Cookies and Other Sweets to Brighten Your Sunday

Before I start assaulting your senses with this wonderfully sugary overload, let me warn you that these are all tester recipes. No recipes and instant gratification this time around! But the good news is that all of these will be coming your way in amazing cookbooks over the next year or so.

Fruit Tarts

From Urban Vegan's 250 Recipes , these have a light and delicious filling that you can top with whatever fruit you like. You know how these always look so good in the bakeries (where you know they aren't vegan) but never tasted as good as they looked (when you weren't vegan)? These are the answer to that.

Cranberry Upside Down Cake

We had this over Thanksgiving, if I remember correctly. While my timing might be off, my tastebuds aren't. These was a terrific cake with great texture and good balance between tart and sweet. Also from Urban Vegan's 250 Recipes.

Big Fat Rice Krispy Bars

These are simple, home-style perfection in bar form. Sweet, crunchy and even better than you remembered when they were made with marshmallows. These are from Terry and Isa's upcoming cookie book, titled Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar.

21st Century Carob Cookies

Yep. I was one of those 1980's new agey, natural foodie types. You don't need me to tell you how far veganism has come from those rustic roots. Carob cookies were never like this...here they are, reaching all new heights. This one is from Terry and Isa's cookie book, too.

Man-size Chocolate Chip Cookies

My family were always bakers, never cooks. In fact, we specialized in cookies. So my bar is set extremely high for chocolate chip cookies. Where did that saying come from anyway? I like a bit of crunch on the outside, but a soft not-quite-vanillay inside. They can't be too sweet either. These are just right. This tester is from Robin Robertson.

As you can see, it's going to be another great year to be vegan!