Boost Veganuary Sales with Vegan Cakes and Traybakes
- Jan 7
- 4 min read
January is the perfect time to shine a spotlight on plant-based baking, whether you’re catering for Veganuary menus or simply expanding your offering of vegan cakes and traybakes.
At Truly Treats, we believe vegan bakes can be every bit as indulgent, flavour-packed and satisfying as traditional recipes – especially when they’re made with quality ingredients and the right techniques.
From simple swaps to ready-made vegan cakes and traybakes, this guide has some ideas to help you make the most of Veganuary, whether you’re baking from scratch or looking to add proven plant-based products to your range.
Below are our top tips for vegan baking, along with some of our most popular Truly Treats vegan cakes and traybakes to inspire menus, counters and social posts this January.
Top Tips for Successful Vegan Baking
Embrace simple substitutions Most classic cake and traybake recipes can be adapted with straightforward plant-based swaps. This makes it easier than ever to create vegan cakes and traybakes without overcomplicating your process.
Get the moisture right Plant-based ingredients behave slightly differently to dairy and eggs. Adding moisture through ingredients like apple sauce, plant-based yoghurt or extra plant milk helps vegan bakes stay soft, rich and well-textured.
Don’t skip the tasting Vegan butters, chocolates and sugars can vary in sweetness and flavour. Always taste your mix before baking to ensure your vegan cakes and traybakes deliver the same indulgence customers expect.
Cool before cutting Many vegan bakery products firm up as they cool. Allowing them to rest before slicing helps achieve clean cuts and a better final presentation.
Vegan Swaps for Reliable Results
Vegan baking doesn’t require specialist ingredients. Many excellent vegan cakes and traybakes are made using everyday supermarket staples.
Egg replacements
Ground flaxseed (linseed)
Mix 1 tbsp ground flaxseed with 2.5 tbsp water and leave for 5 minutes.
Best for brownies, cookies and traybakes.
Mashed ripe banana
Naturally sweet and moist. Best for loaf cakes, muffins and banana bread.
Plant-based yoghurt (soya or coconut)
Use 3 tbsp per egg. Best for sponge-style vegan cakes.
Aquafaba (chickpea water)
3 tbsp equals 1 egg. Ideal for lighter vegan cakes and airy bakes.
Butter alternatives
For consistent vegan cakes and traybakes, we recommend:
Vegan block butter rather than spread, as it behaves most like dairy butter.
Coconut oil for brownies, flapjacks and no-bake traybakes.
Vegetable or sunflower oil for moist sponge-style vegan cakes.
Top tip: Vegan spreads are often too soft for baking. Block butter gives a better crumb and structure, especially in layered vegan cakes.
Milk and cream swaps
All widely available in UK supermarkets:
Oat milk – creamy and neutral, a bakery favourite.
Soya milk – closest to dairy in baking performance.
Almond milk – lighter with subtle sweetness.
Coconut cream – ideal for ganache and vegan cake frostings.
Chocolate and sweet extras
Dairy-free dark chocolate (70%+ is often vegan, but always check labels)
Vegan chocolate chips
Golden syrup or maple syrup for moisture and sweetness
Truly Treats Vegan Cakes and Traybakes for Veganuary
Veganuary is the perfect opportunity to showcase just how appealing vegan cakes and traybakes can be. Our plant-based range is designed for foodservice, offering consistency, flavour and strong visual appeal without compromise. Many of our vegan bakes are award-winning!
Standout vegan bakery products from the Truly Treats range include:
An award-winning layered cake with Biscoff biscuit and smooth vegan frosting – a true centrepiece among vegan cakes.
Pre-cut and ready to serve, this is a reliable favourite for counters looking for standout vegan traybakes.
A tiffin-style traybake combining Biscoff biscuit, chocolate and flavour – ideal for grab-and-go vegan traybakes.
A crowd-pleasing option that works perfectly as part of a varied vegan cakes and traybakes offering. Made with Oreo cookies to please the crowds.
A fruity, award-winning, nostalgic vegan traybake that pairs perfectly with tea or coffee.
An award-winning chewy, chocolatey hybrid bake that’s popular with customers seeking indulgent vegan traybakes.
Simple, versatile and ideal for vegan afternoon teas.
An award-winning, rich cake that proves vegan cakes can be just as indulgent as classic chocolate favourites.
Vegan Bakery in Your Cafe
Veganuary is also a great opportunity for cafés to refresh displays and spark new conversations with customers. Simple touches like clear Veganuary signage, highlighting vegan cakes and traybakes on menus, or creating a dedicated plant-based counter section can help vegan options stand out and feel intentional.
Pairing vegan bakes with popular hot drinks, offering limited-time Veganuary bundles, or using small chalkboard messages to explain flavours can encourage customers who might not usually choose vegan to give them a try.
By promoting vegan products confidently and visibly throughout January, cafés can attract new customers, increase impulse purchases and show they’re keeping pace with changing customer preferences.
Our Final Thoughts for Veganuary
Veganuary is a valuable opportunity to show that vegan cakes and traybakes can be inclusive, indulgent and commercially successful. With the right swaps or a trusted ready-made range, plant-based baking can sit confidently alongside traditional favourites.
From rich chocolate cakes to pre-cut vegan traybakes and classic scones, the Truly Treats vegan range makes it easy to deliver flavour, consistency and choice this Veganuary and beyond.
