Find the Best Vegan Desserts at These Six Spots in Metro Manila

Vegan desserts, and vegan food in general, usually get a bad rap. The reasons are varied, though one of these is likely because they are often compared to their counterparts as second-rate copycats and not appreciated for what they are on their own. Vegan food has come a long way, however, with companies and small business owners having gotten creative in offering products that are not just vegan and delicious, but also sustainable.

Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, curious about plant-based food, or on other special diets due to ethical or health reasons, these six spots in Metro Manila offer delectable vegan desserts that you and your loved ones will enjoy time and again. Don’t knock them until you’ve tried them!

Cupcakes By Sonja

Who hasn’t heard of Cupcakes By Sonja? It needs no introduction. Anyone who loves pastries and desserts surely would have heard of it in the early aughts, as it does hold the title of being Manila's "first ever cupcake store." Cupcakes By Sonja opened its first location on Sept. 8, 2006, at Serendra in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. Today, it has three other locations, namely along Chino Roces Avenue in Makati City, SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City, and Molito Lifestyle Center in Alabang, Muntinlupa City. Cupcakes by Sonja is known for its signature cupcakes and classic and custom cakes that only use the freshest and highest quality ingredients, including ones that cater to specific themes like Father's Day and Pride and diets like plant-based. For vegans, it offers three treats, namely the plant-based Chocolate with Vegan Chocolate Buttercream Frosting (P165), Red Velvet Vixen with Vegan Cream Cheese Icing (P145), and Vanilla with Vegan Buttercream Frosting (P160). You can order the cupcakes here!

Thrive Vegan Patisserie

This pandemic-born local business offers delectable plant-based treats that can also be customized into sugar- and gluten-free desserts. The Las Piñas-based Thrive Vegan Patisserie only uses premium ingredients in its gorgeous desserts, which we personally love for having that rustic, homemade, and comforting look – the kind you bring home to your parents or send to friends! Some of its offerings include dark chocolate chip cookies, raw energy balls, glazed donuts, cinnamon rolls, sans rival cake, banana cake, oat carrot cake, calamansi cheesecake, and more. You can also request a customized cake for special occasions! To order, message Thrive Vegan on Instagram or Facebook, or call 0919 0065 387 or 8826 0415.

Plant Patisserie

Plant Patisserie is another local bakery that's redefining pastries with its plant-based desserts, which also come in eco-friendly, compostable packaging. Based in Better Living Subdivision in Parañaque, Plant Patisserie offers a wide range of pastries, from loaves, cookies, and plant bars to pies, bread, crepe cakes, and even kakanin. You can also customize your order with its Build-Your-Own-Bar, so you can plant bars suited to the needs of diabetics, nursing moms, people with allergies, and so much more. To order, simply go here or contact 0917 313 6173.

Earth Desserts

If cookies and brownies are your thing, look no further than Earth Desserts. Its bestselling, guiltless vegan fudge brownies will have you looking nowhere else, while its vegan cookies (oatmeal raisin, double choco, gluten-free choco chip) make sure you only won't be eating one piece at any given time. If you can't settle for either, fret not. Earth Desserts has the BCF for you! It's half brownie and half cookie, with morsels of chocolate in between and a sprinkling of Maldon sea salt on top. The BCF comes in regular and gluten-free options. Earth Desserts makes deliveries every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. To order, just DM them on Instagram or Facebook, or email [email protected]

Simply Healthy Manila

A scroll through Simply Health Manila's feed is enough to know that its desserts look too scrumptious to ignore. Created by Dinara Abdullina, Simply Healthy Manila's desserts are vegan, sugar-free, gluten-free, and can also accommodate those on a keto diet. From birthdays and weddings to other special occasions and just-because moments, Simply Healthy Manila's has the perfect cake for you. Its fruit-topped cakes, such as its vegan carrot cake, will surely steal the scene but we also adore its "Bento" cake that's minimalist in design, but not in taste. For inquiries, contact 0926 715 9947.

Ikigai Kakigori Cafe

For a refreshing dessert on sweltering days, we recommend Ikigai Kakigori's traditional Japanese shaved ice! The café, which has locations in Tomas Morato, Quezon City and Makati City with Wabi-Sabi Noodle House, is known for its delicious kakigori that comes in various flavors, such as matcha, kuromitsu, coffee, ichigo yogurt, mango yogurt, choco, mango Okinawa, and more. It also has vegan kakigori options for those who are lactose-intolerant or live a plant-based lifestyle. Apart from kakigori, the café also offers Japanese cheesecake and Vietnamese coffee shakes, as well as preservative- and extender-free homemade ice cream.