The Joy of Vegan Baking: The Compassionate Cooks' Traditional Treats and Sinful Sweets [Paperback]

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Whether you want to bake dairy- and egg-free for health, ethical, or environmental reasons, The Joy of Vegan Baking lets you have your cake and eat it, too! Featuring 150 familiar favorites -- from cakes, cookies, and crepes to pies, puddings, and pastries -- this book will show you just how easy, convenient, and delectable baking without eggs and dairy can be.

A seasoned cooking instructor and self-described "joyful vegan," author Colleen Patrick-Goudreau puts to rest the myth that vegan baking is an inferior alternative to non-vegan baking, putting it in its rightful place as a legitimate contender in the baking arena. More than just a collection of recipes, this informative cookbook is a valuable resource for any baker -- novice or seasoned.

Learn just how easy it is to enjoy your favorite homespun goodies without compromising your health or values:

• Chocolate Chip Scones
   
• Cranberry Nut Bread
   
• Lemon Cheesecake
   
• Dessert Crepes
   
• Strawberry Pie with Chocolate Chunks
   
• Cinnamon Coffee Cake
   
• Chocolate Peanut Butter Cupcakes
   
• Raspberry Sorbet
   
• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
   
• Soft Pretzels
   
• Blueberry Cobbler
   
• Chocolate Almond Brittle

Free of saturated fat, cholesterol, and lactose, but full of flavor, flair, and familiarity, each and every recipe will have you declaring I can't believe it's vegan!

Complete with luscious color photos, this book will be an essential reference for every vegan.

Editorial Reviews

Review

ôVegan baking comes of age with this collection of baked delights. Colleen Patrick-Goudreau has put together a comprehensive tome that is sure to be useful to baking novices as well as those of us who've been wielding the whisk for years."~Isa Chandra Moskowitz, Author of Vegan with a Vengeance and Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World

"Colleen Patrick-Goudreau blends the perfect mix of stories, photos, and recipes with amazing grace and taste. Her words will open your heart; her recipes will fill your tummy." ~VegNews Magazine

ôAt last! A cookbook that delivers the secrets of vegan cuisine's last frontier: baking delicious desserts. Elegant, fun, well-organized, complete, and compelling, this is a masterpiece you'll treasure for yourself and want to give to your friends.ö ùWill Tuttle, Ph.D., Author of The World Peace Diet

About the Author

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau is the founder of Compassionate Cooks www.compassionatecooks.com, an organization whose mission it is to empower people to make informed food choices and to debunk myths about veganism. A recognized expert on healthful plant-based cuisine, Colleen has appeared on the Food Network and is a columnist for VegNews magazine. She lives in Oakland, CA with her human hubby and feline boys.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fair Winds Press; First Edition edition (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592332803
• ISBN-13: 978-1592332809
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 0.9 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (289 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #19 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Vegetables & Vegetarian > Vegetables
  • #52 in Books > Cookbooks, Food & Wine > Baking

More About the Author

Colleen Patrick-Goudreau has dedicated her life to empowering people to make informed food choices, to debunking myths about veganism, to being a voice for animals, and to giving people the tools and resources they need to live according to their own values of compassion and wellness. Using her unique blend of passion, humor, and common sense, Colleen adeptly addresses the ethical, social, and practical aspects of a compassionate lifestyle.

A powerful writer, talented chef, and exhilarating speaker with a master's in English Literature, she is the author of six books, including the award-winning The Joy of Vegan Baking, The Vegan Table, Color Me Vegan, Vegan's Daily Companion, and On Being Vegan. With a command of traditional and new media, Colleen is the creator of the popular online multimedia program, The 30-Day Vegan Challenge; the host and producer of the life-changing podcast Vegetarian Food for Thought; and she delivers inspiring lectures around the country. She has appeared on the Food Network and PBS and is a contributor to National Public Radio and The Christian Science Monitor.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

119 of 121 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More than just how to cook without eggs and butter October 1, 2007

By www.animalperson.net

Format:Paperback

This book is perfect for people who have either just transitioned to veganism or would like to in that it is chock full of recipes that result in food that doesn't taste radically different from what the average meat-eater is accustomed to. The photos are gorgeous, the writing is great and no matter how much you think you know about baking, I promise you'll learn something.

This is not a "health food" book, although the recipes are cholesterol-free, lactose-free and healthier than the average non-vegan recipes. Instead, it's a book that helps you understand how easy it is to bake without eggs and dairy.

My favorite part of the book is the section on milk, butter and egg substitutes, some of which do indeed make the recipes healthier (e.g., using ground flax seed and water rather than egg replacer, using almond milk rather than soy milk for those of us trying to minimize our intake of soy, or using date sugar rather than white sugar). There are loads of tips and "Food Lore," which are interesting trivia tidbits that provide a historical context for the food. Perhaps most helpful, however, are the "Troubleshooting" pages that list the most common problems and their likely origins. Finally, the Appendices will save you a lot of time because the author has already organized your pantry and utensils for you and tells you exactly what you will need (/need to buy), and she includes a glossary, lists of what to substitute if you don't have the pan that's called for, and most fascinating to me, a section on the difference between baking soda and baking powder (I always wondered about that).

I've made the corn bread, the pancakes, a couple of smoothies, almond milk and the chocolate mousse because I had the ingredients lying around, and I look forward to trying my hand at chocolate chip scones this week. Then off to the serious holiday stuff so I can bring something yummy to every party I attend--so that I have something to eat (and share) at every party I attend.

99 of 102 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous cookbook! October 18, 2007

By Kristen

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I recently began listening to the author's podcast, which is how I heard about this book. It's really a gorgeous cookbook with many color photos and a terrific layout. I know there are people that criticize cookbooks with lots of photos as fluff, but trust me, this is one of the most comprehensive cookbooks I own. As others have said, there is a *ton* of information on vegan baking, as well as tips scattered throughout the book. The vast majority of ingredients are common and familiar. I am a new vegetarian and there was only one ingredient that was new to me. I was most impressed with the variety of desserts included. Another reviewer already listed the categories so I won't repeat them, but the list is really extensive. I just received the book yesterday so I'll have to amend this review once I've had a chance to do some baking (the lemon bars are at the top of my list), but I'm already hoping the author will create future cookbooks for all types of dishes!!

Update: I promised an update once I had tried some recipes--yum! I've made the chocolate chip cookies, the lemon bars, the apple pie with the flaky pie crust, the pumpkin pie with the pecan crust, the light lemon bundt cake, the blueberry orange bundt cake, the lemon cheesecake, and...my favorite...the German apple cake. From the ingredients, the cake doesn't appear to be anything out of the ordinary, but it certainly is. I couldn't get enough. The chocolate cake (with her chocolate frosting) was the best I've had--moist, "chocolatey", light and fluffy.

In response to the comment on my original post, I wanted to add that while the quality of the recipes are obviously an important part of any cookbook, other characteristics are important too. Is it easy to read? Do the recipes use easy-to-find ingredients? Is the layout attractive? Am I, as the reader, given "bonus" information above and beyond the recipes? The answer to all of these for the Joy of Vegan Baking is yes!!

37 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This non-vegan loves it! May 19, 2008

By Kitchenartist

Format:Paperback

I am admittedly not vegan, although I admire the lifestyle choice. I discovered the world of vegan desserts because my children have several food allergies. I couldn't stand the thought of them not enjoying baked goods, particularly since I have always enjoyed baking. That said, I must admit that a lot of non-dairy, non-egg attempts at baking some classic desserts were awful, yielding what I thought was worthy of nothing but the trash can. This cookbook has changed that and opened my eyes to the possibilities of vegan baking. I even like some of the vegan versions better than the dairy laden versions. I am so surprised at the negative reviews about the lack of healthy ingredients - these are desserts people!! The best desserts usually rely on rich ingredients and it is already a vast improvement that there are no eggs or milk. If you want healthy sweets go for a granola bar or a bowl of fruit. The occasional dessert treat should be just that and it should be decadent enough to make it worth eating. It seems unfair to give a negative review based on a criteria that the author is not aspiring to. Great job Colleen!!