Whole Foods is known for its cult-like following and the wide selection of natural foods. In fact, at its inception, the store didn't even sell meat or beer. The organic grocery store chain has since expanded to include many different foods, but it remains a champion for the vegan lifestyle. Most importantly, it carries countless baked, frozen and candy vegan desserts for its patrons to choose from. Here are some of the best vegan desserts you can find at Whole Foods.
Baked Goods
Baked vegan desserts are plentiful (and natural) thanks to Whole Foods' in-house bakery. According to the store, it doesn't use artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners, preservatives or hydrogenated fats in any of the food it sells, let alone the vegan items.
1. Vegan Blueberry Muffins
Breakfast or dessert? You decide. Freshly baked in-house, these vegan blueberry muffins are versatile and great to grab when you're on-the-go.
2. Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
A bakery wouldn't be complete without chocolate chip cookies, but Whole Foods takes it a step further with a vegan version. If you're nostalgic for classic American sweets, this vegan dessert is for you.
3. Vegan Oatmeal Walnut Date Scone
Tea time anyone? Not only is this scone vegan, but it also contains a hearty level of vegan protein with the added oatmeal and walnuts. Dates add sweetness as opposed to cane sugar or honey.
4. Vegan Whole Grain Spelt Brownies
Brownies? Yes, please! Just because dairy is off the table doesn't mean cocoa is. And does the whole grain spelt mean these brownies are... healthy?
5. Vegan Carrot Cake with Walnuts
Fun fact: Carrots have been used as sweeteners since medieval times. This vegan cake might also use some agave nectar or dates, but know that carrots are still one versatile vegetable.
6. Vegan Caramel Crunch Torte
Do you have a retort for vegan torte? Of course not. Whole Foods really outdid itself with this cake variety, finding dairy-free alternatives for the chocolate topping and cream filling.
7. 6" Vegan Cocoa Mousse Cake
In addition to cake by-the-slice, Whole Food offers mini cakes perfect for a small get-together or potluck. Vegan desserts can be time-intensive and tricky to make, but Whole Foods makes it easy to get your sugar fix.
8. 8" Vegan Pumpkin Pie
Thanks to Whole Foods, vegans can have their pumpkin pie and eat it, too. Keep this vegan pumpkin pie in mind to keep you sane around Thanksgiving.
Frozen
While the frozen dessert market is known for a lot of dairy, Whole Foods has many cold treats without. Some are naturally dairy-free while others choose to use milk alternatives.
9. Mixed Berry Sorbet
Whole Foods carries several flavors of gelato that are made in-house and are naturally vegan. Besides Mixed Berry, most locations also offer Lemon and Strawberry.
These frozen vegan desserts are also available in pint size to take home! Or should I say, personal size.
10. So Delicious Ice Cream
So Delicious is a well-known brand in the allergen-free community, but it should be a friend of the vegan community, too. The brand features products that use a variety of different milk alternatives, so there are options for every lifestyle.
11. So Delicious Mocha Almond Fudge Bars
So Delicious does it all. Not only does it make dairy-free ice cream pints, but vegan ice cream bars, as well! This product is made with almond milk for a nuttier flavor.
12. Daiya Chocolate Cheezecake
Did someone say cheezecake? Despite its wacky spelling, this frozen dessert from Daiya is the perfect treat for when you're envious of the dairy world. The brand makes a variety of dairy-free cheezecake flavors.
Candy and Other Snacks
If you don't have access to a fridge at the moment or want something that will keep longer than a baked good, check out Whole Foods' vegan candy and other snacks as desserts.
13. Emmy's Coconut Cookies
Emmy's coconut cookies are vegan, organic and gluten-free! They're also bite-sized, perfect for a sweet treat post-lunch at the office.
14. Lilly's Dark Chocolate
If you're looking for something simple (and dare I say healthy-ish) Lilly's offers several flavors of vegan dark chocolate. Dark chocolate is easy to adapt to a vegan version as it contains little to no cow milk.
Maintaining a vegan diet can be difficult, especially when you don't have vegan desserts to treat yourself with. That's why stores like Whole Foods are so important. While the mainstream food market still has a long way to go, Whole Foods sets an example to other grocery store chains to carry more vegan products. It's clear that they care for and cater to their vegan patrons. Consider these 14 vegan desserts as your introduction to the category at WF, but don't be surprised if you find many more in several different flavors.