Valentine’s Day is a great opportunity to show the someone in your life that you love and value them, whether that’s your significant other, friend, family member, or yourself. It’s also an amazing excuse to buy and eat excessive amounts of vegan treats! Thankfully, NYC has plenty of delicious options to fill your heart and tummy. This Valentine’s Day, enjoy everything from cupcakes, to chocolates and croissants, all while keeping it plant-based. Follow this guide to find some vegan sweets for your sweet that will show just how much you appreciate them!
Erin McKenna’s Bakery
Lower East Side
Erin Mckenna’s Bakery first opened in LES in 2015 and has since expanded to include locations in California and Florida. The original shop, still open on Broome St., features a quaint and colorful interior, illuminated by adorable neon signage, and is full of bakers in Wes Anderson-esque all pink jumpsuits. But this spot serves up more than just rosy aesthetics—they also offer a huge range of scrumptious sweets, including brownies, cookies, donuts, cupcakes, and even whoopie pies! This little bakery is a great choice for those with food sensitivities and dietary restrictions, as everything is free of gluten, dairy, eggs, and soy, and they’re kosher certified to boot.
by Chloe.
Multiple Locations
This spot opened its first location in the West Village in 2015 and has since seen rapid growth and expansion, with new locations popping up all across the country and even in Canada and London. Though Sweets by Chloe., formerly located right next to the original by Chloe. in the West Village, sadly closed in 2019, by Chloe. restaurants throughout the city continue to serve the same sweets every day. Pop in to any location for a quick lunch and check out their dessert case featuring muffins, cupcakes, cookies, and morning pastries. They even have vegan dog treats for your four-legged Valentine!
Confectionery!
East Village
Confectionery!, located in the East Village, is home to flavorful macarons made by Sweet Maresas and inventive chocolates crafted by Lagusta's Luscious. Name a more iconic duo. The macarons are fluffy and divine, the chocolates are rich and flavorful, and both are utterly addicting! This location is a great all-vegan one-stop-shop for your Valentine’s Day needs. They carry both pre-made and customizable boxes of chocolates, as well as a fresh case of unique macarons that change daily. The rotating selection of flavors and treats makes every thoughtfully packaged box unique and special—and so, so delicious.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop
Multiple Locations
Little Cupcake Bakeshop first opened in Brooklyn in 2005, specializing in wholesome traditional desserts made with locally-sourced ingredients, without any shortening or preservatives. This small shop has stuck to this mission, and has since gone on to be renowned nationally for its award-winning cakes and cupcakes, while also adding vegan and gluten-free options to their menu. They now offer a daily selection of magnificent plant-based treats that includes cookies and ice cream, along with their classic cakes and cupcakes. Stop in and grab a few vegan cupcakes to share with your special someone—they’ll be absolutely blown away by the cream cheese frosting.
Orchard Grocer
Lower East Side
Orchard Grocer is an all-vegan deli and small grocery store in the Lower East Side with a huge selection of everyday vegan necessities, made-to-order sandwiches, and—of course—vegan treats. Orchard brings in croissants from New Jersey-based Choc O Pain daily, and decadent donuts from Peaceful Provisions every Sunday. The shelves of this little shop also feature a great selection of packaged chocolates and sweets, including vegan toffee, caramels, and cookies. Wow your Valentine with the Vego bar, a European hazelnut chocolate bar with whole hazelnut chunks (a-la-center-of-a-Ferrero-Rocher), which is only available in the United States at Orchard.
Peacefood Café
Multiple Locations
Peacefood Café is well-known among NYC vegans for its delicious and wholesome lunch, dinner, and brunch menus. But they’re also famous for their freshly prepared baked goods in their huge dessert cases, visible as soon as you walk in the door. Their daily dessert menu is huge and includes chocolate chip cookie sandwiches, macarons, strawberry shortcake, cheesecake, tiramisu, and much more. They even have options for our raw vegan friends, offering raw key lime pie, cocoa mousse pie, and cashew cream cheesecake. In addition to all of this, they accept custom orders and offer special baked goods daily. Find balance at Peacefood this Valentine’s Day, and walk out happy with a cold-pressed juice and some sweet treats.
The Cinnamon Snail
Garment District
The Cinnamon Snail first got its start as a food truck, servicing festivals, farmers markets, and special events with delicious vegan food and desserts. Celebrating its 10 year anniversary this Valentine’s Day, The Cinnamon Snail is still going strong. While their food truck (which parks at different NYC Metro area hotspots on a rotating schedule) hibernates for the winter, they continue to serve up all this deliciousness at the brick-and-mortar location in the Pennsy Food Hall right next to Madison Square Garden. With a selection of thirty donuts and pastries that change every day, they offer custom message donuts, cheesecake brownies, cinnamon rolls, and tons of unique vegan desserts you won’t find anywhere else in the city. Take a box of sweet treats to go, or stay awhile and explore the food hall and outdoor beer garden for a chill and casual date night.
Baked by Melissa
Multiple Locations
Baked By Melissa first started selling cupcakes out of a pick-up window in SoHo following the financial recession of 2008. Fast forward to 2020, and this shop is now the official cupcake of the New York Yankees and has been called a “Cupcake Empire” by O, Oprah Magazine. Specializing in miniature cupcakes, Baked By Melissa debuted their line of vegan bite-sized cupcakes in 2019 and have been expanding it ever since. This Valentine’s Day, they will be offering 100% plant-based gift boxes and bundles with six different flavor options, including vegan chocolate dragon fruit and vegan maple cinnamon bun. You can purchase these at one of their many locations throughout the city, or have them delivered straight to your or your Valentine’s doorstep! Order today to schedule delivery for the 14th!
Dunwell Donuts
Multiple Locations
For the chocolate-and-cupcake-averse, check out Dunwell Donuts for your Valentine’s Day needs. Dunwell, an all-vegan donut shop, features an amazing selection of traditional donuts every day, including glazed, strawberry sprinkle, and blueberry donuts. They also serve up a rotating selection of unconventional donuts daily—some recent inventions include a strawberry pecan pie & fruity pebbles donut, as well as an almond joy donut. Their cream or jelly-filled donuts are also extraordinary—we love the PB&J! Come early to take your pick of the daily selection, and build the perfect mix of donuts to enjoy with a loved one (or all by yourself)!
Brooklyn Whiskers Bakery
Multiple Locations
Brooklyn Whiskers, is an all-vegan bakery that specializes in wholesale distribution. Luckily for us New Yorkers, they also operate two cafés in Brooklyn with coffee, tea, small bites, big bites, and lots of vegan sweet treats. Their pastry menu has varying daily options, but includes croissants, a fruit Danish, muffins, scones, cinnamon rolls, and much more. Their pain au chocolate is absolutely divine. If you’re looking for something more personalized, Brooklyn Whiskers also accepts custom cake and cupcake orders in a variety of unique flavors like chocolate salted caramel and coconut tres leches. Stop by Brooklyn Whiskers for a sweet vegan Valentine’s Day breakfast and make sure to take some pastries for the road.
RELATED: 5 Places to Celebrate Valentine's Day in NYC
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