Foraging for the best vegan cookbooks the world has to offer? (Heh, get it? Foraging?) As a person who pretty much lives in the kitchen when I’m not traveling, I’ve come to discover the most incredible vegan and plant-based cookbooks money can buy. Here’s my list of recommendations so you can get your cook on!
Psst. This post contains affiliate links. Read our disclosure.
Want to know a little fact about me? Cooking, as well as baking, is one of my absolute favorite things to do when I’m not traveling or wandering around the world.
It’s kinda like therapy in a way for me.
Chilling out in the kitchen, chopping veggies, sauteing up a storm, using my beloved Vitamix, and just creating beautifully delicious plant-based and vegan meals.
Dan, on the other hand, probably thinks I’m a maniac because I barely let him cook and then will look over his shoulder like an overprotective parent when he does.
(Okay, okay, I might be a little bit of a control freak in the kitchen but hey, I’m passionate about food, alright?)
Not to mention, with all the time you might be spending indoors now due to the unfortunate pandemic situation, you might want to improve your plant-based cooking and baking skills! I know I am.
Anywho, after being a vegan for the past 4 years and learning the ins and outs of plant-based cookery, I’ve discovered some awesome vegan recipe books that’ll blow you away.
Here’s my recommendations!
ULTIMATE LIST OF THE BEST VEGAN COOKBOOKS
Let’s break this list down even further into specific categories to help you navigate what sort of vegan cookbook you’re really looking for — junk food vegan recipes, healthy vegan recipes, gluten-free vegan recipes, ethnic vegan recipes, and even a vegan dessert cookbook.
Vegan Junk Food Cookbooks
First and foremost, let’s start off with a favorite for many vegans: the best cookbooks for vegan junk food!
Whether you’re in the mood for creamy mac ‘n’ cheese, hearty lasagna, fried “chicken”, or even fluffy waffles, you can definitely find it in one of the following recipe books.
Hot for Food Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face
A highly-rated vegan cookbook, Lauren Toyota has taken vegan junk food to another level with her mouthwatering recipes!
Craving some chicken pot pie soup? This book’s got it. More of a Greek salad person? It’s here. Or is your sweet tooth yearning for a caramel apple tart? Done and done with this awesome plant-based recipe book.
Get this vegan cookbook ASAP to — as Lauren says — feed your face!
Thug Kitchen: The Official Cookbook: Eat Like You Give a F*ck
A personal top favorite of mine, the Thug Kitchen takes vegan cooking to a whole new level.
With an atrocious amount of swear words (which I LOVE), the Thug Kitchen creators share their love of delicious plant-based recipes through simple recipe steps, fresh ingredients, and the use of foul language.
One of my all-time favorite vegan recipes from this book is the baked Spanish rice! SO GOOD.
Ready to live a more eco-friendly life? Take a look at my favorite zero waste things I always pack for a trip here (great for at home, too!).
Healthy Vegan Coobooks
Interested in feeding your body and soul with good-for-you food that’s nutritious, colorful, and healthy? I gotchu! This section is all about doing your body a favor by giving it some love with healthy vegan recipe books.
The Oh She Glows Cookbook: Over 100 Vegan Recipes to Glow from the Inside Out
This is a healthy vegan recipe book I personally keep on hand to create delicious and nutritious plant-based meals that’s good for my body and good for the planet!
Literally glow from the inside out with vegan recipes like overnight oatmeal, avo + pear salad, healthy tortilla soup, crunchy granola clusters, and even peanut butter cookie dough bites!
If you want to expand your healthy vegan recipe collection, this is a must-have cookbook.
Forks Over Knives — The Cookbook: Over 300 Recipes for Plant-Based Eating All Through the Year
A super duper popular vegan documentary on Netflix, the Forks Over Knives gang has created a smashing vegan cookbook packed to the brim with over 300 fantastic plant-based recipes you can’t help but fall in love with!
Even better, all of the recipes are specifically whole foods plant-based (WFPB) — meaning they contain zero oil, dairy, and meat!
Aka, you’re only feeding your body the best foods possible for optimal health!
Whether you want a healthy mushroom stroganoff recipe or an array of meal recipes with beans, this is an awesome WFPB cookbook.
Power Plates: 100 Nutritionally Balanced, One-Dish Vegan Meals
Not sure you can get all of your macronutrients in one meal? Gena Hamshaw shows you how to optimize your plates with powerful, nutritionally-balanced vegan meals that tick all the boxes: delicious, healthy, and easy!
A few vegan recipes from the cookbook include Cheesy Cream of Broccoli Soup with Smoky Roasted Chickpeas, Brown Rice Tabbouleh Salad, Thai Peanut Bowls with Chili Lime Tofu, and Sweet Potato Falafel Bowls.
Even better, she includes additional tips and tricks for taking food on the go, and for cooking ahead on the weekend for quick weekday lunches and dinners!
Gluten-Free Vegan Cookbooks
So you’re body doesn’t agree with gluten, huh? No problemo, friend! Here’s some awesome gluten-free vegan recipe books that make it easy to say “buh-bye” to gluten forever.
The Gluten-Free Vegan: 150 Delicious Gluten-Free, Animal-Free Recipes
SO many people in the world have an allergy or aversion to gluten and with this helpful cookbook, you can not only create delicious gluten-free recipes, but also stay sustainable and healthy with vegan recipes!
With more than 150 gluten-free vegan recipes, you can whip up a variety of meals like amazing mushroom nut loaf, delectable cashew gravy, Mexican quinoa salad, bomb brownies, and more.
Minimalist Baker’s Everyday Cooking: 101 Entirely Plant-based, Mostly Gluten-Free, Easy and Delicious Recipes
Okay, okay, this vegan cookbook isn’t entirely gluten-free, but mostly gluten-free!
Although, after reading through the recipes and reviews, you won’t want to miss out on any of these mouthwatering vegan meals!
Dana Schultz is a top food blogger with a HUGE following — and it’s no wonder why! She creates delicious, minimal recipes that are to die for.
If you want to great cracking on making things like Masala Chickpea Curry, Banana Chocolate Pecan Muffins, Thai Meatballs, and Spicy BBQ Jackfruit Sandwiches, get this crazy good vegan cookbook now!
Decadent Gluten-Free Vegan Baking: Delicious, Gluten-, Egg- and Dairy-Free Treats and Sweets
Vegan, gluten-free, and delicious treats everyone can enjoy? Now that’s something I can get behind!
Decadent Gluten-Free Vegan Baking by Cara Reed is a packed recipe book filled with mouthwatering desserts anybody will fall head over heels for.
Whether you love German chocolate cake, churros, doughnuts, moist yellow cake, or gooey chocolate chip cookies, this gluten-free vegan baking cookbook has the all the recipes for you if you want to indulge without the wheat!
Want to see all my vegan city guides to inspire you to become a raging plant-based foodie? Click here!
Ethnic Vegan Cookbooks
Ready to expand your palette to include mouthwatering ethnic meals? Whether you’re in the mood for caribbean, southern, Mexican, or Asian, I’ve got you covered. I introduce you to the ultimate list of the best ethnic vegan cookbooks!
Afro-Vegan: Farm-Fresh African, Caribbean, and Southern Flavors Remixed
Who else goes crazy for flavorful caribbean or African food? Because I sure as heck do!
This packed vegan recipe book is filled with dishes like Caribbean-inspired Cocoa Spice Cake with Crystallized Ginger and Coconut-Chocolate Ganache, Blackened Okra and Red Rice, Slow-braised Mustard Greens, and Sweet Potato and Lima Bean Tagine… ohhhh buddy. You can bet your tastebuds will be tingling with these creative dishes!
My only note about this book is if you want something with easy breezy recipes made with easy-to-find ingredients, this might not be the vegan cookbook for you! Also, it’s not traditional African, Caribbean, or Southern recipes — they’re a blend of all three!
¡Salud! Vegan Mexican Cookbook: 150 Mouthwatering Recipes from Tamales to Churros
Tacos, fajitas, curros, oh my!
This vegan Mexican cookbook is definitely a fav of mine, as I’m a HUGE fan of Mexican food! Not to mention, many of the recipes in this book are a lot healthier than traditional Mexican dishes. So, yeah, win!
As the author said himself, “this cookbook is the ultimate resource for vegans looking to spice things up or Mexican food fans looking for healthier options.”
I think that quote sums up this book perfectly. Sound good to you? Get it below.
Vegan Richa’s Indian Kitchen: Traditional and Creative Recipes for the Home Cook
Richa’s blog on all things vegan dishes is hands down one of my FAVORITE sources for vegan cooking!
When it comes to vegan Indian food, Richa knows what she’s doing! And damn, she packs a punch with flavor in her recipes.
If you’re a lover of all things curry, dahl, flatbreads (like naan!), and Indian desserts (such as Fudgy Cardamom Squares), then this is the vegan recipe book for you.
Vegan Dessert Cookbooks
Can’t seem to reign in your sweet tooth? Don’t be sad — be glad there are unbelievable vegan dessert cookbooks where you can bake up a storm!
Cakes, pies, tarts, cookies, oh my! Your sweet tooth won’t know what hit it.
Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World: 75 Dairy-Free Recipes for Cupcakes that Rule
Before I went vegan, I literally made cupcakes every freakin’ weekend (heck, I sometimes even sold them for B-day parties!).
That’s why this vegan cupcake recipe book is absolutely PURE GOLD if you want to jump back into the cupcake world (without the nasty eggs or dairy)!
Classic vanilla with chocolate frosting, red velvet cupcakes with creamy white frosting, chai latte cupcakes, and even vegan Oreo cupcakes — you can find all these and more in this book.
Chloe’s Vegan Desserts: More than 100 Exciting New Recipes for Cookies and Pies, Tarts and Cobblers, Cupcakes and Cakes–and More!
As the first vegan winner of Cupcake Wars (a baking show on the cooking channel in America), Chloe really knows what she’s doing when it comes to vegan baking!
Whether you’re in the mood for some luscious lemon poppyseed muffins or Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Maple Glaze in the morning, some cheeky Pecan Bars for lunch, or Mojito Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert, you can find SO many here!
Without a doubt, this is one of the BEST vegan dessert cookbooks out there!
I personally love how Chloe encourages you to go on a lick the spoon because hey, there’s no nasties in these vegan goodies!
Modern Vegan Baking: The Ultimate Resource for Sweet and Savory Baked Goods
Ready to take your vegan baking to the next level? Grab a copy of Gretchen’s Modern Vegan Baking recipe book and be prepared to have your mind blown!
Sure, you’ve already mastered vegan cupcakes, cakes, and muffins… but what about donuts, flatbreads, pie, shortbread, and crepes?
This is definitely not a healthy or fuss-free recipe book but if you’re looking to amp up your vegan baking, this is for you!
Psst, living the vegan life? Check out my guide to the best vegan travel luggage! From duffel bags to backpacks, this should be your go-to list. Check it out here!
Raw Vegan Cookbooks
Bonus! Here’s a little section for those of you who want to explore the benefits and experience of eating raw (aka, things are uncooked or mostly uncooked). Check out these raw vegan cookbooks to shake things up!
The Fully Raw Diet: 21 Days to Better Health, with Meal and Exercise Plans, Tips, and 75 Recipes
Ready to take your health to a whole new level with nutrient-packed raw dishes, like pad thai, pineapple cucumber gazpacho, zucchini alfredo, or heck, even chocolate pecan pie?
Then get your hands on Kristina’s Fully Raw Diet cookbook!
To be honest, I didn’t even consider a raw vegan diet before checking out this book… but with over 1,200+ raving reviews, I knew I had to check it out.
Take back your health with her 21-day plan and see the benefits of a raw vegan diet for yourself!
Raw. Vegan. Not Gross. – All Vegan and Mostly Raw Recipes for People Who Love to Eat
With over 100k subscribers on YouTube and millions of views collectively on her videos, Laura Miller knows how to make damn tasty raw vegan food!
Personally, I loved her video on raw cinnamon rolls, burritos, and poptarts! (YES — raw freakin’ vegan poptarts!)
Lauren really shows readers that eating raw is definitely not gross! Check out her recipe book by clicking below.
Rawsome Vegan Baking: An Un-cookbook for Raw, Gluten-Free, Vegan, Beautiful and Sinfully Sweet Cookies, Cakes, Bars & Cupcakes
Emily Von Euw, cool creator of That Rawsome Vegan Life, has put together a wow-ing raw vegan baking recipe book that will blow you away!
No matter if you’re a vegan, vegetarian or meat-eater, her delectable recipes — like Pina Colada Bites, Triple-Threat Chocolate Cake, and Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Cream ‘Sandwiches’ — will win over anyone!
Wowza! What a beautiful bunch of the best vegan cookbooks.
Whether you’re in the mood for some cheeky tacos, sweet cupcakes, or heck, even a raw burrito, one of these recipe books will suit your fancy!
Tell me, have you tried one of these cookbooks? What is your fav? Or which one caught your eye?! Share in the comments!
Sophie xx
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