You don’t have to be plant-based to enjoy these oil-free Vegan Dessert Recipes. Anyone, and I do mean anyone–vegan, vegetarian, omnivore–will love these family favorites!
When I need to take a dessert to a family function or social gathering, I love to make something not only sweet and delicious but also beautiful to catch everyone’s attention and make them want to try it.
Most people can hardly believe that these desserts are actually much lower in fat than their traditional counterparts. They are made with less refined sugars and are completely free from oil, dairy, and eggs.
Which sweetener is healthiest?
To get away from white sugar that has basically zero nutritional benefits, I try to stick with the healthier sweetener options that still retain at least some nutrients that have not been stripped away. And, I never EVER use artificial sweeteners that are basically chemicals.
I want to be clear here and say that all sweeteners–even healthier ones–are going to raise sugar levels in the body. So, be aware that these recipes should only be occasional treats and are not for binging.
Lower-fat vegan desserts
This post is a round-up of some of my family’s favorite healthy vegan desserts. We have everything from chocolate cake and no-bake chocolate pie, to applesauce cinnamon muffins and glazed carrot cake. Believe it or not, they are even lower in fat than most dessert recipes.
On top of that, every single recipe is:
- oil-free
- dairy-free
- egg-free
- vegan
- kid-tested
- delicious
Top picks
It’s really hard to choose, but I think my personal favorite is the Crockpot Chocolate Lava Cake. or possibly Carrot Cake. My husband’s top pick is the No-Bake Chocolate Pie. I would love to hear which one is your favorite, so leave a comment below and let me know.
Easy vegan desserts (15-minutes or less)
Granted, some of the recipes in this list are more labor-intensive than others. Let’s face it, not everyone is good at baking, and you don’t have to be to make some of these desserts.
Here’s a shortlist of a few lazy vegan dessert recipes that can be whipped up in about 15-minutes or less.
- Chocolate Mousse
- No-Bake Chocolate Pie
- Easy Caramel Apples
- 3-Ingredient Vanilla Nice Cream
- Rainbow Fruit Skewers
- Chocolate Mug Cake
- Smoothie Bowls
- Vegan Whipped Cream
- 10-Minute Hot Chocolate
- Chocolate Dipped Strawberries
There are even more easy recipes included in the list below, but these should give you the idea that making a delicious vegan dessert doesn’t have to be difficult. Sometimes it takes only a few minutes.
When the holidays roll around, this list of 33 Vegan Holiday Desserts can help too!
For those of you new to the whole food plant-based lifestyle, we’ve created a FREE 7-Day Plant-Based Menu Planner to help you get started!
*Originally published April 2019.
45 Vegan Dessert Recipes
You don’t have to be plant-based to enjoy these oil-free vegan dessert recipes. Anyone--and I do mean anybody–vegan, vegetarian, omnivore–will love these family favorites! Click on each of the photos, recipe titles, or 'Get the Recipe' buttons to see full recipes with ingredients, measurements, instructions, and a print button.
When I first created this healthier vegan carrot cake, my husband couldn’t stop talking about it. He said that absolutely anyone–plant-based or not–that tried it would agree that it’s fabulous. It has become one of my family’s favorite plant based recipes.
This vegan chocolate pie recipe can be made in less than 15 minutes flat, with only 5 ingredients that you're likely to already have on-hand. And it's so unbelievably creamy and sweet!
All the taste of Grandma's cookies, but none of the fat! These little vegan oatmeal raisin cookies are oil-free, dairy-free, and egg-free, with only 88 calories and 1 gram of fat per cookie! This recipe makes a whopping 42 cookies, so you may want to cut the recipe in half unless taking to a function.
Deliciously sweet and perfectly frosted, these Vegan Cinnamon Rolls are filled with cinnamon and raisins and are absolutely lip-smacking delicious!
Dark, moist, and scattered with raisins and fresh apple bits, these applesauce vegan muffins are perfect for breakfast or a snack. So scrumptious and easy to make, no one will ever guess they are actually healthy. Make ahead of time and freeze for quick breakfasts on the go!
This beautifully decadent chocolate cake recipe is not only amazingly delicious, but it also happens to be vegan and completely sugar-free (with unrefined sugar option also available). It’s perfect for birthdays, parties, and holidays!
These black bean brownies are fudgy delicious and can be ready in only about 30 minutes!
Yes, I’m serious! This simple nice cream recipe calls for only 3 ingredients and a blender to make. Not to mention, it has all the flavor of traditional ice cream but none of the fat.
Crockpot lava cake is rich, delicious, and super easy to make. It’s a chocolate lover’s dream come true!
Perfectly light and fluffy, this Vegan Whipped Cream is super easy to make with only 3-ingredients and a hand mixer. It makes a fabulous topping for pies, cakes, and even hot cocoa!
Fudgy, super simple, and ready in minutes, this vegan chocolate mug cake is one of the easiest desserts you’ll find.
e the fresh taste of lemon and lime! It’s just something about the sweet and tangy explosion of flavor. This vegan lime cake recipe is a delicious balance between sweet and tart.
Remember the chocolate oatmeal cookies you used to eat as a kid? Sometime back, I decided to play around in the kitchen a bit. These chocolate oatmeal cookies are what I came up with as a much healthier version.
Believe it or not, deliciously rich Vegan Hot Chocolate topped with homemade whipped topping can be made in only about 10 minutes on your stovetop with just a few ingredients.
Chocolate vegan cupcakes are perfect for birthdays, weddings, holidays, and any other special occasion you can think of. Believe it or not, they can even be made completely sugar-free if you choose!
With only a few simple ingredients, you can have deliciously healthy, Vegan Caramel Apples in a matter of minutes!
10-minutes is all it takes to make this delicious 4-ingredient Vegan Caramel Sauce that is delicious on desserts, ice cream, apple slices, and anything else you might think of!
Healthy chocolate zucchini muffins are made with wholesome ingredients and absolutely no eggs or dairy which makes them completely vegan and delicious!
These banana oatmeal vegan muffins are wholesomely delicious! They are packed with healthy ingredients like oat flour, bananas, applesauce, almond milk, and spices and can be served for breakfast, snack, dessert, or any time!
This chocolatey vegan pie crust is perfect for making all those healthy pies without a drop of oil, and it’s even gluten-free.
This lime fruit sauce is bursting with flavor and perfectly delicious on fresh fruit, salads, and anything else you can think of.
If you love pumpkin, this vegan pumpkin bread is going to knock your socks off! Warmly spiced and super moist, it’s a perfect fall dessert or any season of the year.
These healthy pumpkin cookies are completely dairy-free and egg-free and are loaded with fiber, beta carotene, and have zero cholesterol. They can be ready in only about 25-minutes!
Dessert, snack, or whatever you want to call it, these chocolatey stuffed sweet potatoes made with bananas, peanut butter, cocoa, and walnuts are going to rock your world!
Homemade Tootsie Rolls require no baking and only 5 ingredients. The flavor experience is a mix between a tootsie roll and rich fudge. While candy-making can seem like an intimidating task, following this homemade tootsie roll recipe is actually surprisingly easy.
This easy vegan banana bread is the best you’ll find, and even though it is egg-free and dairy-free, no one will ever know the difference.
These vegan blueberry muffins are moist, fluffy, and packed with fresh blueberries. They are so good, no one will ever know they are healthy unless you tell them. And even then, they won't believe you!
Smoothie Bowls are SO easy to make in only about 5-minutes! They are versatile and can be made with many different combinations of ingredients and toppings.
If you’re looking for a refreshing healthy frozen dessert, these vegetable fruit smoothie recipes are bursting with flavor and antioxidants!
Need a quick, sweet snack without all oil, fat, and sugar? Here ya' go! 0.4 grams of fat and 1.3 grams of protein. You're welcome!
Date paste isn't just for baking desserts. It's a perfect natural sugar substitute for oatmeal, toast, and even smoothies.
Just what you need for cakes, cupcakes, and more! This easy vegan icing can be made with only a handful of wholesome ingredients and absolutely zero sugar.
This vegan chocolate fudge cake is so simple to make and is dripping with the best ooey-gooey chocolatey topping of your dreams.
Sometimes you just need something a little sweet that doesn’t require a lot of effort. Whether you’re making a snack for yourself or for a crowd, these easy stuffed dates are the perfect healthy dessert or snack.
No kidding! This healthy chocolate hummus is so easy to make. If you've got 5-minutes and a blender, you've got a delicious easy dessert.
This simple Strawberry Chia Seed Jam takes only 10-minutes to prepare, and it’s completely vegan, gluten-free, and sugar-free (or add maple syrup).
With freshly grated zucchini, apple sauce, and allspice, this deliciously easy-to-make zucchini vegan bread can be enjoyed for breakfast, snack, or even dessert. It's moist and satisfying without being overly sweet.
With only bananas and some frozen fruit, you can make this sugar-free vegan nice cream in a matter of minutes in a blender.
Three ingredients and a blender are all you need to make this refreshing mango ice cream recipe. The simplicity of homemade nice cream makes it an excellent option for a healthy treat you can feel good about serving.
This vegan chocolate mousse can be made in less than 15 minutes flat, with only 4 ingredients that you're likely to already have on-hand. And it's so unbelievably creamy and sweet!
Fluffy and moist sweet potato batter swirled with apple sauce, raisins and cinnamon make a dozen muffins that are packed with beta carotene and fiber. A welcome addition to any breakfast! Make ahead of time and freeze for quick breakfasts on the go!
These colorful fruit skewers are made with fresh fruit and lime sauce and are perfect for a healthy dessert or an impressive party appetizer.
Chocolate dipped strawberries are such an easy treat to make with only 2-ingredients required. Whether for an edible gift or as a special dessert at home, these chocolate strawberries make a beautiful and tasty display.
Dessert in a crock pot or slow cooker is a lovely thing. No need to heat up the kitchen and a fabulous dessert is warm and waiting to eat when you are ready. This Crock Pot Lava Cake is simply amazing!
