GAH!!!

Ok, that made me feel a bit better.

I have been doing a lot of experimentation with vegan baking, because I need business and I figure if I have this to offer, it will give me an edge in the area.

It isn't going well.

I can't find any books on the subject, (aka "Bakewise" for vegan bakers) just a lot of recipe books. Most of those recipes aren't for layer cakes and I can't discern any pattern or formula like the ones I consistently find for regular shortened cakes or high ratio cakes.

This weekend I have a 2 tier cake due and they wanted it made without eggs (no allergy issues, just don't eat eggs). I use my vegan recipes because I figure they are formulated to be tasty without eggs and I won't have to use the egg replacer that makes my cakes crumbly and somewhat dry.

The vanilla one is pretty good. Not great, but yep! vanilla cake.

The chocolate one tasted like paste. I made that daggone cake 4 times before I got it to taste good, then when I got it filled and stacked, it broke apart and I really wanted to start throwing things. Now I finally have one that tastes good and is filled and stacked and crumb coated and still in one piece. Oh, and it isn't vegan. I used butter and yogurt in it instead of the oil and "yogurt" it called for, trying to make it less paste-y taste-y.

Do vegans really enjoy vegan baking? Or are they simply grateful for whatever they get? I'm not being sassy, I really want to know. Because it is driving me NUTS.

Thank you. I feel much better now.

Have you looked at the blog "Bake & Destroy"? The baker spent a number of years as a vegan (she's simply vegetarian now) and has lots of recipes & tips for vegan baking.

HTH
Kristy

I have successfully made vegan cakes and cupcakes. It all depends on the ingredients you are using to substitute the "animal" ingredients. Like you can use apple sauce or regular oil in place of butter. Alot of vegan recipes do not call for egg replacers all the time. You can depending on where you are find plenty of vegan ingredients to make cakes with. Many also use baking soda and vinegar in the chocolate cake vegan recipes that I know of.

I have also made gluten free and diary free cakes and never had one fall apart on me after stacking and crumb coating it. You might have to check your amounts in your recipe, it could be off. I have even done a red velvet cake before which my husband which is a BIG cake eater really couldn't tell the difference.

There is a cookbook called Vegan Cupcakes Take over the World, which has some really good vegan recipes in it. I hope that helps
Kima

Thank you so much KJ62798 for posting about the Bake and Destroy blog! My daughter is allergic to eggs and dairy, which makes it quite tough to find things she would like. I just found recipes I know she will love! Thank you again

Wacky cake is vegan. It's delicious and can be stacked.

Nope, hadn't found "bake and destroy" but will look it up, thanks!

Did order that cupcake book. We'll see....

There is a site called tastespotting.com that features quite a few vegan and vegetarian baked items, you might find some inspiration there. Also it has great photos which are just fun to see.

I second wacky cake. I used to be vegan and my 3 tier wedding cake was completely vegan and alllll chocolatey delicious wacky cake.