Vegan food has a reputation for being solely for rabbits and gym rats. While vegans do enjoy statistically significant health benefits from a cruelty-free diet, not every bite is geared toward perfection. Sometimes you just want something tasty to round out a meal or munch during a movie. These vegan snack ideas are so good everyone will be drooling.
1. Dark Chocolate and Nuts
Dark chocolate is one of the best go-to vegan snacks. It’s good for you (in moderation) thanks to the antioxidants. It’s tasty and easy to find. While not all dark chocolate is vegan, you should be able to find a variety without milk or milkfat in just about any grocery store. Pair the richness of the dark chocolate with a handful of your favorite nuts. The protein and fat in the nuts will help keep you full and give you a burst of energy. The chocolate makes sure the treat delivers a flavor everyone will love.
Dark chocolate paired with nuts can satisfy a sweet tooth and provide an energy boost.
2. Kale Chips (No, Really!)
Potato chips are a much-beloved snack by vegans and non-vegans alike. Kale chips put them to shame. They’re better for you, light, and easy to make. Best of all, if you’re making them in your own home, you can customize the seasoning. Try a smoky dry rub for a BBQ chip, or try dill, vinegar, and salt for a pickle-inspired batch.
Additionally, kale chips can get perfectly crispy right in your oven. This makes them easy to cook at home, unlike potato chips. If you try a batch and you’re still skeptical, just pretend this article listed potato chips here instead.
Unlike potato chips, kale chips are pretty easy to make at home.
3. Mochi
Mochi, also known as rice cakes, is a Japanese dessert that’s gaining popularity around the world. The treat itself is vegan. It’s a sweet, chewy rice paste cooked in a variety of shapes with a variety of toppings. It’s also popular in a ball form with filling inside. When selecting mochi, the filling is what you’re going to have to watch out for. Some traditional fillings like red bean paste are already vegan. However, some popular fillings like ice cream usually aren’t.
If you don’t have an Asian market in your area, check the freezer section of your local grocery store. You can also look online for the process of making mochi at home. While it’s not as easy to make as some snacks on this list, the results are worth it!
My Mochi makes vegan mochi sold at Target and other major grocery retailers.
4. Sorbet
Sorbet is made with frozen and blended fruit, and often some additional ingredients to keep it smooth and stable from freezer to bowl. While it’s best to take a glance at the ingredients to be sure, the vast majority of sorbets are made with no animal products whatsoever. Sorbet is the perfect cold dessert. It’s sweet, but not too sweet. It’s great paired with a variety of toppings, and it’s easy to find many different fruit flavors. The freshness and quality of ingredients shine through. It’s also a delightful palate cleanser, often served before coffee at the end of multi-course meals. Get the full scoop on sorbet and check out our top picks for vegan sorbet brands!
Most sorbet doesn’t include any animal products.
5. Edible Cookie Dough
Everyone who’s ever grown up making non-vegan cookies knows the agony of not being able to eat the cookie dough. While most of us have licked the spoon with no ill effects, every time you do you’re running the risk of salmonella. This infection can cause severe gastrointestinal distress and can be dangerous to young children, the elderly, or those with weakened immune systems.
Vegan cookie dough, on the other hand, is perfect to eat raw. As long as you’re using heat-treated flour, there’s nothing in the mixture that’s known to make people ill. You can search online to find the perfect edible cookie dough recipe. If you’d like, you can also bake the cookies — but most of the dough is made just for eating raw. Even someone who doesn’t usually go in for vegan treats could jump at the chance to eat all the cookie dough they want.
Vegan cookie dough is fine to eat raw. | Photo Credit: Pam Menegakis on Unsplash
Vegan food doesn’t have to be bland, boring, or focused only on health. Food is fuel, but it can and should be fun, too. The next time you need to woo someone over to vegan cooking, break out one of these five vegan treats. They’ll knock their socks off!
