Hosting Veganuary Guests? Dessert Ideas Everyone at the Table Can Enjoy

You’ve cleaned the house, set the table, and planned the menu. Then comes the text:

“Hey! Just a heads up—I’m doing Veganuary this year. Also trying to avoid dairy and eggs if possible.”

Now you’re staring at your grocery list wondering if you have to cook two separate meals… and what on earth you’re going to do about dessert.

Take a breath. You don’t need a culinary degree or a second fridge to host Veganuary guests. You just need a few smart swaps—and one simple strategy:

Make dessert the easiest thing in the room.

Here’s how to host Veganuary guests (and anyone with dairy, egg, or nut allergies) so that everyone at the table can enjoy dessert without stress.

Start with what you already cook well

You do not need a brand-new menu just because someone is trying Veganuary.

Look at what you already make and ask, “Can I tweak this?”

For example:

  • Pasta night: Skip the meat sauce and go with marinara, roasted vegetables, and garlic bread made with plant-based butter.
  • Taco bar: Offer beans or lentils as a protein option, along with all the usual toppings—salsa, lettuce, pico, guacamole.
  • Chili and cornbread: Make a big pot of bean and veggie chili and serve it with dairy-free cornbread.

If the idea of going fully vegan for every course feels overwhelming, aim for Meatless Monday style: make one or two parts of the meal plant-based, and use them generously.

Your guest will notice the effort, not the imperfections.

Make dessert your most inclusive move

Dessert is where people with allergies or dietary needs often get left out. That’s why it’s the best place to be intentional.

Instead of trying to juggle multiple options:

  • Choose one dessert that everyone can eat—vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free.
  • Serve it as the main event, not the “special” plate quietly brought out from the fridge.

At Southern Roots Vegan Bakery, every donut, cookie, and cake is:

  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Nut-free
  • Vegan

That means your Veganuary guest, your friend with a nut allergy, your cousin who’s lactose intolerant, and your “I’ll eat anything” uncle can all say yes to the same dessert.

It’s one decision that solves problems for multiple people at once.

Donuts for casual hangouts and game nights

If your gathering is more board games and couches than place cards and chargers, donuts are your best friend.

They’re:

  • Easy to grab between rounds of a game.
  • Fun to stack on a plate or cake stand.
  • Great for all ages, from kids to grandparents.

Red Velvet Cake Donuts feel especially right in January and February—rich, colorful, and just a little dramatic on the plate.

Set out a mix of flavors so everyone can claim their favorite, and let people be surprised when they learn they’re vegan and allergy-friendly.

Cookies for “bring a plate” gatherings

Potlucks and “can you bring dessert?” invites are where Veganuary guests often end up nibbling the fruit tray.

Change that by showing up with cookies that everyone can enjoy.

Soft-baked cookies:

  • Travel well.
  • Work at room temperature.
  • Are easy to arrange on a platter or pass around the room.

They’re also ideal when you don’t know everyone’s dietary needs. A vegan, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free cookie plate just quietly takes care of more people.

Cakes for birthdays, anniversaries, and “big moment” dinners

Sometimes the night calls for a real cake moment.

If you’re hosting a birthday or anniversary during Veganuary, or you just want a “wow” dessert, a Naked Cake is right on time:

Serve generous slices and let guests top theirs with fresh berries or a drizzle of sauce if they like. The point is not to announce “This is a vegan cake!” but to see people going back for seconds before they ever ask about ingredients.

How to talk about the menu without making it awkward

A lot of hosts worry about saying the wrong thing. Keep it simple and generous.

When you invite people, you can say:

  • “We’re trying a few plant-based dishes this month—if you have allergies, let me know so I can plan dessert.”
  • “We’re doing a mostly Veganuary dinner, but the goal is good food and everyone feeling welcome.”

When dessert comes out:

  • “Everything on this dessert tray is dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free, so everyone can dig in.”

You don’t need a speech. Just a clear, warm heads-up.

Hosting Veganuary guests doesn’t have to be hard

Here’s the real secret: you don’t have to be perfect. You just have to care enough to plan a little.

  • Keep the main meal simple and tweak what you already make.
  • Lean on a fully vegan, allergy-friendly dessert so nobody is left out.
  • Let people experience how good plant-based baking can be.

If you’re hosting this Veganuary, let dessert be the easy part.

Order donuts, cookies, or cake from Southern Roots Vegan Bakery—shipped nationwide or delivered locally in San Antonio—and know that everyone at your table can say yes to dessert.

Today, our menu is built around the treats people reach for first and reorder again.

Cake Donuts

Cookies

Naked Cakes

Dense, hearty layers with homemade buttercream, in flavors like:

Pies (local only)

 

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