Holiday season is coming ‘atcha fast! I couldn’t be more excited about it. This is my absolute faaavorite time of year [starting with October, obvi]. These four months always seem to fly by, too. Between all the cooking, holiday parties, shopping… the to-do list is endless. Thankfully, I eat that shit up!

Many of you may be gearing up for a ton of holiday baking, myself included. I thought it might be nice to tackle a few basic ingredient swaps for those who are taking their first stab at vegan baking. I promise, you will not even be able to tell the difference between an egg and a flaxseed egg replacer!

The 6 Swaps

1. The Culprit: Eggs



The Kind Option: Oh, eggs. How easy you are to replace when baking! Mwahaha. My favorite substitution for eggs is ground flaxseed. First and foremost, because of the health benefits. Second, it is so easy! Simply mix 1 tbs ground flaxseed with 3 tbs of water. Mix well, and you are done. Another favorite egg replacer is banana. The banana will alter the taste a bit, so if you are nervous about this, I would stick with the flax! If banana is a flavor that will go nicely with your dish, then go BANANAS. lols.

2. The Culprit: Cow’s Milk



The Kind Option: Milk, you are just as easy-sleazy as the eggs. Do you have any idea how many types of nut and plant-based milks there are out there? Almond, soy, coconut, hemp, rice, flax, hazelnut, oat, sunflower… the list goes on, really. This is a great article to help guide you when choosing which type to use in your cooking and baking.

3. The Culprit: Buttermilk



The Kind Option: Don’t possibly think you can recreate over-processed buttermilk? Wrong. Add 1 cup of soy milk + 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar. There you have it. “Buttermilk” minus the side of cruelty.

4. The Culprit: Butter/Mayonnaise



The Kind Option: You’d be surprised just how much healthier and tastier your dish will be with mashed avocado instead of butter or mayonnaise. I swear, avocado is a hero in the food world! It is a healthy fat, and it is a healthy sub for butter. Keep in mind, you can also turn to vegan brands such as Earth Balance. Earth Balance has both butter AND mayo, and let me tell you… they are staples in my household.

Oh, and FYI… coconut oil is also a great butter replacement. Honestly… endless options.

5. The Culprit: Honey



The Kind Option: Need to sweeten? Turn to agave nectar or pure maple syrup (none of that Mrs. Buttersworth bullshit). Both are VERY sweet and do the same justice as honey.

6. The Culprit: Whipped Cream



The Kind Option: Oh, oh, oh. I love this! Coconut milk, baby! Grab a can of full-fat coconut milk and toss it in your fridge. Yes, you will need to refrigerate it before using, and there is a bunch of other things to know (but not too many)! Vegan blogger, Angela from Oh She Glows, breaks down this process beautifully.

The best part about all these subs? These are not only vegan swaps, but are just plain healthier in general. Even if you are not vegan, you should still consider the above swaps! This way, we’ll all be ready for a happy, healthy holiday season.

Do you have any other tips to offer? Would love to hear you sound off in the comment section! xx Bianca