Found growing on the surfaces of rocks along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean, sea moss has structural components that make it similar to gelatin — the main one being the carbohydrate carrageenan (via The Spruce Eats). By boiling sea moss, producers are able to extract the cellulose from the plant. In this process, it actually begins to absorb water and form a gel-like consistency. The end product works fabulously as a plant-based thickening and emulsifying ingredient in a range of dishes — from desserts to salad dressings.
So, when preparing your vegan treats at home or shopping for them at the store, there’s really just one ingredient you need to look for: carrageenan powder or gum. Despite being derived from seaweed, the powder is flavorless and it works wonderfully as a replacement for gelatin in any recipe. When baking with it, you should add it to your dry ingredients before you blend them with the liquid ones. So break out your pans and Jello molds because there’s a whole world of vegan gelatin-like recipes for you to explore — Bakerpedia says that it can even be added to your homemade plant-based milk for preservation.