Easy Dairy-Free Baking Recipes Tried for 2021

Can you bake on a dairy-free diet? Can you bake on a vegan diet? Yes and yes. Baked goods will still turn out without eggs and milk with a few substitutions. Here are three recipes I’ve made a few times: cranberry orange muffins, maple granola, and unbelievably vegan brownies.

Cranberry Orange Muffins (Vegan)
Makes 6 jumbo muffins. Adapted from Healthy Living Market.

• 2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar (or a mix of granulated sweetener and sugar)
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/3 cup applesauce with 1 Tbsp oil
• 2 Tbsp orange zest
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp almond extract
• 1.5 cups fresh cranberries, roughly chopped (or 1 cup dried cranberries and 1/2 cup diced orange)

Heat oven to 375. In large bowl, mix dry ingredients (except cranberries). Make a well in the center and add liquid ingredients. Mix just until wet ingredients are moistened. About halfway through mixing add the cranberries.
Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake 23-25 minutes, until lightly browned on top and a toothpick comes out clean.

Maple Granola (Vegan)
Makes 8 cups. From Cookie and Kate.

• 4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (use certified gluten-free oats for gluten-free granola)
• 1 ½ cup raw nuts and/or seeds (I used 1 cup pecans and ½ cup pepitas)
• 1 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt (if you’re using standard table salt, scale back to ¾ teaspoon)
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup melted coconut oil or olive oil
• ½ cup maple syrup or honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Later:
• ⅔ cup dried fruit, chopped if large (I used dried cranberries)
• Totally optional additional mix-ins: ½ cup chocolate chips or coconut flakes

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large, rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the oats, nuts and/or seeds, salt and cinnamon. Stir to blend.
3. Pour in the oil, maple syrup and/or honey and vanilla. Mix well, until every oat and nut is lightly coated. Pour the granola onto your prepared pan and use a large spoon to spread it in an even layer.
4. Bake until lightly golden, about 21 to 24 minutes, stirring halfway (for extra-clumpy granola, press the stirred granola down with your spatula to create a more even layer). The granola will further crisp up as it cools.
5. Let the granola cool completely, undisturbed (at least 45 minutes). Top with the dried fruit (and optional chocolate chips, if using). Break the granola into pieces with your hands if you want to retain big chunks, or stir it around with a spoon if you don’t want extra-clumpy granola.
6. Store the granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks, or in a sealed freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. The dried fruit can freeze solid, so let it warm to room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.

American Girl Brownies (Yes, Vegan!)
Yes, they’re soft in the middle! Makes a 13 x 9 pan. Adapted from American Girl.
 

• 2 cups flour
• 1.5 cups sugar (or a mix of granulated sweetener and sugar)
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 2 T baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 cup oil
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup dairy-free milk (unsweetened)
• 1 T vanilla
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips

 
Heat oven to 350. Whisk dry and wet ingredients separately, and then put the dry into the wet. Mix until just combined. Fold in chips. Pour into greased pan. Bake 34-36 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.
 
Why do I care about vegan baking? The reasons are both for health and the environment.

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Darla Nagel is a biomedical copy editor who has an invisible chronic illness. She wants to educate healthcare professionals and encourage patients. If you want to receive quarterly updates from her, email darla.nagel{a}gmail.com.