Guest Review w/ Larissa: Whole Food Vegan Baking by Annie Markowitz, PhD

Source:  My Friend, Stephanie 

Stephanie received this book from Callisto Publishing Club and Rockridge Press in exchange for an honest review, and passed it along to Larissa for review. This in no way alters her opinion or review. 

Whole Food Vegan Baking: Delicious Recipes Using Healthy, Natural Ingredients by Annie Markowitz, PhD
Length: 100 pages
Publisher: RockRidge Press
Publication Date: 2020  

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:


Goodreads Synopsis: 

Vegan baking made even healthier—and just as deliciousThe classic cookies, cakes, and pies in Whole Food Vegan Baking have been transformed into better-for-you versions of themselves that still taste fantastic. Most vegan baking includes refined sugar and other processed foods, but these recipes are made with only natural, whole food, plant-based ingredients. So you can be kind to your body while still indulging in decadence.Whether you’re vegan, or just in search of a healthier way to enjoy your favorite sweets, Whole Food Vegan Baking shows you how to create cookies with chickpea flour, oil-free apple pie, and dozens of other vegan baked goods that you’ll love to eat and be proud to serve.Whole Food Vegan Baking is:Easy as pie—Bake each recipe to perfection with simple instructions, and notes on prep time, cook time, and all the necessary tools. Vegan, naturally—Learn the science behind swapping sweeteners, omitting oil, and picking plant-based—without sacrificing flavor. Tips and tricks—Get pointers on recipe variations, ingredient substitutions, serving suggestions, and more.Experience natural vegan baking that’s as flavorful as it is good for you with Whole Food Vegan Baking.

Review: 

First, I should admit that I am a cook, not a baker. My baking repertoire is confined to the realm of cookies, muffins, fruit breads, and the occasional birthday cake. All of these things I can do quite well, but not great. Further, when my husband and I went from vegetarian to vegan last year, a lot of recipes went out the window. Yes, there are things you can use as egg replacements, but honestly I’m such a non-baker that the complication of a “chia egg” was enough to turn me off from even attempting to convert most of my old recipes to be vegan-friendly.

When Stephanie asked if I’d be interested in this book, I jumped at the chance to try it out. I have only one other fully vegan cookbook and looked forward to building out my culinary library around our new lifestyle. When I first got it, I thumbed through the recipes as I usually do, to see if anything caught my eye. I was pleasantly surprised that the recipes seemed simple and approachable. Many had less than 10 ingredients required, and they were all “normal” things like oats, applesauce, and sugar. I was able to identify several that I had all the ingredients for on hand and could therefore make right away – winning!

At this point, having tried several recipes I can attest that they produce consistently yummy results. Favorites include the Easy-as-Pie Apple Pie Bread and Healthy Carrot Cake with Vegan Cream Cheese Frosting. I’ll note that as a cook, I’m prone to making … adjustments throughout the process. I know, I know. I can’t help it though! This is why I’m not a baker. Anywho, the recipes have held up well to my changes, which mainly include the addition of flour to help firm up the consistency of the batter. While I appreciate the author’s attempt to keep things gluten free, my diet doesn’t necessitate that, so bring on the gluten!

The only negative I’ve found is that the ingredients lists doesn’t seem to include water. It’s a minor detail, but as someone who likes to set out all the necessary ingredients and measuring utensils ahead of time, I found it annoying. The first couple times I actually re-read the ingredient list to make sure I hadn’t missed anything upon encountering the addition of water in the recipe instructions. Spoiler alert – I hadn’t. Minor inconvenience aside, I have still thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to making more recipes from it in the future.  

Many, many thanks to Larissa for taking the time to try out this cook book AND write a review for me/us. 

Share some love in the comments below and let us know if you have any great recipes (vegan and non-vegan) to share [pssst...we like sweets] . Happy reading, baking, cooking, etc  - xoxo, Steph