Make Veganuary a real treat – Vegan experiences to enjoy at home

Loosened the waistband over the festive period? Veganuary (Vegan + January) is a chance to rejuvenate yourself with nutritious and delicious plant-based meals. 

It’s no secret that vegan diets have boomed in recent years. They’ve jumped up from just 150,000 of the UK population to 600,000 in as little as five years. Seen as the ethical, environmental and health-conscious option, being vegan is a lifestyle choice that appeals to many. 

And January is the ideal time to give plant-based eating a go. After mounds of chocolates, mince pies and turkey leftovers have been tempting you in December, you can use January to bring some zen to your diet. Lighter meals packed with fresh veg and lots of zingy flavours are sure to blow the festive cobwebs away. 

So, if you’re thinking of jumping headfirst into Veganuary or want to find vegan gifts for someone else who’s going plant-based, here are the luxuries to make it an experience to really enjoy.

Hone your home baking

If cold weather comfort food is on the menu for your Veganuary, you’ll need a few baking tricks up your sleeve. Our baking cookery classes will give you everything you need to create your own sugar-filled vegan masterpieces at home, with courses available remotely online or in socially-distant classes.

You could head to London for a three-hour masterclass where you’ll learn the essentials of vegan cake baking. Watch a live demonstration of how it’s done then have a go yourself. The vegan recipes will be kept secret until the day, but you can expect the classics with a twist. Think brownies, cookies and cupcakes, all packed with plant-based goodness and plenty of flavour hacks.

If you’re more into your puddings or planning to cook up a vegan banquet, learn from a master pastry chef how to make three delicious desserts. There will be plenty of opportunity to get hands on and stuck in with your own bakes and lots of samples to try. 

Perhaps your new year’s resolution is to learn how to make the perfect loaf of bread? If 2021 holds lots of kneading for you, then learn the techniques needed to get a crusty top and a soft centre in the breadmaking workshop. 

An at-home feast

Vegan food at home can be just as delicious as dishes cooked by the experts. Visit The Avenue Cookery School and see for yourself how the spice gurus make vegan Thai dishes so delicious. You’ll have recipes to keep and try at home. 

If 2020 meant you missed out on bottomless brunch, learn the DIY version you can make anytime from your own kitchen. Sip on Bellinis or a Bloody Mary while you get to grips with making vegan French toast and ‘bacon’, topped with berries and maple syrup. It will become your weekend breakfast go-to.

You don’t even need to leave the house to get your stash of vegan recipes. Take part in an online cooking class, led by a chef who’s worked at Michelin-starred restaurants. Uncover how to select the finest ingredients and enhance the flavours, so you can be experimental in your plant-based kitchen. Choose between the one-off class or the course for really polishing your skills. 

A little pick-me-up

Sometimes, all you want when you’re trying to be healthy are a few treats along the way. Whether you want to pick yourself up or give someone else a little lift, our vegan sweets will hit the spot. A kilo of lollies, Drumsticks, Refreshers, Parma Violets, Love Hearts and more promise to make Veganuary that bit sweeter. We’ve made our sweetie jar personalised too, so there will be no mistaking who’s allowed to take a handful.  

Tuck in

Veganuary is a great opportunity to give a new style of dining a go. With these experiences in the diary, there will be plenty to keep you inspired as you discover a world of new flavours. 

Ready to kickstart your Veganuary? Browse our handpicked vegan experiences for one and for two. Or take a look at our other food and drink experiences to find a gift to suit any tastes.