I have a confession to make. I didn’t enjoy sweets until I became vegan. From childhood through my first years of high school I passed up decadent and delicious desserts in every shape and flavor. That on top of the many birthdays I opted for veggies instead of cake and ice cream, made me every parent’s and dentist’s dream. But when I made the ethical decision to refrain from animal products, desserts from cupcakes to donuts suddenly seemed very, very appealing.

If vegans were put to test, measured on what they’re most prolific in speaking about, I would hope it would be telling others about the plight of animals. But it seems as though vegans are constantly talking about food—their favorite restaurant, favorite dish, and most importantly, their favorite dessert. I know vegan sweets have been my topic of conversation more than they realistically should. Maybe it’s because we’re under the constant scrutiny of non-vegans who insist we are missing out when it comes to sugary fare, and we feel put to the test of proving them wrong. Maybe it’s because the stakes are so high—as hopes of making a convert are always on our minds—and we want to “wow” them. But let’s face it, the truth is we want to have our vegan cake and eat it too.

Fortunately, these days there’s a team of mighty women and a few men who have really mastered the craft of vegan desserts. Most are even available online!

Vegan Bakeries Around the Country

Babycakes, New York, NY
Everyone is raving about Babycakes. Their 50s-esque bakery is turning out more cupcakes with sweet frosting, cookies, brownies, gingerbread, pies and specialty breads than ever before. Yes, the three lovely ladies of Babycakes give the Lower East Side some sweet vegan loving and we are grateful. 248 Broome St, (212) 677-5047; www.babycakesnyc.com.

Cat’s Vegan Bakery, Plantsville, CT
Organic, fair trade cupcakes, cookies and cinnamon buns made with delicious fruit, and homemade frostings. The best part of Cat’s cupcakes is they have a very unique texture, a cross between a corn muffin and a fluffy cupcake. www.myspace.com/catsveganbakery.

Coffee Under the Bridge, Salt Lake City, UT
This vegan oasis lies in a beautiful part of town. The Bridge is a relaxing all-vegan café featuring extremely delicious soy ice cream shakes, donuts, biscotti and baklava. 511 W 200 S, (801) 359-2278.

Flying Apron Organic Bakery, Seattle, WA
This all-vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free bakery may seem a little earthy, but their baked goods are some of the healthy variety’s best, with muffins, scones, specialty breads, cakes and pies, this is a healthy treat for everyone. 4759 Brooklyn Ave, (206) 526-2903; www.flyingapron.net.

Hippie Chick Bakery, Amesbury, MA
Specialty cakes, brownies, muffins, biscotti, scones, éclairs, cannolis, tarts, breads, and those usually butter-filled sugar cookies that come in every holiday festive shape make up this full-service bakery that seemingly carries it all. 11 Elm St, (978) 388-6644; www.hippiechickbakery.com.

LifeThyme Vegan Bakery, New York, NY
An all-vegan, kosher, organic bakery inside of a delightful health food store provides West Villagers with delectable, chocolate chip Toll Booth cookies, Tiramisu, seasonal pies, pudding and a huge range of cakes, including a variety of raw cakes and desserts. 410 6 Ave, (212) 420-9099.

Little Vegan Monsters, New Haven, CT
Run by some of the nicest vegans ever, Little Vegan Monsters creates perfect biscotti, cupcakes, banana bread, cakes and muffins. They’ve mastered the balance between a beautiful appearance and a delicious, homemade taste. Plus, they love farm animals, especially pigs. www.littleveganmonsters.com.

Mani’s Bakery, Los Angeles, CA
This all-vegetarian bakery and coffeehouse located right in the heart of Los Angeles features fruit sweetened treats of the cookie and cake variety. They also offer sandwiches and are open late. 519 S Fairfax Ave, (323) 938-8800.

Mighty-O Donuts, Seattle, WA
Seattle knows where it’s at when it comes to vegan, organic, trans-fat-free, delicious cake donuts with such flavors as Strawberry Shortcake, French Toast, Chocolate Mint, Lemon Poppy, Chocolate Covered Raspberry, Blueberry, Good Old Glazed and more. Plus, Mighty-Os can be shipped all over the country! 2110 N 55 St, (206) 547-0335; www.mightyo.com.

Patty Cake Vegan Bakery, Columbus, OH
With muffins, cookies and sticky buns, this little Ohio bakery provides delicious, simple sweets with good ethics. Community-minded (aiming to be collective run), Patty Cake composts, recycles and uses all organic, vegan ingredients. 3009 N High, (614) 784-CAKE; www.pattycakeveganbakery.com.

Ronald’s Donuts, Las Vegas, NV
This place is almost too good to be true. Picture your typical donut shop, fluffy glazed, filled, twisted and sprinkled. With donuts in all traditional varieties, Ronald’s also offers vegan donuts. Sitting next to their non-vegan counterparts, they look, taste, smell no different, and boy are they ever good. 4600 W Spring Mountain Rd, (702) 873-1032.

Sweet and Sara, Queens, NY
Marshmallows, marshmallows, croissants and marshmallows! Who knew these delights could ever be vegan? Sara Sohn creator of the vegan S’more Pie, chocolate filled croissants, and other tasty pastries and treats is simply magic. Her treats are made to order and can be found around NYC. www.sweetandsara.com.

Sticky Fingers, Washington, DC
I dream of Cowvin Cookies, Little Devils, cinnamon buns, cheesecake, and Chocolate S’mores Cake of DC’s vegan sweethearts, Sticky Fingers Bakery. Sticky Fingers knows what’s up when it comes to making delightful vegan desserts sure to win everyone over. In addition to their DC storefront, vegan wedding cake and special order services, Sticky Fingers is also open in Seoul Korea! 1370 Park Rd, NW, (202) 229-9700; www.stickyfingersbakery.com.

Vegan Treats, Bethlehem, PA
The Vegan Treats bakery takes the cake. Literally, as they won best bakery out of 47 non-vegan bakeries at the Bethlehem, PA’s Feast of Sweets Contest 2006. With cheesecakes, French pastries, brownies, cinnamon buns, soft serve ice cream, cookies, and more, causes me to ask, what my world would be without Vegan Treats? Well a lot less sweet, that’s for sure. Especially without the Vegan Treats donuts, in glazed, sprinkled, Boston Crème and Cookies and Crème filled varieties… Krispy Kreme and Dunkin’ Donuts have nothing on these! 1444 Linden St, (610) 861-7660; www.vegantreats.com.

Vegan Treats NY Delivery Locations

Satya Magazine presents your very own convenient guide to help you navigate where to locate Vegan Treats around New York.

Manhattan:
Alt Coffee
139 Ave A (Btn St. Mark’s and 9 St)
(212) 529-2233

Atlas Café
73 2 Ave (Btn 4 and 5 Sts)
(212) 539-0966

Boyd Thai
210 Thompson St
(Btn Bleecker and 3 Sts)
(212) 533-7290

Café Viva Gourmet Pizza
2578 Bway (Btn 97 and 98 Sts)
(212) 663-8482

Café Viva Natural Pizza
179 2 Ave (Btn 11 and 12 Sts)
(917) 519-5646

Cake Shop
152 Ludlow St
(Btn Stanton and Rivington Sts)
(212) 253-0036

Curly’s Vegetarian Lunch
328 E 14 St (Btn 1 and 2 Aves)
(212) 598-9998

Edgar’s Café
255 84 St (Btn Bway and W End Ave)
(212) 496-6126

Gary Null’s Uptown Whole Foods
2421 Bway (Corner of 89 St)
(212) 874-4000
(*VT gluten-free products here)

Little Atlas
6 W 4 St (Btn Bway and Mercer St)
(212) 253-5535

Red Bamboo
140 W 4 St (Btn MacDougal and 6 Ave)
(212) 260-1212

Teany
90 Rivington St
(Btn Ludlow and Orchard Sts)
(212) 475-9190

Wild Ginger
380 Broome St
(Btn Mott and Mulberry Sts)
(212) 966-1883

Brooklyn:
Bush Baby
1197 Fulton St (Btn Bedford and Franklin Aves)
(718) 636-5336

Cocoa Bar
228 7 Ave (Btn 3 and 4 Sts)
(718) 499-4080

Foodswings
295 Grand St
(Btn Roebling and Havemeyer Sts)
(718) 388-1919

Red Bamboo Brooklyn
271 Adelphi St (Corner of Dekalb Ave)
(718) 643-4352

Smooch Café
264 Carlton Ave (near Dekalb)
(718) 222-5800

V-Spot
156 5 Ave (Btn Douglass and Degraw Sts)
(718) 622-2275

Bronx:
HIM Health Food Market
4374 E White Plains Road
(718) 798-0018

HIM ITAL Restaurant and Juice Bar
754 Burke Ave
(718) 653-9627