Hello everyone,

Ah, New Orleans. A town full of history, jazz, beignets, gumbo, beans and rice, and…vegan food? I have to admit, while planning my recent trip to The Big Easy, I was left wanting more. I couldn’t find an updated, honest and comprehensive vegan guide to New Orleans. Luckily, the dearth of information doesn’t actually correlate to a lack of vegan-friendly food in the city.

As always, I created a loose itinerary with whatever vegan options I could find—many of which were places that didn’t specifically cater to vegans or vegetarians. When given the option, I will always financially support the cruelty free venture. I am happy to report that while traversing the streets of the French Quarter an beyond, I stumbled upon some of the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants I’ve had the pleasure to eat dine in! Check out my top ten places to visit on your next trip to the Crescent City.

Have you been to New Orleans? What are your favorite places to grab a bite to eat or decadent dessert?

Cheers!

Jocelyn

Holy Crepes (at Shops of the Colonnade – French Market)

• Notes: I stumbled on Holy Crepes by pure accident. I was looking for a few souvenirs at the French Market, hungry and in need of some coffee. All of a sudden, I noticed a crepery sign out of the corner of my eye. Upon closer inspection, I saw a note that they had vegan and gluten free options. Well, I realize how rare vegan crepes are so I wasn’t about to pass up that opportunity! This fast, fresh walk up includes both sweet or savory toppings.
• Address: 1100 N Peters St #23, New Orleans, LA 70116
• Hours: Daily, 10am – 5pm
• Social: Facebook

Killer PoBoys

• Notes: We ended up here after visiting the Museum of Pharmacy and Museum of Death. Conveniently located and easy on the wallet, this is a good stop if you are looking for a fast service restaurant to try non-traditional poboys with your omnivorous friends. While the menu isn’t overflowing with vegan options, there are a few vegan sides including smother greens, and a variety of poboys that can be  made dairy free.
• Address: 219 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112
• Hours: Wednesday – Monday, 10am – 8pm
• Social: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Mac and Moon

• Notes: Vegan french macaroons. Need I say more? This amazing food stall is located in a food court in the arts/ warehouse district and is a must visit. They serve up an overwhelming variety of flavors, and each delicate macaroon is beautifully crafted.
• Address: 801 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70130
• Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 7am – 10pm; Friday – Saturday, 7am – 11pm
• Social: Facebook & Instagram

Seed

• Notes: This 100% plant-based menu puts a vegan spin on comfort-food classics. The food is good from brunch to dinner, but the best part is that they serve vegan beignets. Yes, you read that right—vegan beignets! In fact, it was the only vegan spot in New Orleans where I found this special treat. Don’t miss this plant-based New Orleans taste.
• Address: 1330 Prytania St, New Orleans, LA 70130 & 2372 St. Claude St., New Orleans, LA 70117
• Hours: Monday – Friday, 11am – 10pm; Saturday – Sunday, 10-am – 10pm
• Social: Facebook & Instagram

Shake Sugary

• Notes: This quaint, family-run bakery offers pastries, vegan treats & coffee. I highly recommend the orange roll!
• Address: 3304 St. Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
• Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 8am – 3pm
• Social: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Slim Goodies Diner

• Notes: If you decide to go on a self-guided walking tour of the Garden District chances are you will get hungry. There are so many old homes to browse and even a New Orleans style cemetery. Unfortunately, the neighborhood is a bit of a food desert, especially when looking for vegan or vegetarian options. A quick 12 minute walk away from the residential district will lead you to the a shop-filled portion of Magazine Street. Tucked in between shops is Slim Goodies Diner – a cozy, casual spot for breakfast and sandwiches. While not chock full of veg-friendly options, there are a few, including a tofu breakfast scramble. Plus, the never ending coffee and atmosphere make this a great option.
• Address: 3322 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70115
• Hours: All week, 6am – 3pm
• Social: Facebook & Twitter

Small Mart

• Notes: Do not miss this hole in the wall that served up the best vegan poboy I had while in New Orleans! The signage indicates vegetarian market which is technically true, but step inside, and you’ll see a small but mighty menu of bagels from New York and street food inspired by Indian and Pakistani cooking. The tandoori-style marinated tofu poboy is a must try!
• Address: 1303 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116
• Hours: All week, 8am – 8pm (hot food served noon – 6pm)
• Social: Facebook & Instagram

Sneaky Pickle

• Notes: This vegan-friendly spot has an ever-changing menu due to their farm-fresh and locally sourced ingredients. The cuisine is largely creole/ soul food inspired and packs a serious punch. You can tell it was good because the door was revolving the entire time I was there.
• Address: 4017 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117
• Hours: All week, 10am – 9:30pm
• Social: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

St. Roch Market

• Notes: 1875 market reborn as a cool food hall with stalls selling eats & drinks, plus some outdoor seating. I drank fresh pressed juice and ate spring rolls from The Daily Beet while my partner opted for vegan steam buns from T2 Streetfood.
• Address: 2381 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans, LA
• Hours: Sunday – Thursday, 7am – 10pm; Friday – Saturday, 7am – 11pm
• Social: Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

Sweet Soulfood

• Notes: You simply have to visit this restaurant if you are seeking vegan soulfood in New Orleans. While the photos might not be the best (my fault, I was too hungry), the food was some of the best I had during my stay. Sweet Soulfood serves buffet style. You simply pick one, two, three or four items – one will be entree size and the remainder in smaller side portions. The menu includes everything from red beans and rice to chicken fried cauliflower to mac n cheese, and it changes daily. One thing that doesn’t change—big New Orleans flavor!
• Address: 1016 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119
• Hours: Monday – Saturday, 11am – 6pm
• Social: Facebook & Instagram

The post A Vegan Guide to New Orleans appeared first on Vegan Hostess.

Happy Spring! It might still be snowing in Cleveland, but that hasn’t stopped me from thinking about my favorite sweet treats for the season. Ever since Trader Joe’s released their vegan marshmallows a few years ago, I’ve been obsessed with making s’mores and Vegan Rice Krispie Treats! A 10 oz. bag is just $2.99! Don’t worry—if you don’t have a local Trader Joe’s you can snag some Dandies on Amazon.

My recipe for vegan rice krispie treats is so easy to make, and it’s delicious, too! Give this simple recipe which will have you reminiscing about childhood a try! You won’t regret it!

Happy snacking!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Vegan Rice Krispie Treats

***Please feel free to share widely, just give me some credit or a link back!

Ingredients/ Shopping List:

Directions:

The post Recipe: Vegan Rice Krispie Treats! appeared first on Vegan Hostess.

What better way to spend this chilly weekend than to stay in make cookies and snuggle up with a binge-worthy Netflix show? A few years ago, a friend sent me a recipe for Salty Sesame and Dark Chocolate Chip cookies from Joy the Baker. It certainly wasn’t the easiest recipe to ‘veganize’ considering if called for quite a bit of butter and an egg, plus an extra egg yolk. However, it was worth the hassle! This recipe for Vegan Salted Sesame Cookies is now one of my all-time favorites.

These are the perfect cookies for anyone who likes things sweet and salty.The sesame seeds add a unique twist on a salty chocolate chip cookie. You can customize the flavor by adding more or less crystalized ginger chips or even chocolate chips! Plus, these cookies come out of the oven warm and chewy. Honestly, they have a consistency rarely found in homemade vegan cookies.

So here it goes, below is my highly modified version of the Salty Sesame and Dark Chocolate Chip cookies from Joy the Baker. Give them a try. Your tastebuds will thank you!

Cheers!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1 cup, 2 sticks Earth Balance, softened
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup granulated vegan sugar or sugar alternative (I used Splenda)
• 2 eggs worth of Ener-G Egg Replacer
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp tamari
• 2 tbs black sesame seeds
• 1 cup dark chocolate chips (I used ghirardelli)
• 1/2 cup crystalized ginger chips
• Sea salt

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
2. Line two baking pans with parchment paper.
3. Mix together the flour, baking soda and salt.
4. In a large bowl, beat together the Earth Balance and sugars until light and fluffy.
5. Pause the mixer and add the two Ener-G Egg Replacers and beat until well combined.
6. Add the vanilla and soy sauce and beat another 1-2 minutes.
7. Stop the mixer and add the dry ingredients.
8. Beat on low speed until mixed and no clumps remain.
9. Fold in the dark chocolate chips, sesame seeds, and ginger chips.
10. Pour a shallow layer of sesame seeds in a small dish.
11. Rolls golf ball size balls of dough by hand and then roll them in the sesame seeds before placing them on the parchment lined baking sheet.
12. Repeat until all of the dough has been used.
13. Sprinkle a very light amount of sea salt over the cookie dough balls.
14. Bake for ~12 minutes until the edges of the cookies look golden brown.
15. Remove from the oven, transfer to cooling racks, and allow to cool completely before enjoying these delicious cookies!

The post Vegan Salted Sesame Cookies appeared first on Vegan Hostess.

Happy New Year! What better way to ring in 2018 than with a super simple recipe for Vegan Cinnamon Rolls. I just love taking a somewhat complicated dessert and making it under an hour. For years, I’ve wanted to make vegan cinnamon rolls, but honestly, the dessert intimidated me. This holiday season I purchased several Pillsbury seamless dough sheets to play with. It’s the perfect way to take this dessert from a bit of a hassle to one of the quickest and easiest dishes to make!

These vegan cinnamon rolls will make your home smell like a Cinnabon location. They are light, airy, have just the right level of sweetness. The secret is using pumpkin puree to help get the right level of gooey sweet goodness. So why not take it easy today. Go get a cup of coffee and enjoy making these quick and easy vegan cinnamon rolls with your loved ones!

Happy eating!

Jocelyn

PS – Like this recipe? Check out my recipe for Vegan Pumpkin Roll.

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate and referral links. I may earn a commission or bonus if you click through to make a purchase.  All opinions are my own. I only work with companies and brands I personally support.

Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

***Please feel free to share widely, just give me some credit or a link back

Prep Time: ~10 minutes; Cook Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 9 servings; Supplies: 8×8 Glass Baking Dish

Ingredients

• Rolls
  • 1 package Pillsbury seamless dough sheet
  • ½ cup canned pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    

    

•  Glaze
  • ½ cup (or more) vegan powdered sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon almond or soy milk
  • or cheat and use softened Pillsbury Vanilla Frosting!

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
3. Unroll the dough sheet on the parchment paper.
4. In a small bowl, combine the pumpkin puree, spices and vanilla extract.
5. Spread the mixture evenly over the dough sheet.
6. Roll up the dough sheet length/ long wise, and slice the roll into ~1 in thick pieces.
7. Place the cinnamon rolls down, close together in the 8×8 Glass Baking Dish.
8. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 30-35 minutes.
   1. Halfway through, check the rolls to see if they are rising and if the top is beginning to look light brown.
   2. While the rolls are baking, either make your vanilla glaze or soften pre-bought icing. If making from scratch:
      1. Add the vanilla extract to the powdered sugar and slowly add your soy/vanilla milk until the consistency is a smooth, slightly runny glaze.
9. Remove the cinnamon rolls from the oven and drizzle with the vanilla glaze.
10. Let cool for 10 minutes and enjoy!

The post Recipe: Vegan Cinnamon Rolls appeared first on Vegan Hostess.

Who is ready for the holidays? It’s the season for good food, great company, and even more time to relax and do what you love. I’m hosting my family for Thanksgiving again this year, and I can’t wait. I simply love hosting this holiday in particular. Pumpkin is one of my favorite seasonal flavors so I’ll be making three different pumpkin-themed desserts. This is Thanksgiving dessert made easy!

• Vegan Cardamom-spiced Pumpkin Cookies
• Vegan Pumpkin Roll
• Vegan Swirled Cheesecake Pumpkin Pie from the Lunch Box Bunch

If you’re looking for a simple addition to your current dessert spread, the Vegan Cardamom-spiced Pumpkin Cookies won’t disappoint! Of course, pumpkin roll is always delicious, albeit a bit anxiety inducing trying to avoid those cracks, and who can say no to “cheesecake.”

If you’re looking for an “easy out” to your Thanksgiving dessert preparations, I highly recommend picking up a tub of Eat Pastry cookie dough. You simply scoop out the 100% vegan, non-GMO dough and place golf-ball size dough balls on a baking sheet and drop it in the oven. It’s ridiculously easy and hassle free!

I picked up a tub of the Peanut Butter Chocoloate Chip last week, and it did not disappoint! The cookies were perfectly gooey and sweet—a hit at my latest game night! Why not give one of my tried and true recipes a try, or if you’re going easy on yourself, pick up some Eat Pastry cookie dough.

Cheers & happy holidays!

Jocelyn

* Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. As always, all opinions are my own!

The post Thanksgiving Dessert Made Easy appeared first on Vegan Hostess.