Innovative Chefs Spur Vegan Pastry Growth

The vegan food market is booming. According to statistics from the Good Food Institute, in 2022 sales of plant-based meats alone were 6.1 billion dollars (USD). Alternative milk such as oat, almond, soy, coconut, and rice milk, were worth 19.1 billion dollars according to the Food Institute. The plant-based renaissance is here, and business is booming. But, one frontier remains to be conquered… vegan pastry. Fortunately, innovative pastry chefs are up for the challenge.

Veganism has seen a steady rise in recent decades. As the public becomes more aware of the animal cruelty that drives the meat, dairy, and egg industries, more and more people are choosing to eschew animal-derived products in favor of those that are cruelty-free. Additionally, the ever-worsening climate crisis has driven people to adopt more plant-based foods into their diets. Plant-based diets have been found to produce up to 75 percent fewer emissions than diets that are heavy in meat. Additionally, plant-based diets use less land and produce less water pollution. 

For some innovative pastry chefs, the growth of plant-based eating has sparked a desire to create amazing vegan pastry options. There’s only one (small) problem. Traditionally, pastry is extremely heavy on animal-based products. Butter is used to create signature lamination, eggs bind cakes and cookies together, and milk or cream makes up the base of several key components. Even more difficult? These ingredients are often used in specific ratios because, when combined, they facilitate certain chemical reactions that create the unique texture of a final product. 

However, many vegan pastry chefs have risen admirably to the challenge. They prove that incredible pastry does not have to come at the cost of animal suffering, or irreparable climate damage. Through their creativity, knowledge, and hard work, these pastry chefs have managed to create amazingly decadent desserts that are sure to be enjoyed by vegans and non-vegans alike. 

Some vegan pastry chefs like Maresa Volante, owner of Sweet Maresa’s, even go so far as to make their special versions of traditionally animal-based products. For Maresa, this means making huge batches of her butter for use in her bakery’s goods. Not only does this allow her to create vegan goods, but it also makes her pastry unique. 

One pastry chef has even launched a brand specifically dedicated to producing vegan ingredients for pastry chefs. Susannah Schoolman launched Tourlami to make plant-based pastry ingredients more readily available. She hopes that doing this will not only make vegan ingredients available to plant-based chefs but also potentially drive chefs who do not focus on plant-based foods to make the switch. Her mission is already gaining traction. Dominique Ansel, inventor of the Cronut, even used Tourlami butter when he debuted the first vegan Cronut in September of 2023. 

Schoolman’s company is one example of vegan pastry innovation. Who knows? Soon, vegan pastry may become more widely available around the world. For now, be sure to lend your Support to your local vegan pastry makers and remember the extra love and dedication that goes into making a croissant vegan!

Sign this petition to Advocate for Vegan Alternatives!

Related Content: 

• Vegan Chefs Are Reinventing the Classic French Pastries Across the Country
• Lindt Releases New Vegan Lindor Oatmilk Truffles
• Physalis Has Developed an Online Vegan Pastry School
• Vegan Hershey’s Bar is Now Available in Canada
• Pret a Manger Adds Vegan Croissants to Menu 

Easy Ways to Help the Planet:

• Eat Less Meat: Download Food Monster, the largest plant-based Recipe app on the App Store, to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy. You can also buy a hard or soft copy of our favorite vegan cookbooks.
• Reduce Your Fast Fashion Footprint: Take initiative by standing up against fast fashion Pollution and supporting sustainable and circular brands like Tiny Rescue that raise awareness around important issues through recycled zero-waste clothing designed to be returned and remade over and over again.
• Support Independent Media: Being publicly funded gives us a greater chance to continue providing you with high-quality content. Please consider supporting us by donating!
• Sign a Petition: Your voice matters! Help turn petitions into victories by signing the latest list of must-sign petitions to help people, animals, and the planet.
• Stay Informed: Keep up with the latest news and important stories involving animals, the environment, sustainable living, food, health, and human interest topics by subscribing to our newsletter!
• Do What You Can: Reduce waste, plant trees, eat local, travel responsibly, reuse stuff, say no to single-use plastics, recycle, vote smart, switch to cold water laundry, divest from fossil fuels, save water, shop wisely, Donate if you can, grow your food, volunteer, conserve energy, compost, and don’t forget about the microplastics and microbeads lurking in common household and personal care products!