Provided by Cakes by Happy Eatery
Q: What does plant-based eating mean?
Victoria: Plant-based eating focuses on ingredients grown by plants, such as fruit and vegetables. Other plant-based ingredients include nuts, seeds, whole grains, legumes, beans, and oil. Eating plant-based food does not necessarily mean one has to be a vegetarian or vegan, but rather, incorporating more plant-based item to the overall diet and making healthier choices. Plus, if I bake three cakes and have you taste them, I dare you to pick the vegan one — they’re delicious!
Q: What is the difference between a vegetarian and a vegan diet?
Victoria: There are different categories of to a vegetarian diet, which can include animal proteins such as eggs and dairy. Some vegetarians – pescatarians – consume seafood, but no meat or poultry. The flexitarians have a …vegetarian diet with an occasional meat/seafood dish. Vegans do not consume any animal proteins or meats. Honey is not vegan food, since the product source is from an animal — bees!
Q: Dessert starts with sugar and spice and plenty of butter and eggs. How does one bake a plant-based treat?
Victoria: First, you have to understand product substitution, such as plant based butter or oil for traditional butter. Second, you need to substitute dairy with soy, nuts, or oats/grain milk. You can also use chia seeds, flax seeds, fruit puree, or tofu as an egg substitute, if needed. You can also replace honey with maple syrup, which is from a tree.
Q: What are good examples of plant-based desserts that are popular in the bakery right now?
Victoria: Oh, there’s a lot coming out of the kitchen right now: (Dark) Chocolate Bark with Dried Fruit and Nuts, Vegan cookies with non-dairy chocolate chips, snickerdoodle, peanut butter, and so on. You can go wrong with fruit pies or a cinnamon brown sugar vegan butter crumble. We also love Vegan Butter Cups and Chocolate Vegan cake!
