TL;DR
Best vegan bakeries in Minneapolis: Hark! Cafe (North Loop — fully vegan AND gluten-free, Minneapolis's only dual-certified bakery), Vegan East Bakery (Longfellow — 100% vegan, legendary cinnamon rolls + custom cakes), Lutunji's Palate (Elliot Park — 100% vegan soul food bakery, peach cobbler + Oreo cheezecake), Salty Tart (Midtown Global Market — vegan-friendly, rotating scones + seasonal galettes), Glam Doll Donuts (Lyn-Lake — punk-rock donuts with daily vegan flavors), French Meadow Bakery (Lyn-Lake — clearly labeled vegan pastries + sourdough since 1985), Sift Gluten Free (Longfellow — dedicated GF facility, excellent vegan cinnamon rolls + donuts).
Best Vegan Bakeries in Minneapolis (2026)
Good vegan baked goods are harder to find than good vegan food. Savory cooking can hide a lot of substitutions. Baking can't. Butter, eggs, and dairy aren't just ingredients — they're structure, moisture, and fat that hold the whole thing together. Getting a cinnamon roll or a croissant right without any of them takes real skill.
Minneapolis has figured it out. Between a dedicated 100% vegan and gluten-free bakery in the North Loop, a Longfellow shop turning out legendary cinnamon rolls and showstopper custom cakes, a soul food baker in Elliot Park with a following for her peach cobbler and cashew cheezecake, and a punk-rock donut shop where the vegan flavors go fast on Saturday mornings — this city punches well above its weight for plant-based baked goods.
This guide covers every dedicated vegan bakery in Minneapolis plus the best vegan-friendly spots where the options are genuinely good, clearly labeled, and worth making a trip for.
🏆 The Fully Vegan Bakeries
These three spots are 100% plant-based. Everything is vegan — no need to ask, no cross-contamination, no guessing.
🎂 1. Hark! Cafe — Minneapolis's Only Vegan + Gluten-Free Bakery
North Loop | 430 First Ave N, Ste 150 | $
Hark! Cafe holds a singular position in Minneapolis's food scene: it's the city's first and only bakery that is simultaneously 100% vegan AND certified gluten-free. Every item in the case — pastries, cakes, cookies, bars — contains zero animal products and zero gluten. For anyone navigating both restrictions (or baking for someone who does), this is a lifeline.
But here's the thing: the food is good on its own terms, not just good "for vegan gluten-free." That qualifier shouldn't be necessary. At Hark, it isn't.
What to order:
- Chocolate chip cookies — The standard benchmark. Dense, chewy, properly chocolatey. These are why Hark has regulars.
- Seasonal cakes — The rotation changes with what's available and what the bakers feel like making. Follow their Instagram for the current lineup before you show up.
- Bars and brownies — Rich, properly textured, and you'd never guess they're free of both butter and flour.
- Savory items — The menu also includes savory baked goods; great for a breakfast or lunch option that isn't just dessert.
Custom orders: Hark takes orders for cakes and events. Ideal for birthdays where guests have mixed dietary requirements — one bakery that covers everyone.
Practical details: Located in the First Avenue corridor of the North Loop. Hours are limited; check their website or Instagram before making the trip. Available for online ordering and local pickup in addition to storefront hours.
Price range: $ — Accessible, especially for the quality and specialization.
Best for: Anyone who needs both vegan and gluten-free; the best custom cake option when dietary restrictions are varied; cookies that hold up against any competition.
🍰 2. Vegan East Bakery — The Standard-Bearer (Longfellow)
Longfellow | 5501 34th Ave S | $$
Vegan East Bakery is Minneapolis's premier dedicated 100% vegan bakery, and the reputation is earned. Owner Shelia Nelson turned a passionate hobby into a full-time operation that proves vegan baking doesn't require compromise on flavor, texture, or beauty.
Everything is made from scratch daily. The attention to detail in both flavor development and decorative execution is genuinely impressive — this is not the "close enough" school of vegan baking.
What to order:
- Cinnamon rolls — The signature item, and the one that makes people drive across the city. Fluffy, perfectly spiced, generously frosted. Locals swear by them.
- Custom cakes — Showstopper-level celebration cakes for birthdays, weddings, and events. Designs that make non-vegans do a double-take. Pre-orders required 1–2 weeks in advance.
- Cupcakes — Daily rotating flavors. Whatever's fresh is worth trying.
- Cookies — Crisp edges, chewy centers. Reliably excellent.
Gluten-free options: Many items available gluten-free — making Vegan East a rare safe haven for people managing both restrictions.
Custom cake orders: veganeast.com. Call ahead for custom designs; lead time of 1–2 weeks for most orders.
Practical details: 5501 34th Ave S, Longfellow. Hours: Tuesday–Saturday, 10am–3pm. Limited hours — plan ahead. Popular items sell out, especially on Saturdays.
Best for: Special occasion cakes, weekly treat runs, gifts, anyone who has ever been disappointed by a vegan dessert and wants to be converted.
🫐 3. Lutunji's Palate — Soul Food Bakery (Elliot Park)
Elliot Park | 1400 Park Ave | $
Lutunji's Palate is a hidden gem that deserves a much larger audience. Owner Lutunji Abrams built this Elliot Park bakery around her signature vegan soul food approach — comfort food roots, plant-based execution, and a warmth that comes through in every bite.
The peach cobbler is what people know Lutunji for, and the vegan version with its flaky coconut oil crust is the real thing. But the full menu is broader than most people expect.
What to order:
- Peach cobbler — The flagship. Flaky coconut oil crust, properly spiced filling. As good as any cobbler in the city, vegan or not.
- Coconut macaroons — Light, naturally dairy-free, and exactly right.
- Cashew milk ice cream — Made in-house. Rich and creamy in a way that factory-produced vegan ice creams rarely achieve.
- Oreo "cheezecake" — Cashew-based, convincingly cheesecake-like, unapologetically indulgent.
- Croissant sandwiches — The savory side of the menu: vegan croissants with plant-based fillings for a full breakfast option.
- Plant-based omelets — Proper breakfast plates, not just pastries.
Gluten-free options: Many items are gluten-free. Ask about specifics for your visit.
Catering: Available for events and gatherings. Contact directly for pricing.
Price range: $ — The most affordable dedicated vegan bakery on this list.
Best for: Soul food cravings, the best vegan peach cobbler in Minneapolis, a full vegan breakfast, catering for diverse dietary needs.
🍩 The Best Vegan-Friendly Bakeries
These spots aren't fully vegan, but the plant-based options are genuinely good, clearly labeled, and worth making the trip for.
🥐 4. Salty Tart — Rotating Artisan Pastries (Midtown Global Market)
Midtown | 920 E Lake St (Midtown Global Market) | $$
Salty Tart has been a Twin Cities bakery institution for years, and the Midtown Global Market location combines excellent pastry work with the built-in appeal of one of Minneapolis's best food hall destinations.
The vegan selection rotates — which keeps things interesting and means you're getting whatever the kitchen is most excited about that week. Vegan options are always available, even if the specific items change.
What to look for:
- Vegan scones — When they're in rotation, these are among the best in the city. Properly flaky, not dry.
- Seasonal fruit galettes — The galette format works beautifully for vegan baking (no egg wash needed, fruit-forward filling). Check what's rotating.
- Savory hand pies — Often available in vegan versions. A complete lunch in pastry form.
- Seasonal cookies — Reliably vegan-option-available.
The bonus: The Midtown Global Market location means you can pair a pastry with food from around the world in the same building. Ethiopian, Mexican, Asian — it's all there.
Practical details: 920 E Lake St inside Midtown Global Market. Fresh daily. Ask what's vegan when you arrive — staff know the menu.
Best for: Artisan pastries in a vibrant food hall, rotating vegan scones and galettes, a complete morning or afternoon in Midtown.
🍩 5. Glam Doll Donuts — Punk Rock Donuts (Lyn-Lake)
Lyn-Lake | 2605 Nicollet Ave | $$
Glam Doll Donuts is the Minneapolis donut institution that takes creativity seriously. The aesthetic is bold — rock-and-roll, unapologetic, covered in unexpected flavor combinations — and the execution backs it up.
The rotating menu leans heavily vegan (clearly labeled daily). Think: maple pecan, salted caramel, birthday cake, s'mores, and rotating seasonal specials tied to whatever ingredients are peak right now.
These are not timid donuts. Fluffy, generously topped, photographable, and genuinely delicious.
What to order:
- Ask what's vegan today — staff know and will point you to the current rotation.
- Seasonal specials — The most creative items are often vegan. Glam Doll leans into unusual flavor combinations.
- Gift boxes — Available and make excellent presents.
Practical tips:
- Arrive early on weekends — popular vegan flavors sell out by noon, sometimes earlier.
- Follow their Instagram for the daily vegan lineup before you make the trip.
Price range: $$ — Standard Minneapolis specialty donut pricing.
Best for: Creative donut flavors, weekend morning runs, gifts, Instagram-worthy treats.
🌾 6. French Meadow Bakery & Cafe — The Original (Lyn-Lake)
Lyn-Lake | 2610 Lyndale Ave S | $$ | Multiple locations
French Meadow Bakery predates the current vegan bakery trend by nearly four decades. Founded in 1985 as an organic sourdough bakery, it expanded into a full cafe while keeping its bakery roots visible in the quality of the bread and pastries.
Not fully vegan — but the vegan options are clearly labeled, extensively developed, and genuinely good. The bread program is the strongest part.
What to order:
- Sourdough — The foundation. Real crust, real crumb, not the grocery store approximation. Take a loaf home.
- Vegan muffins and quick breads — The quality of organic ingredients comes through in the flavor.
- Vegan pastries — Clearly labeled in the case. Rotating selection.
- Full breakfast — For sit-down vegan dining, French Meadow is the most accessible option in Lyn-Lake.
Locations: Multiple Minneapolis and St. Paul locations. The Lyndale Ave location is the original.
Price range: $$ — Reflects organic sourcing and quality ingredients.
Best for: Organic sourdough, a proper sit-down vegan breakfast, clearly labeled vegan baked goods in a full-service café.
🎂 7. Sift Gluten Free — The GF + Vegan Overlap (Longfellow)
Longfellow | 4557 Bloomington Ave | $$
Sift Gluten Free is gluten-free focused rather than vegan-focused — but the overlap is significant, and the execution is better than most dedicated GF bakeries.
Owner Molly Miller built a farmers market following before opening this dedicated GF facility in South Minneapolis. The variety is impressive: cinnamon rolls, donuts, cookies, cakes, cupcakes, brownies — all made in a dedicated gluten-free facility, safe for celiacs.
What to order:
- Cinnamon rolls — Massive, gooey, gluten-free perfection. A standout even against conventional competition.
- Double chocolate donuts — Sell out early on weekends. Arrive before 10am if these are the goal.
- Vegan AND gluten-free cupcakes — The holy grail combination. Sift gets the frosting-to-cake ratio right.
- Seasonal specials — Always creative, always clearly labeled.
Practical note: Vegan selection varies by day. Call ahead for events or specific items you need.
Price range: $$ — Standard for specialty/allergy bakery.
Best for: Gluten-free vegans, celiacs, anyone navigating multiple dietary restrictions, weekend bakery runs for the double chocolate donuts.
What Makes a Vegan Bakery Actually Good
Most vegan baked goods disappoint for one of three reasons — and knowing what to look for helps you find the good ones.
Wrong fat substitution. Butter does structural work that coconut oil and margarine can't always replicate 1:1 — different melting points, moisture levels, and flavor. Good vegan bakeries test their substitutions rather than just swapping them in.
Wrong egg replacement for the application. Flax eggs work for dense cookies and brownies. Aquafaba works for meringue and light cakes. No single substitute works everywhere. Bakeries that figure this out use different replacements for different items — and the difference in texture is obvious.
Underbaked from caution. Vegan batters behave differently, and bakers sometimes pull things too early. A properly baked vegan cookie should have the same slight crisp outside as a conventional one.
Every bakery on this list has worked through these problems. That's why they're on it — not because they're the only vegan options, but because they're the ones where the baked goods are good by any standard.
Quick Reference: Minneapolis Vegan Bakeries by Need
| Need | Best Pick |
|---|---|
| Fully vegan + gluten-free | Hark! Cafe (North Loop) |
| Custom celebration cake | Vegan East Bakery (Longfellow) |
| Vegan soul food + cobbler | Lutunji's Palate (Elliot Park) |
| Artisan rotating pastries | Salty Tart (Midtown Global Market) |
| Creative vegan donuts | Glam Doll Donuts (Lyn-Lake) |
| Sit-down vegan breakfast | French Meadow Bakery (Lyn-Lake) |
| GF + vegan cupcakes | Sift Gluten Free (Longfellow) |
More Minneapolis vegan dining:
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any fully vegan bakeries in Minneapolis?
Yes — Minneapolis has three dedicated fully vegan bakeries: Hark! Cafe (430 First Ave N, North Loop — fully vegan and gluten-free), Vegan East Bakery (5501 34th Ave S, Longfellow — 100% plant-based), and Lutunji's Palate (1400 Park Ave, Elliot Park — 100% vegan soul food bakery). All three do custom cake orders.
What is the best vegan bakery in Minneapolis?
Vegan East Bakery in Longfellow is widely considered Minneapolis's top dedicated vegan bakery for its legendary cinnamon rolls, custom celebration cakes, and scratch-made daily pastries. Hark! Cafe in the North Loop stands out as the city's only fully vegan AND gluten-free bakery — an essential stop for anyone navigating multiple dietary restrictions.
Where can I get vegan donuts in Minneapolis?
Glam Doll Donuts on Nicollet Ave (Lyn-Lake) is the go-to for vegan donuts in Minneapolis — creative, rotating flavors like maple pecan and salted caramel, many of them vegan daily. Sift Gluten Free (Longfellow) makes vegan AND gluten-free donuts, including double chocolate that sell out early on weekends.
Where can I order a vegan birthday or wedding cake in Minneapolis?
Vegan East Bakery specializes in custom vegan cakes for birthdays, weddings, and events — showstopper designs with real flavor. Pre-orders required 1–2 weeks in advance via veganeast.com. Hark! Cafe and Lutunji's Palate also take custom cake orders. All three offer gluten-free options.
Is there a vegan gluten-free bakery in Minneapolis?
Yes — Hark! Cafe (430 First Ave N, North Loop) is Minneapolis's only fully vegan AND certified gluten-free bakery. Every item on the menu is free from both animal products and gluten. Sift Gluten Free (4557 Bloomington Ave) is a dedicated gluten-free facility with extensive vegan options clearly labeled throughout the case.
What vegan pastries can I get in Minneapolis?
Minneapolis has strong vegan pastry options across multiple spots: Vegan East Bakery for cinnamon rolls, cupcakes, and custom cakes; Salty Tart for rotating scones, galettes, and hand pies in the Midtown Global Market; French Meadow Bakery for vegan muffins, pastries, and sourdough with clear dietary labeling; and Glam Doll Donuts for creative vegan-friendly donuts.
What's a good vegan bakery for breakfast in Minneapolis?
French Meadow Bakery & Cafe (Lyn-Lake) is the most practical for a full sit-down vegan breakfast with baked goods — multiple Minneapolis and St. Paul locations, clearly labeled vegan pastries and breads. For grab-and-go, Hark! Cafe and Vegan East Bakery have morning pastries when open. Lutunji's Palate also serves vegan croissant breakfast sandwiches.