If you thought that being vegan was all about wheatgrass juices and waving goodbye to your favourite baked goods, Happy Zoe is here to tell you to think again.
Veganising traditional bakery delicacies isn’t as niche as it once was. With plant-based patisseries springing up in Paris, it’s not a huge shock that New York, trend leader in so many ways, is also offering access to baked perfection with an animal-free twist.
The Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery has fast become a favourite for New Yorkers and tourists alike, thanks to the adventurous diversity of products available. There’s no compromise in terms of aesthetics, taste or satisfaction and the company leads with its ethics too. Promising that Happy Zoe cares about its customers, their health, animals and the planet too, buying that slice of cake comes with an extra dollop of goodness. The joy of knowing you’re supporting good people on a laudable mission? That is the proverbial (and sometimes literal, here) cherry on the cake.
What does Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery actually sell?
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The short answer is: everything and anything delicious. The longer answer might surprise you, as there are savoury dishes, new developments and classic bakery favourites all ready to buy. What’s more, for those not in Brooklyn but wanting a slice of the pie (or cake, doughnut, etc.), there is an option to have something tasty shipped via a USPS priority service.
Cakes: By the slice or whole, Happy Zoe offers a vast selection of cakes for all occasions. Topped with doughnuts, vegan chocolate bars, fresh fruit and nuts or sprinkles, there’s a celebration cake for everyone here. Even the gluten-free collective and cheesecake fans too.
Doughnuts: You might think you’ve eaten decadent doughnuts before. Ha! Until you’ve polished off a gluten-free vanilla, dark chocolate, lavender and raspberry variety from Happy Zoe, you might as well have never even heard the word.
Cookies: Good vegan cookies are hard to come by. Often literally, as the ability to get the perfect soft chew into every bit seems incredibly difficult. Knowing that one giant cookie simply won’t do, the Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery offers stacks of 10. Classic chocolate varieties sit next to zingy lemon and pistachio, making choosing almost impossible.
Read our review of the UK’s vegan Floozie Cookie bar.
Buns: Sticky buns and cinnamon rolls. Need we say more? Oh. Maybe we should add in cannolis here too. Yes, you read that right. Cream-filled, rolled pieces of heaven that Nonna would love.
Savouries: Sandwiches (now with a proprietary seitan), pierogies and pizza rolls are all lunchtime favourites. Fully loaded and bigger than you think you can manage, they are all so tasty, you just have to deal with the tighter waistband.
Where is the bakery?
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Found on B Nassau Ave in Brooklyn, the shop has an unassuming front with pictures of incredible baked treats filling the windows. The team inside are friendly, dedicated, vegan and ready to welcome anybody who wants a good feed. You don’t have to be plant-based to feel welcome here, as the NY charm really resonates and makes you part of the family the second you step through the door.
If it’s delicious, impossible to imagine being veganised or something you’re craving from your childhood, there’s a good chance that the Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery can, does or will make it for you.
