If you’ve got a sweet tooth and a love for plant-based treats, Chicago has you covered! I’ve spent years tracking down the best vegan bakeries in Chicago, and let me tell you — the Windy City’s vegan dessert scene is absolutely incredible.
Whether you’re fully vegan, dairy-free, or just curious about plant-based pastries, these bakeries prove that you don’t have to sacrifice flavor for your values. From showstopping birthday cakes to perfectly glazed donuts, here are my favorite spots for vegan baked goods in Chicago.
100% Vegan Bakeries in Chicago
These bakeries are completely plant-based — everything on the menu is vegan, so you can order with confidence!
Pie, Pie My Darling — Humboldt Park
📍 2636 W Chicago Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
If you need a showstopping vegan cake for a birthday, wedding, or just because — this is THE place. Pie, Pie My Darling has been voted Best Vegan Bakery in America by VegOut Magazine, and one bite of their cakes and you’ll understand why.
Owner Nikki started this woman-owned bakery baking pies at local markets over 10 years ago, then fell head-over-heels for cake decorating. Now her stunning creations go viral on Instagram regularly. The Cookie Monster cake (vanilla cake filled with mini chocolate chips, covered in brown sugar cookie dough buttercream) is legendary, and the S’mores cake with toasted marshmallows is pure heaven.
Pro tip: The bakery is open for walk-in treats on Fridays and Saturdays only. Can’t make it? You can grab slices of their monthly cake flavor at Liberation Kitchen, The Handlebar, Paulie Gees, and Kale My Name around the city.
Liberation Kitchen — West Town
📍 2054 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Jam-filled, cookie dough-topped, or perfectly glazed — what’s your donut style? Liberation Kitchen (formerly Liberation Donuts) serves up some of the most creative vegan donuts in Chicago. The strawberry cream-filled donut is a personal favorite, but honestly, you can’t go wrong here.
Beyond donuts, they’ve got chewy chocolate chip cookies, creamy soft serve ice cream, and milkshakes that rival any dairy version. They also carry slices of Pie, Pie My Darling cakes — so you can knock out two amazing bakeries in one stop!
The Vulgar Vegan — Garfield Park
📍 135 N. Kedzie Avenue, Unit D-124, Chicago, IL 60612
Their motto says it all: “Life is short — eat the f*cking cupcake!” This woman-owned vegan bakery creates absolutely stunning cupcakes in creative flavors that change regularly. Find them at local farmers markets and pop-up events around Chicago, or place a pre-order for pickup.
Customers rave that these are some of the best cupcakes they’ve ever had — vegan or not. They also roast specialty-grade coffee, because a great cupcake deserves a great cup of coffee.
BettyBOT Shop — South Shore
📍 7100 S South Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60649
Here’s a gem for anyone who needs both vegan AND gluten-free options! BettyBOT Shop in South Shore creates Old Fashioned glazed donuts, fudgy cakes, chocolate mousse tarts, and sourdough cinnamon rolls — all completely vegan and gluten-free.
Their peanut butter sandwich cookies are a must-try, especially if you grew up loving Nutter Butters. You can also find their treats at the 61st Street Farmers Market on Saturdays and Logan Street Farmers Market on Sundays.
Cinnaholic — Multiple Locations
Get ready for cinnamon roll heaven! Cinnaholic is a 100% vegan cinnamon roll franchise with multiple Chicago locations. Whether you want a traditional fluffy roll with cream cheese frosting or something loaded with cookie dough, chocolate chips, and marshmallows — they’ve got you covered.
Beyond rolls, they also serve cookies, brownies, and cookie dough sundaes. It’s the perfect spot when you’re craving something warm, gooey, and completely plant-based.
Chicago Bakeries with Great Vegan Options
These spots aren’t 100% vegan, but they’ve made a real commitment to plant-based options — no hockey puck vegan cupcakes here!
Sweet Mandy B’s — Lincoln Park & Streeterville
📍 1208 W Webster Ave, Chicago, IL 60614
📍 254 E Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60611
This beloved Chicago bakery has been making amazing vegan vanilla and chocolate cupcakes with dreamy vegan buttercream frosting for years. I discovered them ages ago and keep coming back — the texture is perfect and the frosting is genuinely delicious.
You can also order small vegan cakes with 4-5 days notice for special occasions. The Lincoln Park location is the original, but the Streeterville shop is convenient if you’re exploring downtown or the Magnificent Mile.
Defloured: A Gluten-Free Bakery — Andersonville
📍 1477 W Balmoral Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
This cheerful Andersonville bakery specializes in gluten-free treats, and many of their options are vegan too! You’ll find a rotating assortment of breads, cakes, bars, and fun treats like oatmeal cream pies and ginger molasses cookies.
The oatmeal cream pie is a decadent twist on the Little Debbie classic, and the chocolate whoopie pies are incredible. You’ll also spot their packaged goods at stores around Chicago, but the storefront has the best selection.
The Chicago Diner — Lakeview
📍 3411 N. Halsted St., Chicago, IL 60657
This legendary vegan diner has been “meat-free since ’83” and their dessert game is just as strong as their famous comfort food. The cinnamon carrot cake with vegan cream cheese frosting is incredible, and their gooey cinnamon rolls are worth the visit alone.
Don’t skip their milkshakes — they’re hand-scooped and blended to order. The Cookie Dough Peanut Butter shake might be the best milkshake I’ve ever had, vegan or otherwise. (Note: The Logan Square location recently closed, but the Lakeview original is still going strong!)
West Town Bakery — Multiple Locations
West Town Bakery is a Chicago institution with multiple locations, and they’ve put real effort into their vegan options. Their vegan cupcakes are smooth without being oily (a common problem in vegan baking), and the vegan cakeballs are absolutely addictive.
You’ll also find vegan chocolate and banana nut muffins for breakfast. The River North location is my go-to when I’m in that area.
Panadería Nuevo Leon — Pilsen
📍 1634 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608
Traditional Mexican pan dulce is usually not vegan-friendly, but this family-run Pilsen bakery has over 10 vegan options! Try the colorful conchas (sweet bread), the flaky palotiado (Mexican elephant ear), or the spicy-sweet marranito cookies shaped like little pigs.
The cutest part? They mark their vegan items with a little “v” so you know exactly what’s plant-based. It’s a perfect stop if you’re exploring the vibrant Pilsen neighborhood.
Bonus: Best Vegan Ice Cream in Chicago
Because sometimes you need ice cream with your cake!
Vaca’s Creamery (Wicker Park & Lincoln Square) — Chicago’s first vegan soft-serve shop with over-the-top sundaes and hand-mixed milkshakes. The molten chocolate cake sundae is unreal.
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream (Multiple locations) — This popular ice cream chain always has creative vegan flavors like Banana Cream Pudding and Dark Chocolate Truffle.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: Pie, Pie My Darling in Humboldt Park is widely considered the best vegan bakery in Chicago, having been voted Best Vegan Bakery in America by VegOut Magazine. They specialize in stunning custom cakes and creative flavors like Cookie Monster and S’mores.
A: Yes! Chicago has several 100% vegan bakeries including Pie, Pie My Darling, Liberation Kitchen, The Vulgar Vegan, BettyBOT Shop, and Cinnaholic. These bakeries offer completely plant-based menus with no animal products.
A: The best vegan cupcakes in Chicago can be found at Sweet Mandy B’s (Lincoln Park and Streeterville), The Vulgar Vegan, West Town Bakery, and Pie, Pie My Darling. Sweet Mandy B’s offers vegan vanilla and chocolate cupcakes daily.
A: Yes! BettyBOT Shop in South Shore is both fully vegan and gluten-free. Defloured Bakery in Andersonville specializes in gluten-free treats with many vegan options. Mindful Baking also offers gluten-free vegan items at pop-up events and farmers markets.
A: Pie, Pie My Darling is the top choice for custom vegan birthday cakes in Chicago. Sweet Mandy B’s also takes vegan cake orders with 4-5 days notice. Both offer stunning, delicious options for special occasions.