Full disclosure: I am not vegan. I approach handmade vegan treats instead with the mindset of a hostess. Some of my very best friends are vegan, and I love finding delicious ways to respect their dietary choices. I keep a list of vegan bakers and chocolatiers on hand for the birthdays or special events that will call for a sweet, handcrafted, animal-product-free treat.
I’ll share a story with you: my best friend, who is vegan, is getting married, and her mother is hosting her bridal shower next month. Mom is planning a whole spread of sweets for the shower, and then turns to her, the bride, to say, “What are you going to eat?” Having a mouth-watering treat at the table that you can happily inform your vegan buddies that yes, they can eat is such a wonderful gesture that says, “Hey, I had you in mind the whole time I was planning this event.”
Going vegan is becoming more and more popular, for ethical, health and environmental reasons. Livestock use up an enormous amount of energy and produce a large amount of waste for the calories that are gained from their milk or meat when compared to calories obtained from plants. An all-plant diet is much easier on the environment.
Pictured: Image 1: Lemon Poppyseed Jumbo Cupcakes from the cupcake mint, Lemon-Ginger Macaroons from emmysorganics, Oatmeal Raisin Cookies from aveganbakery. Image 2: Chocolate Caraway Truffles from cloverandclutch, Vanilla Almond Macaroons from jaynelhollis. Image 3: Assorted Hand-Dipped Vegan Truffles from SweetFritsy, Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwiches also from aveganbakery, Double Mint Fluffy Cupcakes also from the cupcake mint. Image 4: Homemade Fortune Cookies also from aveganbakery. Cardamom Pistachio Truffles also from cloverandclutch.