Where to buy vegan birthday cakes and treats in the UK
Where to find vegan birthday cakes, cupcakes and party treats in UK supermarkets, plus easy cake mixes and icings that happen to be vegan.
Finding a vegan birthday cake used to mean ordering from a specialist bakery or baking your own. Now most big supermarkets carry at least one, and there are plenty of shop-bought treats to fill out a party table. Here is where to look.
Supermarket cake ranges change often, and stock varies by store size. Use the supermarket's app or website to check what your local branch has before you make a special trip.
1. Supermarket own-brand plant-based ranges
Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco all have their own plant-based ranges, and these are the first place to look for a celebration cake. Look in the bakery aisle and the chilled desserts section, as vegan cakes are often kept apart from the main cake display. Asda's vegan chocolate cake has been a regular in our listings.
2. Specialist brands stocked in supermarkets
Two brands to look out for:
- OGGS make egg-free cakes, cupcakes and celebration cakes using aquafaba. You will find them in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Waitrose.
- Just Love Food Company make vegan chocolate and vanilla cakes that are also free from the major allergens, which is handy if you are feeding a mixed group of children. They are stocked in Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's and Ocado.
3. Bake it yourself with a packet mix
Several big-brand cake mixes have been accidentally vegan for years: the egg and butter are added at home, so you can swap them. Instead of each egg, use 3 tablespoons of aquafaba (the water from a tin of chickpeas) or 60g of unsweetened apple sauce, and use dairy-free spread in place of butter. Many ready-made icings and frostings are vegan too.
4. Party table treats
For a buffet or goody bags, tiffin, rocky road and brownies are easy wins, along with plenty of accidentally vegan sweets and biscuits.
Browse more in baked treats, sweets and chocolate and baking and desserts.
Ordering a cake from a bakery
Many independent bakeries will make a vegan celebration cake if you ask, often with a week's notice. When you order, ask about the sponge, the buttercream, the decorations and any glaze, since sprinkles and shiny coatings can contain shellac or gelatine.