Small Batch Makes Bomb Cookies That Are Surprisingly Vegan
Veganism has been around for way longer than you and I, dear reader. In spite of what the title of this article may suggest, I’m not here to tell you whether you should indeed go vegan – we’re all chill. This much I will say, though: done right, plant-based food is plentiful and delicious in its very own right…and yes, that includes baked goods.
Don’t believe me? Maybe you’d like a word with Evelyn Bai, a content creator and lifestyle blogger who’s also thriving as a…baker! Though Bai herself is vegetarian, she’s launched Small Batch Cookie Co., a vegan bakery “dedicated to bringing creativity to our Beijing community and baking cookies that brighten up our day”.
That’s one mission everyone can get behind, innit? Read below for a very sweet interview with the baker herself – knowing Evelyn is the real treat here.
You can find Evelyn on IG and YouTube under the moniker tapiocapress
Q
Hi Evelyn! What a pleasure to interview you. I’m curious, for the time being, you’re vegetarian, but for Small Batch Cookie Co. you’ve gone vegan. Tell us about the origins of your bakery and your motivation behind it. Bonus points if you explain the story behind the name!
A
I got into vegan baking about a year ago, and really – why not? At least that’s what I thought. Also, I have friends who are lactose intolerant and I wanted them to be able to enjoy my goodies. I also love the creativity and ingenuity that you often need to find your way through when doing vegan baking. In fact, it kind of reminds me of the way many small businesses here in Beijing come to be – by overcoming all the challenges to thrive.
Evelyn with Jennifer Morgenthaler from Vegans of Beijing in a recent themed event at nugget
Q
For anyone who missed out on your recent pop-up event with Vegans of Beijing at nugget, what does vegan baking involve? Give us some tips for a happy, successful session of vegan baking.
A
Vegan baking involves substituting dairy products such as eggs and butter with plant based ingredients such as coconut oil and oat milk. However, it’s almost never a simple 1:1 swap. It’s important to understand the role of the ingredient you are substituting in the recipe, and run “control experiments” to find the perfect proportion. For example, I found that coconut oil has a higher fat content than butter, so I learned to substitute butter not for the same amount of coconut oil, but the amount that would supply the same amount of fat. No one starts off baking with perfect knowledge. When in doubt, just use Google, and you will know more than you realize about vegan baking in no time!
Vegan baking: a fun exercise in experimenting!
Q
I’d try myself, but with Small Batch Cookie Co. in town, the temptation is too great. Does a baker have favorites? Give us a rundown of your menu, pretty please.
A
Mmm…that’s a hard one! We change our menu every season to bring something new to the table, and my favorite out of our current fall menu is the banana walnut bread. It’s moist, hearty, and loaded with warm spices. You can’t find a more perfect breakfast than a chunky piece of the banana bread with a coffee. I also love our maple bourbon scone – it delivers earthy fall flavors in a remarkable crumbly-on-the-outside-soft-on-the-inside scone texture. If you are an apple lover, you can’t miss out on our apple caramel cookie. And, of course, for any chocolate addicts, our rich and decadent double chocolate cookie is on the menu for you all year round.
Offerings galore
Q
I’m drooling already. What can we look forward to in the future with Small Batch Cookie Co.? Any exciting ideas in mind? Also, how do you juggle everything you do in your day-to-day life?
A
We have several exciting markets coming up. We are busy preparing for Aotu Space’s three-day fall market starting Nov 4, and you can almost definitely find us at the next Vegans of Beijing or Rumble in the Jumble market. And if you enjoyed our Christmas giftbox last year, we are developing a brand new one to sweeten your holiday season this year. Juggling everything can often be very tricky, what with Small Batch, vlogging and my day job as a project manager. There are lots of exciting projects (e.g. self-publishing my recipes, filming recipe videos) that I cannot find time to do, and my dream is to one day make Small Batch and tapiocapress my full time job – thank you for supporting that with every cookie you order.
A busy, happy life for this entrepreneur
Q
To round it all out, what’s a perfectly happy day for you in Beijing? And where can people find you if they want Small Batch Cookie Co. to be part of theirs?
A
You can find me enjoying my perfectly happy day in the hutongs – vlogging in Beiluoguxiang, browsing through pages at Jetlag Books in Dongsi, cycling past jianbing shops on cookie delivery runs (often stopping to eat one too) – and grabbing a coffee at – where you can also find vegan bakes from Small Batch Cookie Co.
Morsels of plant-based indulgence
You can keep up with events and new products at Small Batch Cookie Co. by following their WeChat account (QR code below) and Instagram (@smallbatchcookie.co)
Small Batch's fall menu and more are available for ordering online through Weidian (QR code below)
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