some variation depending on which specific recipe you’d like to make. Aside from being vegan, these cookie bars are completely raw, nut free and allergen friendly. 

Crème brûlée

This crème brûlée recipe might just be as easy as it gets. Instead of heavy cream and eggs, the secret ingredient to make this version just as rich as the original is canned coconut cream and tofu. Yes, tofu. 

This recipe takes about 10 minutes to prep, but like most good things, you’re going to have to wait to enjoy this. This vegan crème brûlée needs to set in the fridge for at least six hours or up to overnight, so patience is key here. After the custard has set, it’s time to brûlée away. 

For those of you who don’t have a blowtorch at home (a.k.a. most of us), here’s a clever little hack for getting that crunchy sugar crust without needing a can of butane—be forewarned though, a metal spoon will be harmed in the process.  

Glazed donuts

Donuts are generally easy to make, and these vegan donuts aren’t any different. The main ingredients of these fried, fluffy pastries are all-purpose flour, coconut oil, ground flax seeds and some gluten flour (which is optional). Since the recipe is simple, you can dress these donuts up however you like—which can also be a fun activity to do with kids. 

Mini carrot cakes

Bigger isn’t always better, and these mini carrot cakes prove that. To make these bite-sized, raw food-friendly desserts, you just need to do a bit of mixing, a bit of pureeing and some waiting in order for these cakes to set in the freezer. Coconuts play a big role in this recipe (like using coconut water for the icing and some shredded coconut for the cake), so if you’re a carrot and coconut fan, you’ll definitely want to try this.