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Native Foods Cafe
Native Foods Cafe
Photo: Facebook

Guide: Vegan Sweets of Chicago

by Ashley Gilday
2 comments / new
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Native Foods Cafe
| Photo: Facebook
by Ashley Gilday
2 comments / new

What's more nostalgic then a sprinkle-coated doughnut or a good old-fashioned milk shake? Vegans (or lactose intolerant folk) have no fear. Blogger Ashley Gilday ate her way around Chicago in search of some of the tastiest vegan treats Chicago has to offer.

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Fritz Pastry

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Doughnuts are taking the spotlight on menus across the nation and Chicago is no exception. Fritz, a cute little café that spins old school records, offers freshly fried vegan doughnuts served with the hole on top, that are large and in charge. Head baker Jaime Podgorny also whips up a jumbo “pop tart” filled with house-made jams.

1408 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 857-2989
(773) 857-2989

Native Foods Café

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An in-house baker visits each of the 3 busy Chicago locations twice a week to craft signature vegan desserts that offer diners comfort and satisfaction. Try their spring specials; Oatmeal Cream Pie and Strawberry Shortcake Parfait for a real cruelty free treat.

1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-8480
(773) 489-8480

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Mana Food Bar

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Sexy and sleek, Mana Food bar makes killer house-made sorbets that burst with flavor. Varieties include coconut-pineapple, chocolate-coffee and avocado-citrus. Enjoy a dish with all three on their front patio, if the weather ever stays consistent.

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-1742
(773) 342-1742

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Jaafer Sweets

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Few people may be privy to the vegan baklava and other select dairy and honey-free Middle Eastern pastries at Jaafer Sweets in Albany Park. Owner Hannah Moses is very selective of her ingredients, using quality products without preservatives. The traditional Vegan baklava and dark chocolate baklava are not to be missed.

4825 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-3933
(773) 463-3933

Chicago Diner

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Dairy-free shakes with flavors like Cookie Dough and Lucky Leprechaun Mint are a vegan’s (or lactose intolerant's) dream come true. Their in-house bakery whips up dairy and egg-free cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes and “cheezcakes” for diners to enjoy. Be sure to check out their new Logan Square location, which opened this year.

3411 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6696
(773) 935-6696

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Borrowed Earth Cafe

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Raw vegan in Downers Grove? Yes, and it is intense. With nothing cooked over 105 degrees, you may wonder how they make a great dessert. But they manage to pull it off with flying colors. The house-made “berry cheesecake” made from various nut milks is creamy and memorable.

970 Warren Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-795-1729
630-795-1729

Sweet Cakes Bakery

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A cozy little bakery in Ukrainian Village, Sweet Cakes offers roughly 30 percent of their daily fresh baked goods in a vegan format. Try their vegan buttercream icing on their mini-cakes for a special occasion. Guaranteed you will not miss the dairy.

901 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(402) 201-9059
(402) 201-9059

Tom & Wendee's Homemade Italian Ice

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22 years in the making, yet the owner Wendee may still greet you from behind the counter display of their 16 colorful varieties of dairy-free sorbet. All hand-made in the back of their shop, the vanilla and chocolate are so creamy you may ask to see the ingredients.

1136 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-2885
(773) 327-2885

Swim Café

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Owners Karen and Debra Gerod got it right with the house-made vegan treats on their eclectic café's menu. Stop in for the raspberry oat bar, iced almond loaf, or vanilla cream-filled whoopee pie and stay for the free Wi-Fi and vegan smoothies galore.

1357 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 492-8600
(312) 492-8600

Quesadilla La Reyna Del Sur

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This BYO Mexican vegetarian spot on Western Avenue makes a few signature vegan desserts in-house. With a variety of rich cupcakes, including flavors like mojito, coconut, chocolate, banana and a cheese-less cheesecake, you really can’t go wrong.

2235 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 235-8807
(773) 235-8807

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Hilary's Cookies

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While not a vegan herself, owner and founder Hilary Black makes one mean Vegan cookie. There are at least five different vegan selections and vegan “granola bites" displayed in giant cookie jars in her Lincoln Square bake shop. The Chocolate walnut chunk and chocolate peanut butter are standouts, take a trip up north or stop into your local Whole Foods to try them.

4917 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(312) 285-5055
(312) 285-5055

Karyn's On Green

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Each Karyn's location makes scratch desserts. Founder Karyn Calabrese supports a local bee farm in Michigan so not all desserts are up to strict vegan standards. However, if you can get past the bee thing, go to Karyn’s Raw for the tiramisu and the adjoining Fresh Corner for a wide variety of desserts to go, Karyn’s Cooked for the coconut cream pie, and Karyn’s on Green for the blueberry jam bar with vanilla ice cream.

130 S Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-6155
(312) 226-6155

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Fritz Pastry

1408 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614

Doughnuts are taking the spotlight on menus across the nation and Chicago is no exception. Fritz, a cute little café that spins old school records, offers freshly fried vegan doughnuts served with the hole on top, that are large and in charge. Head baker Jaime Podgorny also whips up a jumbo “pop tart” filled with house-made jams.

1408 W Diversey Pkwy, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 857-2989
(773) 857-2989

Native Foods Café

1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

An in-house baker visits each of the 3 busy Chicago locations twice a week to craft signature vegan desserts that offer diners comfort and satisfaction. Try their spring specials; Oatmeal Cream Pie and Strawberry Shortcake Parfait for a real cruelty free treat.

1484 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 489-8480
(773) 489-8480

Mana Food Bar

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622

Sexy and sleek, Mana Food bar makes killer house-made sorbets that burst with flavor. Varieties include coconut-pineapple, chocolate-coffee and avocado-citrus. Enjoy a dish with all three on their front patio, if the weather ever stays consistent.

1742 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60622
(773) 342-1742
(773) 342-1742

Jaafer Sweets

4825 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Few people may be privy to the vegan baklava and other select dairy and honey-free Middle Eastern pastries at Jaafer Sweets in Albany Park. Owner Hannah Moses is very selective of her ingredients, using quality products without preservatives. The traditional Vegan baklava and dark chocolate baklava are not to be missed.

4825 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(773) 463-3933
(773) 463-3933

Chicago Diner

3411 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657

Dairy-free shakes with flavors like Cookie Dough and Lucky Leprechaun Mint are a vegan’s (or lactose intolerant's) dream come true. Their in-house bakery whips up dairy and egg-free cakes, cookies, muffins, cupcakes and “cheezcakes” for diners to enjoy. Be sure to check out their new Logan Square location, which opened this year.

3411 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60657
(773) 935-6696
(773) 935-6696

Borrowed Earth Cafe

970 Warren Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515

Raw vegan in Downers Grove? Yes, and it is intense. With nothing cooked over 105 degrees, you may wonder how they make a great dessert. But they manage to pull it off with flying colors. The house-made “berry cheesecake” made from various nut milks is creamy and memorable.

970 Warren Ave, Downers Grove, IL 60515
630-795-1729
630-795-1729

Sweet Cakes Bakery

901 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

A cozy little bakery in Ukrainian Village, Sweet Cakes offers roughly 30 percent of their daily fresh baked goods in a vegan format. Try their vegan buttercream icing on their mini-cakes for a special occasion. Guaranteed you will not miss the dairy.

901 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(402) 201-9059
(402) 201-9059

Tom & Wendee's Homemade Italian Ice

1136 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614

22 years in the making, yet the owner Wendee may still greet you from behind the counter display of their 16 colorful varieties of dairy-free sorbet. All hand-made in the back of their shop, the vanilla and chocolate are so creamy you may ask to see the ingredients.

1136 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 327-2885
(773) 327-2885

Swim Café

1357 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Owners Karen and Debra Gerod got it right with the house-made vegan treats on their eclectic café's menu. Stop in for the raspberry oat bar, iced almond loaf, or vanilla cream-filled whoopee pie and stay for the free Wi-Fi and vegan smoothies galore.

1357 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
(312) 492-8600
(312) 492-8600

Quesadilla La Reyna Del Sur

2235 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

This BYO Mexican vegetarian spot on Western Avenue makes a few signature vegan desserts in-house. With a variety of rich cupcakes, including flavors like mojito, coconut, chocolate, banana and a cheese-less cheesecake, you really can’t go wrong.

2235 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 235-8807
(773) 235-8807

Hilary's Cookies

4917 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

While not a vegan herself, owner and founder Hilary Black makes one mean Vegan cookie. There are at least five different vegan selections and vegan “granola bites" displayed in giant cookie jars in her Lincoln Square bake shop. The Chocolate walnut chunk and chocolate peanut butter are standouts, take a trip up north or stop into your local Whole Foods to try them.

4917 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
(312) 285-5055
(312) 285-5055

Karyn's On Green

130 S Green St, Chicago, IL 60607

Each Karyn's location makes scratch desserts. Founder Karyn Calabrese supports a local bee farm in Michigan so not all desserts are up to strict vegan standards. However, if you can get past the bee thing, go to Karyn’s Raw for the tiramisu and the adjoining Fresh Corner for a wide variety of desserts to go, Karyn’s Cooked for the coconut cream pie, and Karyn’s on Green for the blueberry jam bar with vanilla ice cream.

130 S Green St, Chicago, IL 60607
(312) 226-6155
(312) 226-6155

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