Just because you’re vegan that certainly doesn’t mean that you need to eat healthily all the time. Vegans get junk food cravings just like everyone else!
While there are many accidentally vegan snacks available to buy, sometimes it can be really fun to cook your own naughty treats in the kitchen. One benefit of this is that you can satisfy your junk food cravings without all of the chemicals and highly processed ingredients.
What junk food can vegans eat?
Vegans enjoy eating just as much junk food as everyone else. Burgers, chips, cookies, doughnuts, cakes and ice cream can all be made vegan by substituting animal-derived ingredients like meat, eggs and milk for vegan alternatives.
So, with that in mind, here’s a selection of the very best vegan junk food recipes on the internet…
1. Strawberry Pop Tarts
Pop Tarts are typically not vegan-friendly, or even suitable for vegetarians, as they contain beef gelatine. But, if you’re missing Pop Tarts since you decided to be kinder to animals, then this vegan Pop Tart recipe is for you!
Made without processed sugars, fats and artificial ingredients, this delicious recipe is also gluten-free and relatively guilt-free compared to the Kellogg’s original.
2. Vegan Twix
Do you remember that TV advert from the 80s? “Wherever there’s a snack gap… Twix fits!”
Well at the time, Twix bars were made with animal rennet, making them not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
Mars is still yet to make a vegan Twix. So, if you miss this chocolate bar from your childhood then this vegan Twix copycat recipe is for you. With a crunchy cookie base, sweet caramel top and chocolate coating, I would say it’s as good as the real thing.
3. Microwave Mac and Cheese
Remember how easy Kraft mac and cheese was to make in the microwave? Well, vegan mac and cheese can be just as quick and easy with this a-la-ding recipe. Kids and adults alike will relish in this stodgy comfort food.
Now the only question is… Ketchup or no ketchup?
4. Chocolate Chip Cookies
I don’t know about you, but nothing satisfies my junk food cravings like cookies. These American-style cookies are light, fluffy, soft and chewy, filled with tasty chocolate chips.
A delicious treat to bake for a friend or loved one, one thing’s for sure – these won’t be around for long in my kitchen!
5. Tater Tots
I was first introduced to tater tots at a junk food stall at the Vegan Campout festival and I’ve been in love with them ever since. Crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, there may be no better way to serve potatoes.
This vegan tater tots recipe is easy to make in an air fryer. What will you dip yours in?
6. Jam Doughnuts
Who said that perfect doughnuts need to be made with eggs and milk? If you can’t get your hands on vegan doughnuts, this is a great reason to make your own. Plus, it’s so satisfying to watch them turn golden as they fry.
This detailed recipe shows you how to make not only jam doughnuts, but also sugared ring doughnuts sugar, and glazed doughnuts.
7. Vegan Nacho Cheese Doritos
Nacho cheese Doritos aren’t vegan-friendly, but that doesn’t matter when you know how to make your own vegan cheese Doritos!
These vegan junk food delights are guaranteed to make you feel nostalgic as you lick the cheese dust off your fingers. As well as being dairy-free and vegan, this homemade version is also missing the chemicals. Plus, they’re baked, not fried. So you can tuck in guilt-free!
8. Peanut Butter Cups
If you’re looking for the easiest of vegan junk food recipes to try, this is the one. These chocolate peanut butter cups have just four ingredients – dark chocolate, peanuts, peanut butter and coconut oil. Plus, there’s no baking required!
If you just can’t get enough of a chocolate and peanut butter combo, you’re sure to love these cute little cups.
9. Jackfruit Pulled Pork Burger
It amazes me how closely jackfruit can resemble pulled pork – it’s almost the exact same texture. This deliciously classic vegan burger recipe is so simple to make.
I like to top my burgers with coleslaw and serve with crinkle-cut chips on the side for maximum junk food indulgence.
10. Cookies and Cream Ice Cream
Before learning about this recipe, I had no idea that you could make vegan ice cream with just three ingredients. Yep – all you need is bananas, Oreos and cashew butter! And no ice cream maker either, just a regular food processor will do it.
Ready in minutes, you’ll be indulging in an ice cream marathon in front of the TV before you know it.
See more food processor recipes: Best Vegan Food Processor Recipes To Whizz Up
11. Chocolate Cake
Rich, moist and fudgy – this vegan chocolate cake is a chocoholics dream! It uses applesauce in place of eggs and Dutch processed cocoa powder for extra chocolatey-ness.
This recipe doesn’t even pretend to be healthy. But when you bake something so scrumptious, you deserve to have your cake and eat it.
12. Vegan Mozzarella Sticks
While nothing can replicate the gooey stringiness of real mozzarella, these vegan mozzarella sticks are just as tasty and no cows were harmed in their making.
The sticks are made with marinated tofu coated in crispy breadcrumbs and served with marinara sauce for dipping. Delish!
13. Chocolate Cheesecake
Creamy and silky smooth with a crunchy cashew base, you won’t believe that not only is this cheesecake vegan, it’s also gluten-free and refined-sugar-free!
Who knew chocolate cheesecake could be healthy. This barely even counts as a vegan junk food recipe. But I’m including it anyway because it tastes so damn heavenly.
14. French Fries
French fries are the ultimate vegan junk food classic – the staple go-to when it’s 3 am and that’s the only option at whatever takeaway you stumble into.
If you’ve been making frozen French fries in the oven at home, then please stop it. Made from sliced potatoes, olive oil, garlic powder and paprika, this version is so easy to make in your air fryer. And they taste so good!
15. Chocolate Truffles
Who can ever say no to a smooth, glossy chocolate truffle? But don’t pretend that you’ll be able to stop at just one of these bad boys when your junk food cravings are kicking in. They will have you hooked!
Easy to make with just five ingredients, these chocolate truffles would make a wonderful gift for a vegan chocoholic.
16. Jalapeno Poppers
These jalapeno poppers are stuffed with cashew cream, breaded and deep-fried. Dairy-free, egg-free and gluten-free, they’re sure to please a crowd, whatever their dietary requirements.
Dip them in vegan mayonnaise, salsa, vegan sour cream or whatever you like. They’ll always hit the spot.
17. Cookie Butter Fudge
If there’s one accidentally-vegan junk food treat that vegans love, it’s Biscoff. This recipe uses Biscoff spread, dark and white chocolate, butter and salt to create rich slabs of cookie dough fudge topped with chocolate.
It’s the vegan junk food to satisfy your sweet tooth.