These 4 Springfield spots have the best vegan baked goods in town
Whether you’re planning a plant-based Easter celebration or embarking on an entirely vegan lifestyle, these Springfield businesses have your back when it comes to sweet and savory baked goods.
Midsommar Gardens
Cottage baker Ellen Neville-Verdugo specializes in Swedish-style baked goods, and she tries to have vegan and gluten-free options for everything she bakes. Completely vegan, the kladdkaka (Swedish sticky chocolate cake) is made with chia seed “eggs” and Dutch-processed cocoa powder, resulting in an incredibly rich and gooey chocolate torte. “You’d never know – or care – that it’s vegan,” says Neville-Verdugo. She uses cashew milk in her English crumpets to make them vegan as well. “I use cashew milk in my recipe because I think it tastes better and makes for a fluffier, more aerated crumpet with a delightfully light and nutty flavor,” she says. While those two treats are enough to make our mouths water, Neville-Verdugo is perhaps best known for her kaffekaka (Swedish coffee cake). She uses coconut milk for the vegan version, which adds an extra layer of flavor to the cake and really locks in the moisture. (Photo courtesy of Midsommar Gardens)
Midsommar Gardens, midsommargardens.com
Mulberry Vegan
The baked goods at Mulberry Vegan aren’t just free of animal products; they’re also free of gluten. The selection is small, but if you’re in the mood for a giant oatmeal crème pie or a fudgy chocolate brownie – topped with cosmic sprinkles, no less – this is the place to go. The plant-based Persian Love Cake, with the classic combination of pistachio, rose and lemon, is pleasing for all the senses. But if you would rather have a custom cake made for a special celebration, this bakery can do that too. Cake flavors range from vanilla to chocolate and lemon to carrot topped with the frosting of your choice, such as vanilla, chocolate, Oreo, strawberry, rose or lavender. For a touch of flair, you can also add edible glitter, fresh berries, a cake topper and more. Mulberry Vegan also makes vegan and gluten-free cheesecakes in flavors such as peanut butter-chocolate, lemon-lavender, blueberry and cannoli. Hungry yet? (Photo courtesy of Mulberry Vegan)
Mulberry Vegan, 2925 W. Republic Road, Springfield, Missouri, mulberryvegan.square.site
The Peaceful Baker
After taking a brief hiatus this winter, The Peaceful Baker is back in its usual spot at the Farmers Market of the Ozarks, serving up decadent gluten-free vegan treats such as warm cinnamon rolls, jumbo peanut butter and jelly muffins and simply delicious sugar cookies. Creativity is always flowing here, so the selection often changes, but past standouts include adaptogenic almond butter balls, red velvet cupcakes, blueberry streusel donuts with white chocolate drizzle and super seedy granola bars. The Peaceful Baker also takes orders for any baked goods you might desire, from allergen-free chocolate cupcakes to lavender-pistachio loaves to festive wedding cakes. Among all the sweet and savory flavors, there’s also an unmistakable passion for environmental conservation here. All of the packaging at the farmers’ market booth is either compostable, biodegradable or recyclable, not to mention the fact that the omission of animal products in each item helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation in the rainforest. (Photo courtesy of The Peaceful Baker)
The Peaceful Baker (at the Farmers Market of the Ozarks), 417.860.3062, facebook.com/thepeacefulbaker
Whipped Cream & Other Delights
At Whipped Cream & Other Delights, Rachel Fair makes cakes and cupcakes, pies and scones that are so delicious, you won’t even miss the dairy. Imagine sinking your teeth into a slice of freshly baked apple crumb or chocolate cream pie. You can also combine different cake, frosting and filling flavors to create vegan cupcakes for every palate. Think coffee cake with hazelnut frosting and caramel filling, or lemon cake filled with blueberry compote and topped with blueberry frosting. The vanilla cake with ganache frosting and German chocolate filling is also anything but ordinary. Fair specializes in personalized cakes for any occasion as well – the cake, frosting and filling flavors are similar to those of the cupcakes. Craving something savory? The Cheddar-sausage scones – available in regular and spicy – are fantastic, but if you want to stick to the sweet side, the blueberry, raisin and orange-cranberry are just as good. Menu items must be preordered for pickup within 24 business hours, but Whipped Cream & Other Delights is also open every Wednesday from 7.30 to 11.30am for grab-and-go cake donuts and a rotating selection of other plant-based breakfast pastries. (Photo courtesy of Whipped Cream & Other Delights)
Whipped Cream & Other Delights, 608 W. Walnut Lawn St., Springfield, Missouri, 417.920.5960, whippeddelight.square.site
Rachel Huffman
Rachel Huffman is the managing editor of Feast.
