By Bohemian Vegan Kitchen · Published: · Updated: Leave a Comment This post may contain affiliate links.
I’ve thrown a lot of vegan birthday parties over the past decade. Like, A LOT LOT.
And before you think that the party was full of other vegans, think again: all of my guests (other than my husband and kids) have always been non-vegans– so the pressure is on. After all, it’s my party and I’ll “serve vegan” if I want to!
But that means that all of my food has to wow skeptics, taste delicious, and fit the birthday party vibe. Luckily, I always manage to pull off an amazing spread of vegan party food that everyone raves about.
Below, you’ll find some common questions I get on throwing vegan birthday parties, plus an entire menu packed full of vegan recipes for the perfect party bash guests won’t forget.
Jump to:
- What do vegans eat for their birthday, anyway?
- How do you plan a vegan party?
- What kind of snacks can vegans eat?
- List of Vegan Birthday Recipes
- Vegan Birthday Appetizers + Snacks
- Vegan Birthday Mains
- Vegan Birthday Desserts
- Vegan Birthday Cakes
- Pin It!
What do vegans eat for their birthday, anyway?
For those that have never been to a vegan party, the question of “what can vegans eat anyway?” is totally understandable. But before you think you can just grab a veggie tray and call it quits, I encourage you to check out all the fun and easy recipes included in this post (don’t worry, I’ve also listed some grab-and-go items below).
After all, when you are inviting guests into your home, you want to be sure they have a good time and feel welcomed. And serving good food is part of that.
There are many delicious, fun recipes included in this post below. But here are a few more ideas for vegan party food:
- Dips, such as salsa, guacamole, and hummus. Serve with crackers or freshly cut vegetables (not the sad veggie tray packed full of dried carrot sticks and useless ranch)
- Potato chips. Kettle Brand makes a lot of delicious flavored chips that are also naturally vegan, such as Dill Pickle, Backyard BBQ, and Pepperoncini.
- Fresh fruit. Cut up watermelon and pineapple, or serve strawberries and blueberries.
- Imitation meat, such as Beyond burgers and/or brats, Lightlife hot dogs, and Morningstar chicken nuggets. There are a lot of vegan imitation meats on the market, which can make your birthday party easier for vegans and non-vegans. Just be sure to cook the imitation meat separately (if you’re also cooking real meat). For a complete run-down on vegan meats, check out this guide.
- Fries or tater tots. Pop these in the air fryer for an easy + fast appetizer.
- Salads. Try a delicious pasta salad or a classic garden salad on the side.
- Cake and desserts. The one thing you need at any birthday party for a vegan? CAKE. Don’t assume that vegans (or those avoiding dairy and/or eggs) don’t want treats at a birthday party– most likely they do but don’t want to be a bother.
The main thing to remember, especially when serving both vegans and non-vegans, is to have a healthy balance for guests. If you have an amazing spread of filling, non-vegan food, yet only have raw vegetables and fruit for the vegan crowd, the balance is out of whack.
Aim for a good variety, and when in doubt, carbs make people happy.
Tip for fellow vegans: Just as a vegan would want to feel accommodated at a non-vegan party, for our own parties, we need to remember to extend the same courtesy to non-vegan guests. Serving foods that are more familiar, accidently vegan, and do not contain “weird ingredients” can help make the party fun and enjoyable for all.
How do you plan a vegan party?
Planning a vegan party is just as easy as planning a non-vegan party! Here are some tips to get you started though:
- Reach out to any guests with dietary preferences or allergies, and ask if there is anything extra you can provide at the party. For parties with multiple allergies to accommodate, ask everyone to bring a dish and label it with the ingredients.
- Provide cake or dessert options for all. It’s a real bummer when you get invited to a party and you can’t have the best thing (the cake!). Having options for people is the best way to please guests and make everyone feel loved. Need help? Be sure to check out my classic chocolate vegan birthday cake and these allergy free vanilla cupcakes. I’ve also provided plenty of dessert options below.
- If catering the event, do some research beforehand to see what vegan options you can provide– then present this information to your vegan guests before the placing the order. That way they can opt in, or make the decision to bring something for themselves if this is the direction you want to go. Restaurants such as Chipotle, Moes, and Mellow Mushroom all have vegan options that can easily be added onto any catering order.
- Think drinks. Serve a variety of soda, teas, or juice. And please be sure to always have water for guests who don’t want excess sugar for health reasons.
- Plan your party as usual, and have a blast! Order decorations, grab some balloons, pick out a good soundtrack and party like it’s 1999 baby.
What kind of snacks can vegans eat?
Still stuck on store-bought vegan snacks? Purchasing snacks doesn’t have to be hard–the main thing to remember when buying snacks for vegans is to check the ingredients list for animal products.
Yes, reading the label in the grocery aisle isn’t always second nature to most non-vegans. But pull out your reading glasses and check for the following items to avoid:
- No dairy ingredients, such as milk or cheese
- No eggs
- No gelatin
- No meat flavoring
- No confectioners glaze (made from bug secretions, and found in sprinkles/candy)
Many labels will have a list in bold at the bottom of the ingredients list (example: CONTAINS MILK), which makes this step much easier. But I encourage you to double-check the list if you can.
Here are a few ideas for accidently vegan snacks:
- Peanut butter (or other nut butter) and crackers, such as Ritz
- Potato chips, like Lays, Ruffles, or Kettle Brand
- Animal crackers or cookies, such as Oreos, Nature’s Path, or Back to Nature brand
- Clif Bars or Lara bars
- Cracker Jacks
- Popcorn (plain, no butter flavoring)
- Rice cakes
- Saltines or Wheat Thins
List of Vegan Birthday Recipes
Need ideas for your birthday party food spread? Try these delicious vegan recipes and party down.
Vegan Birthday Appetizers + Snacks
Simple Spicy Salsa
This homemade spicy salsa is SO GOOD, it will remind you of chowing down on chips and salsa at your local Mexican restaurant. Only this time, there's no one to stop you from downing the entire bowl before dinner. Easy to make, this salsa takes less than 5 minutes.
Check out this recipe
Smoky Vegan Cheese Ball
When the parties strike, try this easy vegan cheese ball! Combining smoky flavor with delicious cheddar cheese + rolled in pecans and herbs, you’re sure to wow both vegans and non-vegans.
Check out this recipe
Beyond Meat Vegan Meatballs
These baked vegan meatballs are so BEYOND AMAZING, no one will be able to tell the difference! Made using Beyond Beef and chopped spinach, these meatballs are EASY to make and perfect for holidays! Serve with sauce and toothpicks for an easy party appetizer.
Check out this recipe
Easy Ramen Noodle Salad Recipe
This ramen noodle salad is so refreshing! Complete with crunchy ramen noodles, two types of cabbage, green onions, carrots, sunflower seeds, sliced almonds, mandarin oranges, and tossed with delicious homemade dressing, this salad is good any day of the year. Perfect for parties, picnics, or a healthy snack at home.
Check out this recipe
4 Ingredient Healthy Guacamole Recipe
Enjoy delicious homemade healthy guacamole with only 4 main ingredients! Takes only 5 minutes. Serve with your favorite Mexican dish and/or crispy tortilla chips.
Check out this recipe
BBQ & Cranberry Bean Balls
This party food is so good, no one will care it’s vegan. Sweet, tangy, with a hint of smoke and fresh herbs, these BBQ bean balls are naturally vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and can be made from start to finish in less than 30 min.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Birthday Mains
Perfect Bean and Cheese Vegan Chimichangas
You don't have to deep-fry to make perfect vegan chimichangas. This simple recipe uses classic refried beans, dairy-free cheese, and the pan-fry method to get moan-worthy crispy chimichangas with minimal oil. Serve with guacamole and salsa for a healthy alternative!
Check out this recipe
Best Dairy Free Mac and Cheese
Want your mac and cheese but not the dairy? Then try this non-dairy mac and cheese, which gives you all the childhood feels. It's creamy, it's cheesy, and it's easy!
Check out this recipe
Healthy Vegan Greek Bowls
Greek bowls are perfect for parties! Serve buffet-style and let everyone build their own, or mix vegetables and serve dressing and hummus on the side.
Check out this recipe
Beyond Meat Vegan Slaw Dog
For a filling + delicious birthday party favorite, try these vegan slaw dogs, which are made using Beyond Sausage brats. Perfect for non-vegans.
Check out this recipe
Easy Quinoa Vegan Nuggets
Nuggets are here to stay as one of the top kids foods of all time, right next to pizza and hamburgers. Serve your kids healthy quinoa vegan nuggets that are 100% soy-free and gluten-free, while also packing hidden veggies for an added bonus.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Birthday Desserts
Best Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies
Enjoy this classic chocolate chip cookie recipe with a sweet vegan upgrade! Simple to bake, easy substitutions, and no weird ingredients. So good, no one would even know they're vegan if you didn't tell them! Makes approximately 60 mini cookies.
Check out this recipe
Classic Dairy Free Banana Bread
Thisdairy free banana bread recipe is straight forward, easy to make, requires only 8 main ingredients, and is delicious to eat. I’ve served it many times at gatherings and it’s always gone in .5 seconds.
Check out this recipe
Easiest Vegan Chocolate Pie EVER
I guarantee that this will be theeasiest vegan chocolate pieyou’ll ever make in your life, pinky promise. With a 2 INGREDIENT FILLING, all you have to do is melt, chill, and serve.Which makes this pie not only EASY, but FAST to pull together too!
Check out this recipe
Almond Joy Easy Vegan Brownies
In this recipe, I mash up two of my favorite treats: homemade brownies and the flavors of Almond Joy– a candy bar that I loved in my pre-vegan days. This recipe is the perfect dessert to enjoy during the spring holidays, winter holidays, or just Friday nights when you feel that the only remedy is a chocolate one. And did I mention it takes only 10 minutes to make? You’re welcome.
Check out this recipe
Vegan Birthday Cakes
Chocolate Vegan Birthday Cake (Soy-Free, Nut-Free, Gluten-Free Option)
Make your birthday party spectacular with this easy allergy-friendly birthday cake, in chocolate OR vanilla! Completely vegan and void of nuts, this cake can also be made into gluten-free cupcakes (see the substitution section for details). Top with beautiful vegan buttercream for a stunning finish and party like it’s 1999.
Check out this recipe
Amazing Allergy Free Cupcakes
I don’t think there’s a food happier than cupcakes. And when you need cupcakes that are dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and oil-free, these vanilla allergy free cupcakes check all the boxes.
Check out this recipe
Magical Vegan Butterbeer Cupcakes
Enjoy any special occasion and impress muggles with these moan-worthy Harry Potter vegan cupcakes! In honor of the famous wizarding drink, these butterbeer cupcakes are simple to make and do not require any artificial ingredients.
Check out this recipe
Coconut Cupcakes (Vegan)
These coconut cupcakes are so delicious, no one will know they're vegan! Made using creamy coconut milk + topped with smooth coconut frosting, these cupcakes are a snap to make.
Check out this recipe
Pin It!
« Classic Dairy Free Banana Bread
Cauliflower Grits (Low Carb) »
About Bohemian Vegan Kitchen
I believe that wellness starts in your kitchen, but it doesn’t have to be complicated or boring! That's why I'm dedicated to sharing the best vegan comfort food and healthy recipes. Because at the end of the day, you should feel good about what you eat and how you feel, regardless of health restrictions or crazy schedules. Bohemian Vegan Kitchen has been featured by VegNews, Delish, Beyond Meat, MSN, and HuffPost.