Vegan Alternatives for Your Old Favourites

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Whether or not you’re new to plant-based / vegan food, there are likely a few of your old favourites you’d like to have vegan alternatives of, things that you miss. This is a big list of the best vegan alternatives for kitchen staples and other favourites like cheeses, spreads, dressings, and even bacon! (plus a whole lot more, keep reading!)

There’s a vegan alternative to almost every non vegan recipe out there (almost all!). Some are so close to the original, you may not even be able to tell the difference.

If you’re new to this wonderful way of eating, chances are, you have the same questions many had when they were just starting out:

• what are the best vegan substitutes?
• what can you substitute for cheese?
• what are some good dairy substitutes for vegans?
• what are some homemade vegan substitutes for meat?

I was once in your position, asking myself all the questions above, and more.

Today, years later, I still find myself looking for vegan substitutions that I haven’t tried before, which is why I’ve put together this list of the best vegan substitutes to make in your kitchen. So let’s get started!

 

Vegan Substitutes for Cheese

When I first stopped eating dairy there weren’t a lot of vegan cheeses in the grocery store or recipes to look up. Luckily, today, there are countless cheese substitutes for you to choose from (even substitutes for cottage cheese and feta cheese!) both in the stores and through the recipes below.

Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (pictured above) – from Vegan Huggs

Vegan Parmesan – From Delightful Adventures

Nut-Free Vegan Nacho Cheese Slices – from Vegan Richa

Vegan Blue Cheese – from Full of Plants

Walnut Parmesan – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen

Cashew Parmesan – from Where You Get Your Protein

Parmesan Cheese with Cashews, Pine Nuts, and Hemp Seeds – from Avocado Pesto

Cashew Camembert – from Spabettie

Baked Herbed Cashew Cheese – from Lettuce Liv

Feta Cheese (tofu based) – from VNutrition and Wellness

Yogurt Based Feta Cheese (yogurt based) – from Including Cake

Cashew Ricotta Cheese – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen

Cottage Cheese – from Vegan Family Recipes

 

Vegan Cheese Sauce Substitutes

As you saw above, there are so many delicious alternatives to dairy cheese, and when it comes to cheese sauces, your options are also wide open.

Queso Blanco Mexican White Cheese Dip – (pictured above) from Veggies Don’t Bite

Nacho Cheese – from Hot for Food

Vegan Queso – from The Urben Life

6-Ingredient Vegan Cheddar Sauce – from Veganosity

Vegan Cheese Sauce – from Happy Food Healthy Life

Vegan Cashew Cheese – from That Girl Cooks Healthy

 

Vegan Cheese Spread Substitutes

From vegan cheese spread recipes good enough to bring with you to your next potluck, all the way to substitutes for cream cheese, you’ll find it all below.

Garlic Herb Vegan Almond Cheese Spread  – (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures

Vegetable Almond Cheese Ball – from Delightful Adventures

Jalapeno Cashew Cheese Spread – from Cadry’s Kitchen

Veggie Cream Cheese Spread – from Veggie Inspired

Garlic Basil Vegan Ricotta Cheese – from Vegetarian Gastronomy

Cream Cheese with Cashews – From Vegan Heaven

Raw Garden Herb Spreadable Cheese – from Fork and Beans

Strawberry Cream Cheese – from The Vegan 8

 

Vegan Dairy Substitutes (Milks)

Making the switch to plant-based milk cannot be any easier, especially when you can make it yourself! Have a look through the recipes below where you’ll find a nice assortment of different vegan milks to make, there are even homemade vegan substitutes for evaporated milk and condensed milk!

Cashew Milk – (pictured above) from My Darling Vegan

Almond Milk – from Oh She Glows

Coconut Milk – from Homemade Zagat

Soy Milk – from Simple Vegan Blog

Oat Milk – from Simple Vegan Blog

Hemp Milk – from Trinity’s Conscious Kitchen

Condensed Milk – from Vegan in the Freezer

Evaporated Milk – from Vegan in the Freezer

 

Vegan Substitutes for Coffee Creamer

Coffee lovers may find themselves looking for a good vegan coffee creamer when they first switch over, but no need to worry, there are quite a few recipes you can make at home.

Sweetened Cashew Creamer – (pictured above) from Vegan in the Freezer

Almond Milk Coffee Creamer – from Kitchen Treaty

Amaretto Coffee Creamer – from Begin with Nutrition

Irish Coffee Creamer – From Simple Seasonal

Peppermint Mocha Coffee Creamer – from Running with Spoons

 

Vegan Substitutes for Yogurt

Yogurt was one of the things I missed most when I switched over, but thankfully, now, vegan yogurts are just as creamy and delicious as their non-vegan counterparts.

Cashew Yogurt – (pictured above) from Beauty Food Blog

Instant Pot Soy Yogurt – from Glue & Glitter

Soy Yogurt – from Simple Vegan Blog

Raspberry Coconut Yogurt – from Vegan Huggs

2-Ingredient Coconut Yogurt – from Minimalist Baker

Homemade Vegan Greek Yogurt – from Catching Seeds

Super Thick Coconut Yogurt – from Oh She Glows

 

Vegan Substitutes for Whipped Cream

There’s nothing like topping a decadent dessert with a dollop of creamy whipped cream and just because you’re vegan, doesn’t mean you can’t! The following vegan whipped cream recipes are all easy to make, creamy, and perfect for topping any vegan dessert.

Vanilla Bean Coconut Whipped Cream – (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures

Sugar-Free Aquafaba Whipped Cream – from Happy Food Healthy Life

Cashew Cream – from Wholefully

 

Vegan Substitutes for Sour Cream

Nachos, taco pasta, enchiladas, chili mac…the list of dishes that are perfect with a touch of vegan sour cream can go on and on. Here are several different types you can make to complement your next dish.

Sour Cream (cashew based) – from Oh She Glows

Sour Cream (cashew and almond based) – from The Whole Serving

Sour Cream (soy milk based) – from Eat Within Your Means

 

Vegan Substitutes for Eggs

Note: There are many ways to substitute eggs in vegan cooking. The vegan egg substitutes listed below are best for baking, so read each post for full details. If you’re looking for a savoury vegan egg substitute recipe, see this Southwest Tofu Scramble. or these vegan breakfast burritos.

Flax Egg – (pictured  above) from Delightful Adventures

Vegan Egg Wash for Baking – from Delightful Adventures

Chia Egg – from Food Renegade

Aquafaba – from Glue & Glitter

 

Vegan Spread Substitutes

From vegan substitutes for butter, mayonnaise, and jam, the recipes below have got you covered!

Vegan Butter – (pictured above) from A Virtual Vegan

Vegan Aioli – from Delightful Adventures

Easy Strawberry Chia Seed Refrigerator Jam – from Delightful Adventures

Aquafaba Garlicky Mayo – from Poppy and the Bees

Almond Mayonnaise – from Vegan in the Freezer

Roasted Garlic Truffle Aioli – from Vegetarian Gastronomy

 

Vegan Dip and Sauce Substitutes

Topping or dunking an already delicious dish in sauce can take that dish over the top. Here are some vegan sauce recipes you’re going to love.

Maple Caramel Sauce (pictured above) from Delightful Adventures

Oil-Free Gravy – from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

Vegan Fish Sauce – from Yumsome

BBQ Sauce – from Cadry’s Kitchen

Spicy Peanut Sauce – from Dianne’s Vegan Kitchen

White Wine Alfredo Sauce – from Pasta Based

Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce – from Oh She Glows

 

Vegan Alternatives for Salad Dressings

It’s so easy to make a vegan salad dressing out of a few simple kitchen staples. These recipes will walk you through how to do just that!

Creamy Cumin Ranch Dressing – (pictured above) from Veggie Inspired

Ranch Dressing – from Vegan in the Freezer

Cashew Caesar Dressing – from Tasting Page

Five-Minute Thousand Island Dressing – from Vegan Video Pantry

 

Vegan Substitutes for Bacon 

Many say that the reason they can’t go vegan is because of bacon. If you are (or were) one of these people, then you must try out these tasty vegan bacon recipes.

Carrot Bacon – (pictured above) from Yumsome

Portobello Mushroom Bacon – from Veganosity

Rice Paper Bacon – from Yup.. It’s Vegan

Eggplant Bacon – from Minimalist Baker

Coconut Bacon – from Jessica In the Kitchen

Cashew Bacon Bits – from Karissa’s Vegan Kitchen

Chipotle Coconut Bacon – from Welcoming Kitchen

 

Miscellaneous Vegan Alternatives

These are the recipes that did not fit into any of the categories above, but I wanted to include them in case you’re looking for them, plus, they’re all delicious!

Pumpkin Spice Syrup – (pictured above) from Fried Dandelions

Veggie Broth Mix – from My Plant-Based Family

Vegan Royal Icing – from Happy Food Healthy Life

Lemon Curd and Blood Orange Curd – from Sunnyside Hanne

Seitan – from Connoisseurus Veg

Spicy Chorizo Sausage Crumbles – from Spabettie

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I hope you found a few recipes to make in the list above, I’ve made many and have not been disappointed yet! I plan on updating this list as I find (and make!) new recipes, so bookmark this page and refer back to it any time you need a vegan substitute for an old fave!

Are there any vegan alternatives you’ve been looking for but can’t find? Let me know in the comments! Or if you make any of them, tell me about it below, too!